Senior Spotlight: Danielle Armitage

Danielle Armitage ‘23, a Political Science major on a Pre-Law track and a junior year transfer student, offers her unique perspective on the Villanova experience and what is to come for her post-graduation this May.

She attended her first university in Ohio with an offer to play D2 lacrosse. However, after an endless cycle of new coaches, she decided she wasn’t quite getting what she wanted from her college experience. “I wasn’t being academically challenged and that wasn’t what I wanted,” she explains. With parents local to the area and club lacrosse, Danielle found herself on the East Coast pretty frequently growing up and had Villanova on her radar. “I’ve always loved it out here, which is a little weird because I’m from Colorado, and people wonder ‘Why would you go to the East Coast after living in Colorado?’ But I have always just liked it,” she shares.

She was accepted to six universities, but her acceptance to Villanova stood out to her particularly. “It was 5:30 in the morning and I was opening at a gym I worked at. I saw that my application had been updated and saw the little confetti as I opened it. Right then, a woman walked in wearing a Sixers jersey. I knew that was a sign to make the decision to go to Villanova. The universe was talking really loudly,” she says. She enrolled at Villanova and deems it the best decision she’s made.

As a prior college athlete, Danielle was able to learn a lot about herself through her transfer experience. “Since I don’t play a sport here, it was terrifying to lose a big chunk of who I am as a person that had ruled my life for the past 19 years. But I’d do it again in a heartbeat,” she shares. “I was able to see if I have a personality outside of being an athlete and use my time in different ways.” She prefers the academic rigor of Villanova, sharing; “I focused more on accountability within myself, especially because now my life is not nearly as structured as it was when I was an athlete. In my first college experience, everyone was an athlete and they treated us as such without high academic standards. At Villanova, I can really focus on the high standards my professors hold me to and get what I want out of my degree.”

One of Danielle’s favorite professors is Professor Lance Kenny, who taught one of her favorite classes, International Relations. “I once told him I was going to London over Easter break and he fledged into a 45-minute conversation about how he loves it and used to live there. When I came back, he was so interested in the trip. He saw me as more than just a student and as a human being, so that was fantastic,” she says. She also raves about her Public Policy and Administration professor, Professor Marsha Tonkovich. “She really shows that she’s willing to put the students above herself, which is such a nice breath of fresh air and so encouraging, especially in my last semester,” she says.

A combination of transferring and COVID-19 restrictions have made opportunities for studying abroad and finding internships slim, but this has not stopped Danielle from making valuable progress. She works remotely for the YMCA, which has given her ample sales management experience and an income as she works towards her college degree. She describes those college years that overlapped with the COVID-19 pandemic as the “weirdest of her life,” but has had an amazing experience since her transfer. “I’ve met so many people who align so deeply with my morals and values, which I didn’t really get before,” she says.

Outside of the classroom, Danielle has fully immersed herself in Villanova’s spirit of community and involvement. She was a staff member for Villanova’s Orientation Program, serving as a Transfer Counselor. “It was the longest but most rewarding 12 days of my life. It was one of the best things I’ve ever done,” she says. “I learned so much about myself and met so many amazing, driven people. I fostered relationships that put me in such a good space where I knew that I had a community and a support system,” she shares.

She also hosts a radio show on WXVU called For the Benefit of the Radio with a friend each Wednesday at 5:30 pm. The two select a fun theme each week, including an Anti-Valentine’s Day show and Grandma-and-Grandpa-on-Aux-inspired music. “It’s a stream of consciousness between my friend and I catching up, playing good music, and talking to the world,” she explains.

After her quickly approaching graduation, Danielle plans to take a year off, look at jobs and internships, and attend law school in 2024. She plans to study International Law and diplomatic relations, and potentially study abroad for a summer. She has begun applications, naming Columbia and NYU as her dream law schools. “There’s a lot of schools that I really want to go to in New York because I love the city. I grew up in the wilderness, but I feel like I’m a little bit of a city girl,” she explains.

“The sense of community is the greatest thing ever and everyone wants to do well. No one is at Villanova just skating by. Everyone is challenged academically and very brilliant,” she says. When asked what she’ll miss most about it, Danielle provided a long list; “The campus is gorgeous, and the people are great. There are so many things you can do in so many clubs, the sports, the camaraderie, the community – I will miss all of it. It’s so bittersweet because I’ve only been here for two years, and I wonder what I could have done with all four. But even so, I’m very happy with what I’ve done with the two.”

Interested in being featured on My OUS Story next? Fill out the interest form here!

As Managing Editor and Staff Writer for Villanova University’s Office for Undergraduate Students, sophomore Gabrielle Piccirilli shares the stories, experiences, and accomplishments of the students of Villanova’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

The Story Behind Meant for Big Things + Where It’s Headed in 2023

If you’ve ever seen a “Meant for Big Things” hoodie around campus, you should think not only of how destined you are to achieve your goals, but of Grayson Pruett, the creator behind the podcast that has morphed into a movement. 

Meant for Big Things is a self improvement, motivational business surrounded by a podcast, seminars, content creation, and merchandise. The podcast currently consists of 10 episodes that Grayson records and releases herself. She’s amassed a following of over 1000 listeners across 24 countries and has been consistently selling out of her motivational merchandise, bringing strangers together to lift one another up.

The idea to create this business struck Grayson while she was abroad in Switzerland her freshman year of college. “I jumped off a boat my first week abroad and I was in a lake looking up at all the mountains. I had water all around my face and realized how big everything was – how wide the world really was, and how small I was by comparison. I thought ‘You know what, this world is so big and there’s so much to discover. It’s so exciting. Even though I may feel small, I really am made for big things and I can achieve anything I want to in this big wide world,’” she shares. The image for her podcast is of this lake and mountainscape where the central concept came to fruition.

