Senior Spotlight

With graduation almost upon us, the seniors, certainly with a little anxiety, have begun to think about what they’re going to do after graduation. 

Some would rather not ponder thoughts of life after they get their degree, too stressful. They would rather reflect on the four or more years they have spent their college career. 

But, how exactly did these cyclones spin their way onto campus? Where are they headed next?

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How did you get to Centenary? 

I was looking into several different schools that interested me for a variety of reasons when I happened to find Centenary and saw that it was recognized as a great school for Education in New Jersey. I applied, took a tour of the school, and quickly realized that I did not want to apply elsewhere!

What is your major(s) and or minor(s)?

My major is Secondary English Education. So, I can teach 6-12th English Language Arts. I will have my Special Education Certification as well.

What were your original career goals? How have they changed since going to college?

My career goals coming into Centenary were to become a teacher, and my goals have stayed the same! I am in my final semester now so I am in student teaching and I feel as though I made the correct choices to get me to where I am today and to where I am heading.

Anything special you picked up along the way?

Throughout my time at Centenary, I have definitely learned the value of working as a team and how collaboration can benefit all types of learners. We all bring so much value to this campus, so why can't we work together to change the world as well?

Anything you’ll be proud to leave behind?

I will definitely be proud of the  way I will leave the Writing Collaboratory. I started training for the Collab in Spring of 2021 from my house during the pandemic, and now have tutored for three years and am the Peer Tutor Coordinator along with Sofia Senesie! I have found some of my closest friends through working in the Writing Collab and will treasure my time there when I graduate.

Are you excited or nervous to graduate in a few months?

I am both nervous and excited to graduate! I am sad to leave several aspects of Centenary behind and step into the unknown, but I am excited to see where my time here will take me and what the future holds!

Any word of advice to high school seniors looking at Centenary?

For anyone looking for advice about coming to Centenary, if you want a school where you develop meaningful connections with your professors and peers, apply as soon as possible! Centenary truly feels like a community and a place where, regardless of your major, age, etc. You can always find a helping hand.

How did you get to Centenary? 

I found out about Centenary University through my high school. Centenary’s EOP program came to talk to the 12th graders who were applying to colleges. They discussed why it was important to attend college. 

What is your major(s) and or minor(s)?

I majored in Psychology. My minor was Criminal Justice.

What were your original career goals? How have they changed since going to college?

My original career goal was to become a Detective along the way I decided I wanted to study Forensic Psychology and become a Forensic Psychologist who helps in investigations of children who have been neglected and abused. 

Anything special you picked up along the way?

Yes, I discovered many things about myself from doing an internship and how I loved being out in the field. I also realized there are so many things a Forensic Psychologist could do and how we are needed everywhere. I also realized the importance of attending college; you make great connections and long-life friendships. 

Anything you’ll be proud to leave behind?

I am proud that I graduated early and gave myself time to explore and rest before the start of the real-world challenges.

Were you excited or nervous to graduate in a few months?

Yes, I was excited to keep moving forward and continue achieving my goals; however, I miss friends and college life. 

Any word of advice to high school seniors looking at Centenary?

Enjoy every moment—the good, the bad, the happy, and the sad. (PS: Don’t stress yourself out and take care of your health; if you are struggling ask for help. It doesn't make you weak. It makes you smarter.)

How did you get to Centenary? 

I am from Bergen County, New Jersey, so I was interested in staying in-state. I applied to almost every college in New Jersey, and Centenary was the school that gave me the best scholarship. So, I enrolled immediately. 

What is your major(s) and or minor(s)?

I am an English: Professional Writing major. 

What were your original career goals? How have they changed since going to college?

My original career goal involved journalism. Although journalism is incredibly important for college campuses, I realized journalism is a dying field in “the real world.” Yup, I said it. So, I am now gearing up to take the LSAT and go to law school.

Anything special you picked up along the way?

Through my years at Centenary, I realized how important people and relationships are for your happiness. In my freshman year, I was miserable because I was struggling finding my people.

But, in Sophomore year, I truly did find my people, though the Collab. I also met my best friend and roommate in the Caf. Centenary’s amazing professors have left a mark on me, as well. They have truly made an impact on me and heighted my experience here. I am thankful for all of the professors that I have had at Centenary.

