Peter DeFranzo climbed his way to the top in his first year at Rider University. This hardworking sophomore has some big opportunities coming his way and he isn’t even at the peak of his career. Here he talks about the many organizations and programs he is a part of and gives fellow Rider Students some pointers.
Q: What is the most rewarding part of being involved on campus?
A: Seeing how I have impacted an organization, a peer, a classroom setting, the entire campus, etc. is the most rewarding part to me. I love to see a fellow student do research and get involved because I gave them information and encouraged them to do so. I love hearing from a professor that I’m progressing as a student and facilitating classroom learning. I love hearing that a fellow student did well on an assignment or a test after I helped them. I love being part of something greater than my own personal achievement, something that benefits humanity. I decided to become a leader on campus before I even set foot on it.
Q: Where does this motivation come from?
A: My motivation comes from my own inner desires and aspirations to be successful. I reflect within myself, know who I am, and know what I want. That is how I stay motivated because I refuse to fall short of the par that I set for myself. My parents have always encouraged me as well as some teachers and professors throughout my academic career with whom I have built strong relationships. But I also look for encouragement as a source of positive reinforcement. In other words, if someone encourages me to keep doing what I am doing, that means I am doing something right.
Q: You are an executive member of On Fire!! What does that mean to you?
A: Being an executive member of On Fire!! means more to me than I could even put in words. In an attempt, it feels absolutely incredible to offer my peers a means to have their work published. Having my work published has been a dream of mine since grammar school, and I have accomplished that through On Fire!! in my freshman year of college. In addition, the kinds of friendships I have built with my fellow staff members is very unique in the sense that we are a family unit dedicated to providing a wonderful service to our community. Rance [Robeson], the creator and former editor-in-chief, took me under his wing as a mentee, a friend, and an equal. I am so grateful to him for what he has taught me and how he has helped me grow as a person. Providing an outlet of expression and quality entertainment to the Rider community is a terrific feeling and responsibility.
Q: Sounds incredible. How did it all begin?
A: I am an EOP student, and Associate Director Ida Tyson introduced me to Rance during my EOP summer. I almost instantaneously became involved after speaking with Rance. My inspiration for my work for On Fire!! comes from many places. It primarily comes from artists in the Harlem Renaissance, the original inspiration for the journal, from my own love of art and language, from the opportunities it presents to my peers, and from people that mean a great deal to me. My college experience would have a gaping void without On Fire!! In no way, shape, or form would my college career without On Fire!! even come close to what it is now. On Fire!! has provided me with the growth and understanding to progress as a student, as a leader, as a family member, as a teammate, and as a person.
Q: The role of an O-Staff member is a huge role. What would you say to someone who aspires to have that position in the future?
A: I would start by saying get involved on campus in other ways and follow by stressing the importance of networking. To be considered for Orientation Staff you need to have proven yourself many times over in class and in extracurriculars and have gained the faith of many important staff members and administrators. You must also know why you want to be an Orientation leader, be a competent team member, be a proficient interviewee, know how to speak to your peers, their parents, your superiors, and your elders, and you must be able to perform before large numbers of people. This is not the type of job to be taken lightly. It requires a person with incredible dedication, work ethic, and willingness to put others before oneself. The hardest part of the job is, of course, subject to opinion. In my mind, the most difficult part of the job was working with some of my peers that were so polar opposite of me it was unbelievable. Overcoming such differences and working successfully as a team is a necessary life skill in any working environment.
Q: You see yourself as a CEO of a fortune 500 company, that’s a huge responsibility. How long has this been a goal of yours?
A: I have known I wanted to be a business man since probably the age of sixteen. This knowledge of myself evolved into the goal of becoming a fortune 500 CEO since I began my studies in college. It is tremendously important to me simply because all of the goals I set for myself are that important. I set the bar so extremely high for myself that anywhere I fall beneath it is still an undeniable success. Also, coming from a modest background, I want more for my family and future family. I like to consider myself a jack of all trades, but business is what has stood out more than anything else.
Q: Excuse us. What else interests you?
A: Besides being a fortune 500, and running the risk of sounding cliché, I want to be a famous rap artist. I love the English language, spoken word, poetry, rap, and expression through words in general. Knowing that people are listening and hearing people listening to my art, my words, my form of expression would be an incomparable feeling for me. Almost nothing else could top that.
Q: What qualities do you possess that you think will make you a CEO?
A: I never stop working towards becoming a better person. All of my other qualities fall under that umbrella. I am a man of faith, a goal setter, I never quit, I know myself, I can talk to anyone, I care about others, I am analytical and search for deeper meanings, I am trustworthy, the best of friends, respectful, determined, unforgettable, a networker, confident, etc. etc. etc. I will stop before I flatter myself too much.
Q: You are an active member of the Leadership Development Program. Explain what this organization means to you.
A: LDP is a means for me to educate myself to have the capability to reach my goals. Formal leadership training combined with experiential training has had an unparalleled effect on my leadership skills. Without my involvement in the LDP, there is no doubt in my mind I would not have even been considered for a position on the Orientation Staff. Simply put, the program equals growth and growth equals success. LDP has made me a more educated and well-rounded person. Also as a result of my participation in the program so far, I have become much more mature in my decision making. Mature decision making affects all aspects of one’s life.
Q: You are involved in many different things on campus. Do you enjoy all of them equally or do you have one in particular that you have a special passion for?
A: It is impossible for me to rank my different involvements on campus because although they are all intertwined, they do also retain their own identities. I would not give up anything that I have done on campus because I have enjoyed all of it, and all of it has helped me to grow and come closer to achieving my ultimate goal.
Q: What has been the most rewarding moment for you at Rider?
A: Again, I could not possibly discount my rewarding moments by selecting one as the most significant. However, one extremely rewarding moment that comes to mind is when I finished performing the Transitions Skit at my first ever Orientation. It felt like everything I had worked for in my life up until this point was validated. Such an overwhelming feeling of accomplishment came over me, and I was sincerely proud of myself.
Q: What does success mean to you?
A: The way I think of success is very simple. Success to me is the achieving of my goals whether they are for the next five minutes or for the next fifty years. I know I am successful every time I accomplish a goal I set for myself. Do I work to live? Or do I live to Work? My answer to that is: I live because life is a gift, and I work to be successful.
Well said. Still craving more? In case you haven’t seen him all over campus, there’s still his Facebook page to check out.