Until her sophomore year at Villanova, that’s all this realization was: a realization. After taking a course with Haley Hoffmann Smith, who had a self-improvement podcast herself, Grayson realized she wanted to find some sort of platform that best suited her talents and that could best help other people. That same day she saw a quote that read; “Made for Greatness,” which resonated with her as her time in Switzerland had. She eagerly FaceTimed her friends to share the idea with them. “I felt so great and empowered by just sharing it with other people,” she shares. This feeling finally came together as the podcast when her mom’s friend casually suggested “You should make a podcast about this.”

Grabbing her brother’s gaming microphone that same day, she recorded her very first episode. After two weeks of editing she released it and the Meant for Big Things podcast was born. The episodes were about 10 minutes long, focusing on self improvement through personal anecdotes and insights listeners can act on immediately to live a life ‘meant for big things’. “It’s branded for the busy person who wants to make their dream a reality,” Grayson explains. During her first year, she gained a lot of traction and support from everyone at Villanova.

“Then, I woke up one day and wondered how I could spread my message as far and fast as I can. I realized clothing was the best avenue to do it,” she says. She worked with University Tees and a campus ambassador to create T-shirts, which sold out immediately. 

After completing a summer at Villanova’s Summer Business Institute, she used her newfound knowledge to expand. Part of this expansion included Instagram campaigns showcasing why individuals are meant for big things. These individuals were then posted and featured on the Instagram page. “As I did these campaigns, I realized that ‘meant for big things’ means something different to every single person, and that the way that I think you’re meant for big things could be different than the way you see yourself as being meant for big things. I thought it was really beautiful to share that,” she says. 

Thinking bigger and wanting to continue spreading the word through merchandise, she released MFBT hoodies, which gained a ton of traction and heavily populated the Villanova campus. “I had to place three different orders after the first large order and it got to the point where I couldn’t even leave any building on campus without seeing at least four of them walking around outside. I am so grateful for the support the Villanova community has given,” she says. Despite how many hoodies sold, Grayson hand delivered each one with a note, and encouraged everyone to introduce themselves when they see another person in the hoodie. “It’s kind of formed its own community in that way too, which is really beautiful that people are able to make that connection,” she says. 

The connectivity of MFBT merchandise on Villanova’s campus has been wonderful. “I will often see people wearing the sweatshirt talking to each other or I’ll receive a text detailing how a friend met someone on campus wearing the sweatshirt,” Grayson shares. She tells us some entire friend groups wear theirs together and it’s something she loves to see. “It is beautiful to see others connect and uplift one another. The merchandise in particular has served as an intermediary to connect others and it has been incredibly rewarding,” she comments. “I’ll see two people wearing the sweatshirts getting to know one another and it reminds me ‘Yeah, that’s why I did it,’” she shares. It’s the message and the people she’s impacted that keep her motivated.

To integrate the podcast and merchandise into a true community, she began hosting what she calls Meant for Big Things Meetups. “I wanted to create a space where people could come together with goals of self improvement and find like-minded people. I also wanted to emphasize peer-to-peer learning,” she says. “The other parts of the meet up focus on gratitude and connecting – I provide note cards where people write messages of gratitude to their friends and end the meetup with a fun creative activity to allow the participants to connect,” Grayson details.

“People are in the mode of being stimulated academically by learning something new and they’re in the mindset of gratitude so they’re more open to receiving new friendships and new connections,” Grayson explains. In addition, she has a GroupMe of about 80 members that she encourages positivity within. “These meetups have brought more value to the brand and have enhanced my passion for education. Recently, I have been expanding to more educational content for middle schools and professional development courses. I look forward to continuing these meet-ups in new and exciting capacities when I graduate,” she shares. 

The journey has taught Grayson many valuable lessons about life, business and podcasting. “Sometimes accidents are the best things that can happen to you,” she says. When ordering merchandise, the colors she had arranged for were unavailable, leaving her scrambling for a new idea. “I decided to add additional colors to the collection which later translated into doubled sales the next month and those colors are still the most popular to date,” she explains. Unexpected things like this come up a lot when managing a growing business and Grayson always makes the best of the unexpected. “Never let accidents discourage you because they actually could be working in your favor. Failure offers an opportunity to redirect usually to something better,” she shares.

Throughout the process of starting up her own business, Grayson has attended many self-improvement and business conferences in order to learn all she can, as well as factoring in her own experience. “I’ve learned that it’s always important to focus on creating value for other people and building relationships,” she shares. “The business model I operate on is putting the people and the message first, and then the sales will follow,” she explains. “I also create content and products I myself would be interested in consuming and constantly seek and implement feedback to make every facet of the business better. I have learned the most from trial and error.”

“I’ve had to play every single role in my business and pitch my ideas to other people when networking. I had to learn how to market the podcast and merchandise, how to balance my finances, and how to navigate supply chain issues with merchandise, which was especially challenging in 2021,” she says. “Everything was a learning curve in figuring out how to bring the podcast itself to life, through purchasing the right equipment, to episode topics, to correctly recording. I’d go to Instagram and ask podcasters for equipment recommendations and taught myself how to edit everything,” she shares.

She has loved every bit of education to come from the process, saying; “There were just so many facets that I had to figure out and it’s surely enhanced my education and part of the joy has been in the journey. I’m able to bring those lessons into the classroom through my business classes and it’s been really valuable.”

The list of lessons goes on and on for Grayson and when asked to summarize the main takeaways she’d share with others, she commented; “Taking risks reaps some sort of reward and knowledge, the value of following serendipitous opportunities, focusing on creating value and building relationships, restlessly pursuing what could be until it is, and the excitement and education that comes when creating something out of nothing!” 