Anything you’ll be proud to leave behind?

I was part of the founding group for a student newspaper for Centenary! A student newspaper is something that I wanted to exist since I was a freshman. Now that it is real, I couldn’t be prouder of the website, and more pleased that the class (WRI 2300) will continue on. 

Are you excited or nervous to graduate in a few months?

I am both excited and nervous to graduate. I am excited to begin my journey in law school. However, the concept of leaving Centenary is daunting.

Any word of advice to high school seniors looking at Centenary?

Centenary is what you make of it. You need to push yourself to find your people. You need to make your own fun. You need to sit in the living room with your roommates and watch a movie together. Don’t take this school and this time of your life for granted. It flies by. 

How did you get to Centenary? 

I ended up coming to Centenary because of how close it was from home and because of the Scholarship opportunities I was able to acquire. The admission process was remarkably smooth, and a significant number of my high school credits seamlessly transferred over.

What is your major(s) and or minor(s)?

My major is Criminal Justice and my minor is Law and Government.

What were your original career goals? How have they changed since going to college?

My original career goal was to become a local law enforcement officer. My perspective evolved through engaging Centenary classes and a transformative internship with the New Jersey State Police (NJSP). The experience ignited a passion for potentially becoming a trooper or even pursuing a career as a pilot. Currently, I am exploring pilot schools as part of my future plans.

Anything special you picked up along the way?

During my time at Centenary, I picked up countless amounts of advice from mentors that I hold close to my heart.

Anything you’ll be proud to leave behind?

As a First Year Leader (FYL), I am proud to leave the hundreds of connections I have made throughout the years.

Are you excited or nervous to graduate in a few months?

I am so excited to graduate in the next upcoming months. A few years ago as a freshman, I saw the finish line very distant. 

Any word of advice to high school seniors looking at Centenary?

Getting accepted at Centenary University was truly such a blessing. I’ve learned that confidence is a powerful asset that propels one a long way in their journey.

How did you get to Centenary? 

Originally, I wanted to go to school in New York. By the end of junior year of high school I was dead set on studying screenwriting. The best schools for that were either in New York or Los Angeles. I applied to schools in New Jersey mostly and only one in New York, but by the second half of senior year of high school, Covid-19 was a major problem and there were so many cases in New York which had me concerned and then I got waitlisted by the school. I had already applied and been accepted to Centenary. I didn’t know much about their English department, but I loved Centenary Stage Company and they gave me a great scholarship that was better than all the schools I applied to. It was also convenient that it was only a twenty minute drive from my house. So, I chose Centenary. 

What is your major(s) and or minor(s)?

I am an English: Creative Writing major.

What were your original career goals? How have they changed since going to college?

I had a ton! In my earlier years I wanted to be involved with science and archeology. My dad used to buy me a bunch of encyclopaedias and watch NatGeoWild with me. He read to me a lot, all kinds of books. I also loved dressing up, and so by fifth grade I decided I wanted to be a fashion designer and go to FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology) in New York. I even wrote my college essay then. Around sixth grade, my love of writing started to grow and I was writing constantly, but I still was focused on fashion. 

Freshman year of high school I didn’t get the opportunity to take the fashion class my high school offered. I had tried crocheting and sewing but found them difficult and unenjoyable. By the end of freshman year, I began to have a switch. I still like fashion and I love dressing up, but I changed my mind to study writing and psychology. Psychology because I was interested in learning more about others and how they think and respond to certain situations and how I could better help them. I wasn’t sure what I’d do with a psych degree and I didn’t want those extra years of schooling. Writing made me happy, so I followed that.

Anything special you picked up along the way?

Definitely confidence and leadership skills. I expected that I’d keep a low profile, mostly work, and just overall keep to myself. Somehow I became an extroverted introvert, student head of the writing center, social media manager of the multilingual club, literary editor for PRISM, and then managing, layout, editorial, and copy editor of the newspaper. I also picked up a lot of great friends I didn’t expect to make that I believe will last a very long time. I’ve found my group! And then, I picked up that you can still have a great time and accomplish life without a plan. Just keep going with the flow.

Anything you’ll be proud to leave behind?

