idnight Run<\/a>, it really changes our perspective.<\/p>\nI did not have expectations going into it, but afterward, I felt so grateful. It made me reflect on how fortunate I am to be in college and to have these opportunities.<\/p>\n
Sensaci\u00f3n has been another big one for me. In high school, I was very shy. I was the type to sit quietly in a corner and only talk if I had to.<\/p>\n
Joining the dance team pushed me out of that. Everyone is so supportive. If I do not get something right away, they go over it with me again and again. They encourage me, celebrate small wins, and remind me that it is okay to ask questions.<\/p>\n
It really feels like having a built-in support system.<\/p>\n
How has working on campus shaped your experience and sense of community?<\/p>\n
Working in Campus Ministry has really shown me how St. John’s University opens doors for you. You start to find your flow over time.<\/p>\n
At the beginning, I felt like a \u201cnew fish in a pond.\u201d It was another community I didn\u2019t even know existed until I became a part of it.<\/p>\n
The experience has truly helped me learn from others, especially the graduate assistants in the office who have already gone through what I\u2019m experiencing now. I can always go to them with questions about classes, professors, or just about anything.<\/p>\n
A lot of them are Catholic Scholars too, so I also ask them about service and getting involved. They are always there for me. It really feels like having big brothers and sisters to lean on.<\/p>\n
Everyone in the office is so welcoming. It genuinely feels like a family.<\/p>\n
How has getting involved changed you personally?<\/p>\n
I have definitely opened up a lot more.<\/p>\n
Before, I was very \u201cto and from.\u201d I did not stay after school or do anything extra. Now, I actually have the time and space to be involved. Joining clubs and organizations at St. John\u2019s gave me a reason to stay, talk to people, and build connections. I feel more confident, more social, and more willing to try new things instead of staying in my comfort zone.<\/p>\n
Looking back on your first year, what is something you have learned that others might underestimate?<\/p>\n
Time is a big one. People underestimate how much you can do with your time here. Every second counts. There are so many opportunities, and each one can open another door.<\/p>\n
For example, becoming a student worker in Campus Ministry introduced me to a community I did not even know existed. I get to learn from older students, ask questions, and get advice.<\/p>\n
It really feels like a family, and it has helped me grow in ways I did not expect.<\/p>\n
What would you say to someone worried about finding their place in college?<\/p>\n
I think everyone will find their place eventually, but you have to take that first step.<\/p>\n
People can reach out to you, but you have to open the door. If you stay closed off, people will respect that, but you might miss out.<\/p>\n
Even going to one meeting or event can make a difference. You might recognize someone, start small conversations, and build from there.<\/p>\n
It does not happen all at once\u2014but if you give yourself the chance, you will feel it.<\/p>\n
Start Exploring Your Future at St. John\u2019s.<\/p>\n
From your first campus event to the communities that shape your college experience, see how students create a sense of belonging at St. John\u2019s.<\/p>\n
Explore Student Life at St. John\u2019s<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Wondering how you\u2019ll find your people on campus? It\u2019s a question almost every student has before arriving. Will…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":205617,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[9,24,63,122,124,123],"class_list":["post-205616","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-queens","tag-new-york","tag-new-york-city","tag-nyc","tag-queens","tag-queens-headlines","tag-queens-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/205616","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=205616"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/205616\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/205617"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=205616"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=205616"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=205616"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}