“There’s a genuine and large need for positivity in the world today and if I can be some sort of intermediary, channel or avenue for people to experience that, I feel like it’s my duty now that I have this platform to continue on with it,” she says. She plans to do just that, working now to transition Meant for Big Things out of Villanova as she looks to her graduation this Spring. She plans to continue to engage individuals through the podcast and Instagram page, create further educational opportunities, and create community in new ways through new merchandise and a website! 

Her latest launch of MFBT crewnecks is available now and through the rest of the academic year. “They have a mountain that is meant to signify that same kind of feeling I had when I was abroad in Switzerland and the idea that the world is plenty big with room for everyone to accomplish their goals and succeed,” she explains. To purchase one, you can reach out to Grayson through the @meantforbigthings Instagram page and she will hand deliver (or ship!) the crewneck your way. 

As a Staff Writer for Villanova University’s Office for Undergraduate Students, sophomore Gabrielle Piccirilli shares the stories, experiences, and accomplishments of the students of Villanova’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Senior Spotlight: Grayson Pruett

Grayson Pruett ‘23, founder and podcast host of the self-improvement motivational business, Meant for Big Things, sits down to catch us up on her collegiate journey and tell us all about her business. This week she will be featured in our Senior Spotlight, and to follow will be an article that dives deeper into her business, podcast and all that goes into such an endeavor as a full-time student. 

Grayson is from Lake Forest, Illinois, right outside of Chicago, but began her college journey at Franklin University Switzerland, an American university in Switzerland. “I wanted to do something different and super exciting. I wasn’t over the moon about my college choices and decided to do something about it,” she shares. As a Swiss citizen, she wanted to learn more about her heritage, and the encouraging words of her mother, who had spent her junior year abroad there, helped her to come to the decision. “It ended up being the best decision ever, because I had the most transformative experience there,” she says. In her time in Switzerland, she got to know people from all across the world, as well as get the idea for her passion: her podcast.  

In 2020, she began her search to transfer and return to the U.S for her sophomore year. She wound up at Villanova in a particularly beautiful way, and gets chills each time she shares the experience. An old high school classmate of hers adorning a Villanova necklace prompted a conversation between the two about the university. Grayson shared that she asked a lot of questions, and each of her classmate’s answers was a perfect match to what she was seeking. “When I got into Villanova, I was so excited that I went to Amazon, bought a T-shirt and wore it for three days straight,” she shares with a smile. 

However, a few days later, she received an acceptance from BC, and was now faced with a decision between the two schools. She took her dog on a walk, wondering if perhaps she should change the shirt. “I’m a person who very much goes with my intuition, and something told me to just keep it on,” she shares. On the walk, weighing her decision, she posed a question aloud: “God, where should I go to school?” Then, she turned the corner and came face-to-face with a tree in the exact shape of a V. “I told myself ‘Okay, I know where I’m going to go’. I went to put my dog in front of the tree to take a picture and I heard someone from behind me say, ‘Excuse me, are you a wildcat?’ She ended up being an alum who graduated 20 years ago, who told me it was the best decision of her life. That night I put my deposit in.” 

Grayson describes getting to Villanova as “a dream come true that I didn’t even know I had” and her arrival at the university taught her a valuable lesson. Although she loves planning, she says: “Some things just happen accidentally, and sometimes those are the most beautiful things.” She has since become one of Villanova’s most-involved, majoring in Political Science with minors in Business and Finance. All while serving on the VSB Mentoring Advisory Council, in the VSB Mentor Program, and being a part of Blue Key, Minor Problem A Cappella, the Equestrian Team and her sorority, Delta Gamma. 

She loves the friends and communities she has found across all of her extracurriculars. “The girls on the Equestrian Team have become my best friends, and they’re just so supportive,” she shares. She also raves about the VSB Mentorship Advisory Board, sharing: “The people in it are so driven and many are entrepreneurs themselves. We even have this group where we discuss where we want to take our businesses moving forward, while also helping the mentor program grow.” 

With the remainder of her senior year, she is focused on making each day count and facilitating as big of an impact as she can. “I want to get everything out of this Villanova experience, especially as a transfer here. I also just want to enjoy the company that I have. We’re in such a unique place where we get to be with all these different minds that are focused on different things like psychology, neuroscience, finance, engineering, and we can all talk about what we study. It’s such a cool microcosm of personalities and mindsets,” she says insightfully.  

Her favorite memories at Villanova are centered around meeting people and forming deep relationships here. “When I first came to Villanova, it was during COVID, and I lived off campus. I wondered how I would make friends, so I challenged myself every week to meet at least four to six new people and take them out to breakfast, lunch or dinner,” she explains. She remembers having to come up with creative ways to meet new people and usually talked to people in line with her at Holy Grounds. She offered her phone number and an invite to eat to whoever was standing around her. “I met some of my best friends this way,” she says. 

Another of her favorite things about Villanova is how exciting she finds each day here. “There’s so much vibrancy to this campus in every single facet. Every day I’m so excited to discover more deep relationships, academic curiosities, extracurriculars and ways to give back to the community. The support of the community here is unrivaled, and I feel the most uplifted that I have ever had,” she says. 

As for academics, Grayson says her favorite professor is definitely Ryan Weldzius. “He has just always looked out for me and made the time to talk about my career or to just be extra support for me. He’s intelligent, talented and a great educator. The way he situates his class makes it so students really want to perform well. I’ve never met a person that doesn’t love him and rave about him,” she shares. She detailed how influential Professor Weldzius has been for her in one of her podcast episodes. “He gave me so much academic competence and transformed the way I learned and thought about myself,” she says. 

