This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Adelphi chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.
Year: Senior
Major: Psychology
Hometown: West Babylon, NY
Nationality: Italian
What is your favorite thing about Adelphi?
My favorite thing about Adelphi is hands down all of the opportunities they give you here. I’m convinced I wouldn’t have had the same experiences in the last few years if I didn’t go to Adelphi. Adelphi has truly given me so much and broke me out of my comfort zone in ways I never thought possible. I’ve done so much and have learned even more. To say I’m thankful is an understatement!
What are you involved in on campus? What advice would you give to students who aren’t involved or too shy to join an organization?
Right now, I’m the Vice President of C.A.L.I.B.E.R., Parliamentarian for the Student Government Association, Event Chair for the Relay For Life Committee, an Admissions Ambassador, a member of the Adelphi Gives Back Month Committee and the Take Back the Night Committee, and a member of I Am That Girl, Nassau County Chapter. I’m also a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, Psi Chi, and Sigma Lambda. I was an FCAP Leader over the summer, a Community Fellows Program intern for two summers, and I did the Alternative Winter Break Trip to South Florida in January 2014. Some of my other past involvements at Adelphi include the Student Activities Board, Hall Council, and Psychology Club.
Advice I would give to any students who aren’t involved on campus is to just go for it! There’s literally something for everyone here. Try anything and everything that slightly interests you- worse comes to worse, if you don’t like it you can move on to something else. I did absolutely nothing on campus my entire freshman year, and I wasn’t nearly as happy as I am today. Even when I’m giving a tour, I tell people not to be like freshman-year me! If you’re shy, just remember that things can change. I was incredibly shy up until maybe two years ago, and I credit my involvement for that.
Who or What inspires you and why?
The people who inspire me are those who do things in their everyday lives that go unnoticed. The people who will hold a door for a crowd of people, or help someone if they dropped their books, or will take the focus away from their own lives to help someone else with a problem. Basically, the people who are selfless and don’t get much credit for it. The “unsung heroes” of the world, if you will. I’ve seen so many examples of that throughout my time here, and it’s really inspired me to be the best person I can be every day. So shout out to all of those people!
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?In five years, I will have completed my Master’s in Public Administration. I will be working my way up in nonprofit management and development, ideally in a health nonprofit organization. I will also be conducting research in the field of public service so I can work my way to a PhD in Public Administration. In my field you can’t go for a PhD unless you have an established career and some solid research! I’ll also live in the Northeast somewhere, but probably not New York.
Have you had a funny experience on campus? Or your most memorable moment?
I’ve had so many, but I’ll give you a funny/embarrassing moment. It was a really rainy morning my sophomore year, so of course the hallways in the buildings were slippery. I was running up the stairs in Blodgett to get to class when I fell flat on my face. This was not a delicate fall; this was a books go flying everywhere, complete wipe out, face down on the ground type of fall. The worst part was, I got up super quick to try to play it off, but one guy came running over to me and screamed “I saw you fall, are you okay?!” for everyone to hear. I appreciated the concern, but in the moment wanted to crawl under a rock. I still laugh about it now!
If you could switch places with anybody on campus, professor, faculty, or student who would it be and why? what would you do?
I would switch places with the new President Elect, Dr. Riordan. She’s literally making history as the first female president of the university, and I think she is going to make a big positive impact here. If I traded places with her, I would just want to see what a day in the life of the President of AU is like!
Favorite hobby? Way to relax when school gets stressful?
Call me cliche, but my hobby is giving back to others. It’s not even something I just enjoy, or want to do- it’s something I have to do. Nothing in the world makes me happier than working for some type of greater good. It keeps me humble, keeps me focused and makes my heart happy. Whether it’s something as small as writing a letter or making a sandwich for a soup kitchen, or putting all my effort into planning Adelphi’s largest fundraising event (you guessed it, Relay!), it gives me the same amount of joy. Maybe it’s not a concrete hobby like painting or baking, but it’s really my entire world.
This may be weird, but when I’m stressed out I take a really long shower. You can imagine how much my roommates love that! I also like to write, but don’t get around to it as much as I would like to.
If I asked your parents to describe you in 3 words what would they say?
They would say I’m wise, funny, and spirited.
Would your friends say the same?
Instead of wise, they would probably say I’m a grandma. It’s somewhat of a running joke, because I apparently say things that an 80-something year old would. Constantly talking with my hands probably doesn’t help my case either!
Fun Fact :)
I’m somewhat ambidextrous – I can use my left and right hand for anything except writing. Even though I write lefty, when I played basketball my right hand was my better shooting hand, and when I played softball I batted righty!