Why did you choose to go to Hofstra?

Growing up on Long Island I always knew Hofstra was a good school and I wanted to stay close to home. My sister also went here, and I saw how much she enjoyed the campus, the students, and the professors.

As a commuter student, were you able to find a community on campus?

 Yes – and Hofstra did a great job helping with that, especially with orientation and welcome week. You quickly create your friend group and I’m still close with people I met at orientation. 

Then I became a welcome week leader for three years and that was a great opportunity.  Not only do you make friends with the incoming students, but also with your fellow welcome guides and even the faculty.  It gives you the opportunity to connect even more with Hofstra.

What was the best part of your time at Hofstra?

The professors really get to know you here – and it makes you feel like someone is rooting for you.  Our environment is very welcoming, between the students and the faculty, even the staff members too – everyone pulls you in.  It’s one big happy family from the start. 

What was one of your biggest accomplishments at Hofstra?

 I was able to write a research paper with one of my professors, Dr. Ibraheem Karaye (assistant professor of population health) on unintentional drowning, and it was published in the Journal of Safety Research. He helped me understand the process and how to go about it. I would ask his advice and he would sit down with me and help.

You’re getting your undergraduate degree this May and then your MPH next year. What’s next?

I always wanted to go into the medical field, so I plan to go on to nursing school to be a Nurse Practitioner. My dad is a doctor and my mom’s an acupuncturist, so the medical field has always had an influence on my life.  Plus, after I took a first aid class here at Hofstra, I went on to become an EMT [Emergency Medical Technician] – which I love.”

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