She has also had some great internship experiences – one of which led to her full time position! Her sophomore year she took Professor Weldzius’ Classical International Political Economics class. The course helped fuel her love for economics and at office hours with Professor Weldzius, he mentioned that Villanova was running the first Political Risk Analyst Apprenticeship Program. Grayson got to complete this program, working with Villanova alum, Robert Hagstrom, who was Chief Investment Officer of Equity Compass, as well as 12 other student researchers in groups of four. “We looked at how different things like pandemics, populist parties and financial crises have affected the market,” she explains. Her group specialized in the politics of financial crises, and this grew her interest in monetary policy. “We were looking at the Great Depression, Great Recession and COVID crisis through the lens of fiscal policy, monetary policy, global trade and congressional control,” she says. “It was transformative and really changed the trajectory of my whole Villanova experience. It made me realize I loved economics, and I really liked finance,” she says. She went on to apply to Villanova’s Summer Business Institute, and still keeps in touch with her mentor, Robert. 

This summer, she interned in New York at an investment bank, Jefferies. Her team worked on fixed income sales support. “I processed all the different fixed income trades that happened throughout the company. So, I talked to the front office, back office, and even the clients. I was situated in the perfect position to learn our role in the business and how a trade cycle works,” she explains. She received a full time offer and will be returning after graduation to work with Jefferies as an Operations Analyst. 

“My favorite thing about being a Villanovan is the constant feeling that we have each other’s backs. There’s always a push to help the person next to you, behind you or in front of you,” Grayson says. Being at Villanova also taught her a valuable lesson: “If you just suck it up and be the person to introduce yourself first and make that connection with someone, opportunities will open up for you. New relationships and deep relationships will come into your life.” She explains that she will take this mentality of openness to every new relationship with her beyond Villanova. 

When asked what she’ll miss the most about her home for the past three years once she graduates and moves off to New York, Grayson said “the gift of beautiful friendship,” and explains how she has found the most genuine of friends on this campus. “I feel like we connect soul to soul. My friends have been there for me through everything and genuinely want to support me,” she reflects. 

Looking to the future, Grayson will work at Jefferies, but also wants to continue growing her business. “I’m working right now on a couple of special projects to transition Meant for Big Things out of Villanova. I’ve also worked on an Instagram and many different campaigns to engage others,” she explains. On the way to her internship this summer, she also began filming and posting vlogs in which she shared a short, inspirational message for her social media followers. “Sometimes it was what I learned the day before or just me walking in New York with that city feel, like everything’s at your fingertips. I really want to continue that kind of vlog style format when I start work,” she says. “I literally could take it anywhere, it just depends on the amount of effort, focus and planning I put into it.” 

Don’t forget to check back for an article all about Meant for Big Things in the coming weeks! Grayson fills us in on how she started the business and the journey it has been for her. Until then, be sure to check it out on Instagram @meantforbigthings and listen in to the podcast available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify!

Interested in being featured on My OUS Story next? Fill out the interest form here!

As a Staff Writer for Villanova University’s Office for Undergraduate Students, sophomore Gabrielle Piccirilli shares the stories, experiences, and accomplishments of the students of Villanova’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

My OUS Story: Austin Rongo

“Home is where I choose it to be, and I consider Villanova my home,” says Chemistry major and Philosophy minor Austin Rongo ‘24. Originally from Charlotte, North Carolina, he has spent his past two summers on the campus, and plans to spend next summer on 800 Lancaster Avenue as well. 

Villanova won Austin over with its beautiful campus and exciting acceptance email. Between his junior and senior years of high school, he took a road trip hitting Bucknell, Tufts, Princeton, Brown, and of course, Villanova. “As soon as I saw Villanova’s campus I thought ‘Wow, this place is awesome. I really like it here’ and I really liked my tour guide,” he shares. Then, alongside a bunch of friends and fellow applicants, he found out he had gotten in. “Villanova had the best admitted student’s letter I had received. As soon as you opened the email it said ‘Congratulations!’ and ‘Welcome!’ in a big flashy message. It was really cool for me,” he recalls.

Starting his college journey at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic has made each year an enjoyable, but very different, experience for Austin. “My first year was a COVID year, so classes wise I felt like I was in college, but the social scene was so different. You could only have four people in a room at once, and it was very hard to socialize. Sophomore year felt more like my freshman year socially, but this year I finally figured out my routine,” he shares.

However, he hasn’t let any of that time go to waste, and has dedicated much of it to valuable research here at Villanova, while still managing an impressive number of other endeavors. “The past two summers, I conducted research with my chemistry professors. My research focuses on making copper catalysts, which are greener than most other chemical catalysts, and we’re using them to polymerize rubber,” he explains. 

He is also a part of Orientation on campus, and has served as an Administrative Assistant for the past two years. “Even though Orientation has only been 24 days for me total, I just feel like I’ve learned the most about myself as a person and have been able to give new students and other people in my life the best version of myself. I hope I taught them something valuable, and I know I’ve learned valuable things from the other orientation staff,” he says. He feels blessed and excited to serve as the Administrative Coordinator for next year’s orientation, and will work hands-on with the Office of First Year Experience this summer. 

Last year, he was in the Sophomore Service Learning Community, and loved the involvement. “I had done service before, but I felt more connected with my service. Taking classes with others in the community opened my eyes to this experience I hadn’t had before, and it was really unique,” he reflects. 

In addition to research and volunteer work, Austin plays club rugby and works as a Teaching Assistant for General Chemistry. “It’s really rewarding to see the students learn and understand something, and it’s been good to reinforce that base chemical knowledge that I’ve had,” he says.

After graduation, Austin hopes to receive a Fulbright Research Award in order to study and research abroad for a year or two after he leaves Villanova. As for career aspirations, he shared that he would like to conduct research, but is still deciding between two areas. “I’m thinking about ending up in pharmaceuticals. I like that kind of research, creating target drugs to solve any health related problems that we face as a society, but I also really like what I’m doing right now with rubber research, and even general polymer research,” he says.

