I am currently a student at Marist College, but when I am back home I am a waitress at Plan B Burger Bar and Restaurant.
What was your educational path after graduating from St. Mary School?
After graduating from St. Mary School I went to Lauralton Hall and graduated in May, 2010. I am now currently a senior at Marist College studying Media Studies with a concentration in Radio/TV/Film. This semester I am interning with Clear Channel Media and Entertainment.
How do you feel SMS prepared you academically?
Saint Mary School instilled in me a belief that if I worked hard enough I could achieve my goals. All of the teachers had a common thread… to see their student’s excel. I cannot remember any class where a teacher would not be willing to spend extra time with a student after school if there was a lesson that was hard to understand. The education that I received at Saint Mary’s made the transition to Lauralton Hall less traumatic, if not easy. That desire to achieve one’s goals has been a part of my life throughout my college years.
Do you feel SMS provided you with a foundation for your future?
The teachers and administrators at Saint Mary School stressed the importance of a strong work ethic. In addition and perhaps more importantly they taught me how to manage my time. I learned at an early age that there was a time for homework and a time to play or socialize. Both work ethic and time management have been the cornerstone of my success after graduating from Saint Mary School.
What are some of your favorite memories of SMS?
Some of my favorite memories of SMS are definitely the Saint Mary Carnival and Ms. Orlando’s 5th grade class. I always loved math and to help us prepare for a math test in a “fun way,” Ms. Orlando would split us up into teams and would give us an instrument or toy that made noise to represent a buzzer. She would write a problem up on the board for us to solve. The team to solve the problem first would get a point and the winning team would get 5 extra points on their test. Another one of my favorite memories was playing knock out at the end of the day in her class as well.
What are your plans for the future?
My plan for the future is to work my way up in the entertainment industry and to one day to move to NYC and work in production and/or postproduction for a distinguished company.
What advice can you give to our students?
Do what makes you happy. Push yourself and always go the extra mile because that is what is going to make your dreams become a reality.