This is both a positive and negative question to me. In a positive light, I’m happy to have left behind a change to the English department in creating different English courses from the standard ones they usually had. I’m also proud to have left behind positive changes to various things on campus such as a change to how the newspaper website originally looked. Negatively speaking, I’ll be proud to leave behind my password. I was always too lazy to change the password every time it needed to be updated and so I would add an extra letter or some numbers to it and ended up with a twenty-two character long password I have to type every time I needed to sign into something.

Are you excited or nervous to graduate in a few months?

I’m a mix of both. I’m personally just tired of doing schoolwork in general, but I’m also nervous to enter the career field, particularly mine. It’s already hard enough finding a job now, everywhere is hiring but at the same time no one wants to take you without very specific experience. So, I’m not looking forward to practically begging an industry to take me for minimum wage.

Any word of advice to high school seniors looking at Centenary?

Get involved! It sounds like a lot and you may feel nervous at first, but as an introvert I actually found it to be a lot of fun. I still keep to myself some days and I don’t attend every campus event, but I’ve gotten so many beneficial things like life skills, friends, and a favorite: free food. Don’t limit yourself and put yourself out there.

How did you get to Centenary? 

I got to Centenary because I was looking for a school close to me that was reasonably affordable and had a free application. Centenary was the only school I found that met all of those personal requirements. 

What is your major(s) and or minor(s)?

I am a Writing major! I was actually originally an English major, but when I did my scheduling appointment I was told about the new Writing program and I enthusiastically switched to Writing.

What were your original career goals? How have they changed since going to college?

My original career goal was to be an author. That is still a dream I have, and I have been able to expand my creativity to continue working towards that, but after taking a few classes here I am interested in expanding my career into literary/opinion journalism.

Anything special you picked up along the way?

The journalism skills are actually the most important thing I think I picked up over my time at Centenary. I have been able to learn how to express my opinions in both professional and more casual ways journalistically.

Anything you’ll be proud to leave behind?

The best thing I have done here at Centenary by far is working  on the revival of the campus newspaper, The Cyclone Chronicle. I remember in my freshman year I had a class with Professor Zatta, and at the end of the semester we had talked about the idea of bringing the newspaper back. A year and a half later, I took another class with her that allowed me to be a part of doing just that. It was so much fun and I will remember that for the rest of my life.

Are you excited or nervous to graduate in a few months?

I would say I am a mixture of both. I'm graduating a year early, which is definitely exciting and something I’m very proud of, but at the same time I'm nervous because I still don’t have a clear goal of what I want to do after graduation. 

Any word of advice to high school seniors looking at Centenary?

I would say that there are many different paths you can take within your overarching degree, and that should be exciting and appealing to you. I’m in a class right now that is testing my current skills and teaching me new ones that, while I’m not entirely confident in them, I’m still giving them a shot. It's scary but fun to do things outside of your comfort zone, and in the end, you usually feel good about it. In short: don’t be afraid to try new things!

How did you get to Centenary? 

My high school assistant soccer coach played here and recommended the school to me.

What is your major(s) and or minor(s)?

I am a Psychology major with a minor in Business Management.

What were your original career goals? How have they changed since going to college?

I had several career goals. I wanted to become a doctor, a lawyer, a CEO, and an entrepreneur. I have kind of maintained that path to an extent. I likely will not be going to medical school and becoming a doctor, but I have managed to maintain my options to be a lawyer, a CEO, and an entrepreneur.

Anything special you picked up along the way?

I’ve had a lot of special experiences. I’ve studied abroad, taken a variety of different kinds of coursework, spoke at Dr. Caldwell’s inauguration, interned as a strategic consultant for the cabinet of the university, met some important foreign officials, and a bunch more. The special part of my experience is the variety of experiences.

Anything you’ll be proud to leave behind?

I don’t think I have any one thing that I’m proud to leave behind. I’ve been a part of a lot of important organisations and events on campus and I think I’ve left a mark on just about all of them. My presence as a role model and thinker is what I’ll be proud to leave behind.

Are you excited or nervous to graduate in a few months?

I’m excited to graduate.

Any word of advice to high school seniors looking at Centenary?

Absorb as much information as you can and always try to be a part of the conversation.

Best wishes and congratulations to our lovely graduating seniors. Good luck in your future endeavors!