In his time left at Villanova, he wants to dive into service again and give back to the Sophomore Service Learning Community. His senior year, he plans to rejoin and serve as a Peer Facilitator. His favorite part about being here so far has been the opportunities he’s had access to, as he feels there weren’t many presented to him in high school. “Whether it’s a community or something that you want to explore for yourself, I just feel like with any organization or class here, you’re really going to get something out of it,” he shares. He’s learned to go for things, even if he’s not quite sure he’ll like them. “Be bold. We have four years. If you’re on the fence about something, jump into it and see what happens.”

Interested in being featured on My OUS Story next? Fill out the interest form here!

As a Staff Writer for Villanova University’s Office for Undergraduate Students, sophomore Gabrielle Piccirilli shares the stories, experiences, and accomplishments of the students of Villanova’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

A Letter to Unjustly Stigmatized Arts Majors

This letter is addressed to any student who has ever been told their major is “worthless”, “a waste of money” or “easy”. You, your passions, and your hard work matter and you will go far.

It is undeniable that in today’s society, there is a stigma associated with pursuing majors within the arts. Arts majors find themselves at the brunt of all kinds of wild assertions that their selected fields of study are of lesser value than others or will land them in low salary positions for the duration of their careers. 

For a high-school senior, college freshman, or even a student three semesters deep, hearing things like this can be extremely daunting and disheartening. Even as a lifelong lover of creative endeavors, I was almost swayed away from the arts because of these fears. It’s incredibly easy to let the discouraging words of others gnaw away at your confidence, but it’s time that we change the narrative. That begins with reshaping our own perceptions.

“What are you studying?” 

The all-too-popular, dreaded question any college-aged person has faced thousands of times, whether that be in line at a grocery store when someone noticed your college hoodie or across the Thanksgiving dinner table. If you’re bold enough to respond with the truth, that you’ve dared to select something within the arts, you may be rewarded with another slew of nightmarish questions:

“Are you majoring in something else too?”

“How will you make any money?”

“Is that really worth the student debt?”

“Are there even any jobs in that?”

A favorite baseless comment I’ve received personally is “Creative Writing isn’t something you study in college, that’s just a fun class you take in high school!” I’d argue my Creative Writing minor and lifelong passion for the discipline say otherwise, but I’ve learned to pick and choose my battles.

Recently, I came across an article from The Skyline View (sourced below if you’d like to give it a read in its entirety) in which a career counselor at Skyline College, Kenny Gonzalez, shared some insight on combating these judgments. Gonzalez said; “We tend to put ourselves in these cookie-cutter approaches. In the creative arts, there are no traditional pathways. You create your own, almost like a freelancer, to be able to do the kinds of things you want to do, not what your parents want you to do. Not what your partner wants. Not what obedient society is telling you is safe.” 

His last line is what resonated with me most – it is essential that as arts majors, we realize the importance of pursuing something that invites us to think in ways we find enriching and exciting. Our majors receive the reputations they do because they lack simple, ready-made outcomes. When you major in a field in the sciences, you’re working down a structured, specific path designed to bring you to a common end. Many people like the clarity and security this brings. Society likes questions answered and loose ends neatly tied up. This is why we get such pointed questions that can foster insecurities. It can be hard for someone with this way of thinking to be content with the excitement of unknown possibilities, and there is nothing wrong with that, but it’s not for everyone. 

Every human brain cannot be expected to be satisfied by the simple nature of question and answer. Some brains would rather see a problem and come up with a multitude of solutions, rather than a problem that reads like an equation that can only be solved with an exact accompanying sequence. When pursuing a creative career, there will never be one singular outcome, and that is the beauty in them. It’s exciting to know that the classmates that leave your university with the same degree as you will be in an entirely different place than you in ten years, dictated by what they felt more drawn to pursuing. 

The majors of Communication and English are just two of the many that face this misunderstood treatment, despite the large, ever increasing number of bright and capable students that study them. As a Communication major with two minors under the English department, I sit right at the crux of this. Full transparency: I was terrified to declare my major. Even though I was pretty sure what my interests were, I put off declaring Communication, Creative Writing and Writing and Rhetoric, hoping my love for something scientific and “valuable” would come along one day. However, all I was doing was falling for societal pressures, and waiting for some grand epiphany that was never going to happen. 

Since declaring, I’ve learned the power of owning my love for the arts, and that’s what I hope to share with others who find themselves in this very same boat. We must acknowledge that our choices have not set us up for doom, and that they weren’t the “wrong” ones to have made. The assertion that those who pursue Communication or English will end up with low salary jobs, with the exception of the one in a million best-selling author or social media superstar could not be farther from the truth. A simple skim on a website with salary and employment data like Glassdoor would tell you that the average Editorial Director at Penguin Publishing House earns an estimated $152,000 annually, and a Communications Manager at Google has a salary of $172,640. These so-called “useless” degrees can land six-figure salaries, and do quite often. It’s not as much of a longshot as society would like us to believe. Plus, the skills obtained from studying these disciplines can serve you very well in pursuing law school, and graduate or doctoral degrees.

The multi-faceted education we can walk away with as Communication and English majors equips us with the abilities to exercise a wide variety of skills and traits that can lead to multiple streams of income consecutively. With the skills I’ll obtain by graduation, I’ll be ready to tackle my aspiration of pursuing a career within Public Relations, while also authoring written work for publication. 

Whether society realizes it or not, our majors dive into concepts that are at the very heart of human existence. Every professional work environment, and each relationship in one’s personal life requires both communication and the application of language to function. Our world would practically spin off its axis if people didn’t utilize language, critical thinking skills and communication on a daily basis. We cannot let ourselves forget our often overlooked value.

So, I’ll task you with this; if you ever feel what you’ve chosen to study isn’t of much value, whether you’ve gotten lost in your own thoughts or someone in your life has blatantly told you so, I want you to take a moment and imagine a world in which we’re unable to reap in the benefits of those who choose to major in the arts. Here are a few realities of that world: 

There are no authors, and no books to be read. 

