This week’s Campus Celeb?
Marty Farrell
Reigning from Drexel Hill, PA, sophomore English major Marty truly makes the most of his time here on Hawk Hill. Not only does he take part in APEX, but he is also a PSIP Leader, host of 1851 radio show “Pillow Talk,” and co-founder of an up and coming YouTube channel called “Hawkcoustics,”which showcases the musical talents of our fellow hawks around campus.
I sat down with Marty in the quaint circle of benches between the Foley Center and Merion Hall. I was lucky to learn a little bit more about this sophomore whose name echoes around every corner of campus.
HC: What word summarizes your experience thus far at SJU?
Marty: I would say eye-opening, just because of the experiences I’ve had through my classes and service trips like APEX. They’ve really opened my eyes and sparked my imagination in a lot of ways.
At a work site in Almost Heaven, WV
(Mary being held, on campus with his PSIP kids)
HC: Your maturity shows! So when you’re not leading freshmen through the city or on a service trip in Appalachia, what’s your ideal Saturday night?
Marty: If I’m home, my ideal Saturday night is just hanging out with close friends, drinking in the backyard, something chill. At school I like being around people I know, getting together with a small group and seeing where the night takes us is usually a good plan.
HC: Keeping it casual is probably the most dependable plan. What about the nights you have to stay in, where’s your favorite study spot?
Marty: I’d have to say just my room. I live in Pennbrook with a couple of friends and they’re usually in the library so then my apartment becomes the quietest place I can find.
HC: The library does tend to become more of a social scene. A lot of our campus celebs can be found there, I’m sure. If you had to choose, who would you interview as a Campus Celeb?
Marty: That’s a good one! I’d have to say either Mama Z—she’s awesome, she worked the security desk in Villiger last year and is in LaFarge this year, she was amazing—or Father Joyce, he works with Campus Ministry and is one of the most interesting guys here on campus. I’d love to learn more about him.
HC: Having one of our resident Jesuits highlighted on Her Campus would be so amazing! They always have some philosophical advice to help guide our daily lives… Do you have a personal philosophy you live by?
Marty: I do actually… there’s a song by Ben Howard called “Depth over Distance,” it’s hard to find since it’s never been recorded but there’s live recordings of it from his concerts you can find on the internet. I think a lot of people are worried about what’s next for them and they want to keep scaling up the social ladder but I think it’s more important to forge deep relationships with people and not be rushing around all the time.
Marty (right) with a few of his fellow PSIP leaders.
HC: Wow! I’ll have to listen to it. You certainly seem to live out that philosophy in your involvement on campus. How do you plan to take that elsewhere post-grad?
Marty: I don’t have a set plane, I definitely want to travel… and study! I want to keep going to school for as long as I can. And definitely get out of Philadelphia since I’ve been here my whole life—I love it!—but I’d love to see as much as the world as possible, and hopefully continue to volunteer. One of my dreams is to live in California.
HC: California! There’s definitely plenty of ways to enjoy yourself there—maybe you’ll even meet a celebrity! Do you have a Hollywood crush?
Marty: Amy Adams, I think she is the most attractive celebrity on the face of the earth.
HC: Amy Adams is a powerhouse! That’s a good pick. But for now you’ll have to make the most of Philadelphia. Since you’re a local I have to ask, down the shore or up the mountains?
Marty: Down the shore, definitely. Whether it’s Wildwood for Senior week or Sea Isle with my family, the jersey shore is great! The mountains are nice too, but there’s something about the shore that makes it so special for kids around here, it’s like a rite of passage.
HC: There’s nothing like a summer down the shore, definitely very characteristic of people around here. What about during the school year, do you have a favorite time of year?
Marty: I love the fall, one of my favorite things is watching scary movies around Halloween time. I just love the season and the weather; it’s very nostalgic. March is a close second because I get to celebrate St. Patty’s Day and my Birthday.
HC: You seem like a really great guy and definitely a good time. Before you go, do you have one piece of advice you’d love to give an incoming SJU freshman?
Marty: I would say 1) Respect yourself; just in general, take care of yourself while you’re here. And 2) Experiment with classes and explore your interests, pick a class that seems interesting and see where it takes you. Finding a passion and running with it is so much better than choosing the safer option.
HC: That’s perfect advice for anyone here on campus to start to follow. Thank you so much Marty for sharing with us! And be sure to check out his radio show, “Pillow Talk,” on Monday nights from 8-9 PM on Radio 1851.
– HCXO