There are no social media representatives, and no successful brand campaigns. 

There are no public speakers, and no inspirational messages to be shared. 

There are no fashion designers, and no fun trends to follow. 

There are no content creators, and no media to be consumed. 

There are no entertainers, and no shows to attend. 

There are no journalists, and no timely reception of crucial information. 

The world as we know it would fade from existence, growing much less connected, advanced and enriched each day. This list just scratches the surface of things that would be lost if we didn’t have creative-minded people confident enough to pursue the stigmatized fields, and would extend farther and farther down the page depending on how much time you devote to this little exercise. But, the point remains the same;

All of you and all of the hard work you put in are so very valuable, and even if those around aren’t quick to acknowledge it, make sure that you do. 

Love,

A fellow arts major 

Sources: Hernandez, Adriana. “The Stigma Facing Creative Majors.” The Skyline View, 14 Dec. 2021, https://www.theskylineview.com/the-focal-point/features/2021/12/14/the-stigma-facing-creative-majors/.

As a Staff Writer for Villanova University’s Office for Undergraduate Students, sophomore Gabrielle Piccirilli shares the stories, experiences, and accomplishments of the students of Villanova’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Senior Spotlight: Grace Lundell

Political Science and French and Francophone Studies double major Grace Lundell ‘23, is nothing short of well-traveled. After seven consecutive months of study abroad experience, and many international internships, she sits down to tell us about her Villanova journey so far and what the future holds for her. 

Originally from Washington D.C, Grace attended an international school from ages five to eighteen, really starting her on the path of interest in international affairs. When she began her college search, she wasn’t positive about what she wanted, but coming from a graduating class of 30, she knew she wanted to attend a relatively small school. She also came to realize that she really valued school spirit. “I went to all of the Admitted Students’ Days and Villanova’s was the best. At my school growing up, kids were constantly coming and going with the diplomatic cycle, so no one really cared that much about school spirit. It was so cool to go to the Villanova Admitted Students’ Day and see how much people actually loved Villanova and liked being there,” she says. “I also felt like some of the schools were lacking with the purpose of their education, and it was just to get a job, which didn’t seem good enough for me. I really liked how Villanova emphasized that your education is for a purpose and to serve others,” she explains. Grace’s twin sister is also a student at Villanova, and although they made their decisions separately, they both landed on Villanova for these same reasons. Now, Grace serves as President of the French Club and Co-President of the Honors Events Board. 

Starting her senior year, she is experiencing a natural mix of excitement and anxiety. “I came in and had a normal non-COVID experience freshman year, but then in March it suddenly ended, so it feels like I lost like a year. It feels like I should be a junior,” she reflects, giving us insight into what it’s been like to be a college student during the pandemic. “I’m entering a new chapter and applying to graduate schools to do a master’s in International Relations so that’s a really exciting experience. But at the same time, it’s very anxiety-inducing, because it feels like going through the college application process all over again, but with the added weight of knowing that you’re truly becoming an adult,” she articulates. 

In looking to the future, it’s important to also reflect on where you’ve been. In looking back on her previous three years, Grace shares some fond memories. Her freshman year, she recalls late nights at Donahue Hall, sharing; “I remember sitting there so late talking with my friends that the cleaning staff knew us and the little table we always sat at.” She also spoke highly of her time spent abroad; “One of the best experiences was going to France for the spring semester of last year, and then Ireland this summer. It was a constant experience of being abroad from January through the end of July. I loved being in Ireland and part of the Villanova program run by Dr. Joyce. She did such a good job at creating this close-knit community.” Overall though, her favorite thing about being at Villanova is how friendly her peers and professors have been. “Even if you were in a class with someone four semesters ago, they’ll still say hi to you and I love that,” Grace shares.

She has also really enjoyed her time with both the French department and the Honors Program. She shared how her participation in the Honors Program and her relationship with the faculty and staff there really changed her for the better; “The Honors Program has what’s called Shaping courses, and I completed two of them. They really teach you to think beyond just academics and create a plan for yourself of what you want your life to be. That’s been really helpful, making me take a step back from the busyness of university life and think about what I want my life to look like in 10 years.” As for her academics specifically, Grace says; “I’ve really enjoyed a lot of my French classes. The French department is like a really close-knit community, especially when you get to the upper levels. I’m taking a French Politics class right now through the department, which is the perfect merging of my two interests.”

As a French major, she felt it was essential to study abroad in France. After cancellations her sophomore year due to COVID, she finally got to go her junior year to a town called Nantes. “I wanted to kind of focus on being immersed in the French culture and language, so I didn’t travel much around Europe. But I did get to travel a lot around France and just traveling with the friends I made on study abroad was amazing,” she reflects. 

She loved her following summer studying in Dublin, Ireland just as much. “Ireland was great because it facilitated my transition back to Villanova. When I was in France, there were no other Villanova kids in the program, and all my classes were in French. Being in Ireland with Villanova kids, writing in English, and taking a class with a Villanova professor was a great transition back to being at Villanova fully this semester,” she explains. 

Part of her time in Ireland also included an internship with Ireland’s leading think tank: the Institute of International and European Affairs. This wasn’t her first internship, but this was the first time she felt entrusted with important work with less supervision. “I was writing and editing a lot of pieces of policy analysis that the IAEA was publishing, and I actually became the first intern to get a policy analysis published on their website,” she details. She also took part in an event at the French Ambassador’s residence, getting to put the French she’d practiced the entire semester prior to use. This experience was really helpful for Grace, as she got to talk with people doing the kinds of things she’s interested in.

She hopes to become a Foreign Service Officer with the Department of State, and two internships with State really confirmed this as her ideal career. “I’ve done one with the U.S Embassy in Ireland, and then one with the American Corner in Tunisia, which is part of the Public Diplomacy Wing of the embassy there,” she explains. Both internships were virtual but very beneficial. 

After her time at Villanova is up, Grace plans to make her way back home to Washington D.C, a fitting place to study International Relations. However, she is also interested in some programs abroad and hopes to keep the spirit of traveling abroad alive in her graduate studies.

Interested in being featured on My OUS Story next? Fill out the interest form here!

As a Staff Writer for Villanova University’s Office for Undergraduate Students, sophomore Gabrielle Piccirilli shares the stories, experiences, and accomplishments of the students of Villanova’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Senior Spotlight: Jacob Artz

Communication major, Journalism specialization, and radio show host, Jacob Artz ‘23, shares his unique story to the start of his Villanova career, and gets us up to speed on how he’s spent the busy last three years. 

Jacob is from St. Clair, Pennsylvania, and is studying both Communication and Humanities, minoring in the latter. As he starts the first semester of his senior year at Villanova, he reflects on how his time here began. “In my left ear, I only have 60% of my hearing, and I’ve had two major surgeries on it. When I was younger, my family and I would come down to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia a lot because of that, and we would always stop by Villanova to just walk around and see the beautiful campus. I got to see it during all the seasons,” he shares. His grandfather also contributed to his interest in Villanova. Jacob recalls watching all the basketball games with him religiously since he was 11 years old. Additionally, a scholarship offered in his area by Villanova alum, James Curvey, made it possible for Jacob, as well as some of his friends from home, to attend Villanova. “It wouldn’t be possible for a lot of kids from my area to come here because of the price, and I was fortunate to get that scholarship. Without it, I probably wouldn’t be here,” Jacob explains. 

He has taken quite the academic journey, taking a little bit to really settle in on what he wanted to study, and he stresses that this is a journey that can always evolve and change. He first considered Education and History, then explored research, Human Resources, and sports within Communications. He enjoyed internships with WBRE-TV and the Republican Herald with their sports teams over the summer, but is exploring options in Advancement and Communication for higher education. “A lot of kids think it has to be this one way, but it really doesn’t. It’s not what your parents or your friends want, it’s what you want,” he shares. 

As for a favorite professor, he wanted to shout out Mr. Michael Bradley, his journalism coordinator. “He always has these 8 am classes that are so hard to get up for but they’re so worth it. He just brings so much energy and is a very down-to-earth, relatable guy,” he says. 

Jacob is not lacking in the area of campus involvement. He hosts a radio show, Sports Takes with Jake, on WXVU every Monday night. The show is about an hour and 15 minutes each week, and he does 20-30 minute podcasts during the breaks. He also works at Falvey Library on campus, and writes for the Villanovan, previously in the opinion section and now, in the sports section. Last semester, he covered the men’s track team. In addition, he was nominated for the Senior Gift Committee this year. He’s also helped out with the Bridge Society, serving on the executive board and creating their Facebook page. 

He was also a very involved member of the Knights of Columbus. He was Deputy Grand Knight, which is the Vice President, and Grand Knight, which is President. “We do faith, fraternity, and service events, and when I was Grand Knight, we got Star Council, which is being deemed exceptional in those three areas,” he shares. The group also earned the National Community Award for their service at the local Augustinian cemetery. 

Outside of service, Jacob has also taken the liberty of working for a variety of places in several internships. His first was fittingly with the Knights of Columbus, working forty hours a week. He was their Strategic Partnership and Communication Intern. “They wanted me to target the younger knights, like college kids and people that just graduated, and I did some email correspondence. I did social media content for their insurance team, such as Facebook and LinkedIn. I’m not a huge financial guy, so that was a little out of my range, but was very cool,” he shares.

As a lover of Philly sports, this summer, Jacob had two appropriate internships. One was at a news station called WBRE-TV in Wilkes-Barre, PA as their sports intern, getting to go on assignments, observe them, and help execute shows. His other internship was also sports related, a sports writer for the Republican Herald, a paper in Pottsville, PA. 

He also interned at the Office for Undergraduate Students here at Villanova, and interviewed and wrote features on successful interns, as well as a Back to Basics series where he shared how to make a resume and how to start a Handshake account.

Looking back on his years spent at Villanova so far, he recalls one of his favorite memories, “I was fortunate enough that my roommate is an executive in the Nation, so he got us tickets to the Big East Tournament. It was a dream come true to go to Madison Square Garden, and then see them win it all was just was awesome.” 

“One of the best things about being a Villanovan is how many people care about each other, especially the staff and the professors. I’m just amazed. My sophomore year, my grandpa I was really close with passed away suddenly. I remember going to my astronomy class, and my professor, Kelly Prsa, could tell I was not with it. After class, I let her know I was going to be out for the funeral, and I talked to her about how I was going through a rough time. She was emotional right in front of me, I couldn’t even believe it. It was really powerful because I remember walking out of there and thinking ‘I’m glad I’m here’, and that’s really stuck with me,” Jacob shares. 

When asked what he would say to his freshman year self, given the opportunity to go back in time, Jacob said, “Definitely have more fun. I took the mantle of being busy and doing work a lot, and I just wasn’t as sociable as I should have been. I should have done things I wouldn’t have normally done just to meet people and do things,” he explains.

As for after graduation, Jacob shares his plans, “It’s a little bit in flux, but I think I can utilize my communication skills and networking skills. A dream job would be if I could work here in advancement or recruiting. I think that’d be a really cool role to have because I’ve been here and know the place in and out,” he says.

Interested in being featured on My OUS Story next? Fill out the interest form here!

As a Staff Writer for Villanova University’s Office for Undergraduate Students, sophomore Gabrielle Piccirilli shares the stories, experiences, and accomplishments of the students of Villanova’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. 

The Freshman Experience: Study Spots

Hello! My name is Gabrielle Piccirilli and I’m a rising sophomore at Villanova University. Typically, I write student features for OUS Magazine (to be continued!), but this May I completed my freshman year and decided to begin this series! When I was looking at colleges and awaiting the start of my first year at Villanova, I was buzzing with both questions and worry. My hope is that through sharing my experience, I can answer some of the many questions new and prospective students have! This summer, follow along with a new topic each week shedding some light on what it’s like to be a Villanovan.

Sometimes studying at the desk in your dorm just doesn’t cut it, and you’ll want to mix up your study environment. Luckily, Villanova has tons of spaces on campus you can study, complete homework, write papers, or prepare for presentations. Here’s a list of my personal favorites, but after a few months on campus, you’re sure to find favorites of your own!

I really enjoyed studying in the Reading Room of Old Falvey. It’s a beautiful space and has plenty of booths that give you comfort and silence while studying. Talking is prohibited there, so if you need complete silence that you can’t find in your dorm building or other places around campus, this is the place for you. As the name says, it’s a really good place to do readings for your classes, and I always found myself to be super productive there.

The third and fourth floors of the library are other favorites of mine. I prefer it to be pretty silent when I study, and these are great for a quieter environment. The third floor is usually just limited to whispers, and the fourth floor is completely silent. There, you will find tons of large desks, which are great if you’re studying with friends or just need a lot of space to lay out your study materials. There are also many privacy desks if you find yourself easily distracted. I used these desks to study for all of my finals! 

Talking is permitted on the first and second floors of the library. If you’re doing a group project, working with a tutor, or studying with a group, these are great places where you’ll find many other students doing the same. The second floor of the library also has the Math Learning Resource Center and the Writing Center, free tutoring resources available to students.

If you’re doing some light studying or just don’t mind some chatter and movement around you, the Connelly Center is where I spent much of my time doing homework, papers, and reviewing for tests. There are plenty of tables and couches throughout the building, but my personal favorite spot is the high tables back by the Villanova Room and the Cinema. This is a super fun place to sit and study with friends, and you have the convenience of Holy Grounds, Belle Air, and the convenience store just a few feet away if you’re hungry or need a coffee. The high tables are quite popular though…so if you see an open table there, make sure to snag it quickly!

A great thing about Villanova is how beautiful the buildings and greenery on our campus are. In my freshman year, I loved to study outside when the weather was nice, getting both fresh air and a nice view. There are plenty of benches and tables around campus to bring your books and study. Plus, there’s lots of open grassy space to lay down a blanket too. 

When it comes to study spots, Villanova has you covered. You can find students scattered all throughout campus working hard on assignments and cramming for exams. It’s all about finding the spots that work best for you!

As a Staff Writer for Villanova University’s Office for Undergraduate Students, sophomore Gabrielle Piccirilli shares the stories, experiences, and accomplishments of the students of Villanova’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

My OUS Story: Julia Micklo

For rising senior Julia Micklo ‘23, her passion for gender equity and helping others has dictated much of her college journey. She’s a Psychology major and a Gender and Women’s Studies minor with not only three internships under her belt but much campus involvement as well. As she approaches her senior year at Villanova, she sits down and shares her experiences and story thus far. 

Julia is from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and found Villanova while looking for a smaller college with lots of school spirit. “My older sister was at Ohio State University and I really love the school, but it was just so huge. So I set my sights on trying to find somewhere that had the same school spirit that they have for their football team, but a little bit smaller. Villanova was the perfect fit with the basketball team,” she explains. “The sense of community here was really appealing to me, and I went on a tour and fell in love. Then, when I came to my Accepted Students’ Day, I knew that this was definitely the place for me,” she recalls. 

Three years in, Julia would definitely call the campus home and has fully immersed herself in campus life. She is a part of the McNulty Institute for Women’s Leadership and serves as a Women’s Leadership Ambassador. “Gender equity is a huge passion of mine, and to be able to do that on campus has been really cool,” she says. 

She is also a part of Blue Key and explains her love for it, saying, “I felt kind of lost finding my way to college, so it’s been super fun to be able to give back and help prospective students.”

Outside of campus, she is a part of the Philly Justice Project for Women and Girls, which is new. “It’s been a really nice way to get involved with the surrounding community and make an actual difference that I can see,” she shares.

Last summer, Julia did two part-time remote internships. Her first was with Women For Election, based out of Dublin, Ireland. She was supposed to study abroad there, but when she was unable, she was set up virtually with an internship. “I worked to help women who want to enter into politics at all different levels, whether that be as a candidate themselves, or a campaign manager. We worked to give them the resources and tools they would need to enter into politics to help curb the gender divide that’s happening in Irish politics,” she explains. This was especially important and valuable work for Julia.

Her other internship was with PennEnvironment, Pennsylvania’s statewide environmental advocacy group. “I worked on a lot of different initiatives for the climate crisis, wrote letters about fracking, and contacted my local community to get signs on petitions. It was a super positive experience,” she says. 

This summer, Julia is interning with The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities as a Human Resources Intern. The Center is a nonpartisan research and policy institute that focuses on promoting policies to better low-income, minority, and LBGTQ+ communities. “This summer has been great, as I am gaining a lot of HR experience while putting my efforts into a very worthwhile cause.”

After graduation, Julia is entering Villanova’s Human Resources in Development Master’s Program. She’s currently in the combined program and will be starting her master’s classes this fall during her senior year. “It’s nice to know I have a little bit of extra time to experience things at Villanova,” she comments. Her ultimate career goal is to enter into a Human Resources position at a nonprofit that focuses on women’s rights or health. 

When asked what her favorite part about being at Villanova so far was, many things came to mind. “Just this past year, the playoffs for basketball were so fun. At March Madness, I couldn’t say enough good things about my experience there,” she says. 

“A lot of the classes I’ve taken, specifically my Gender and Women’s Studies courses, have just been so interesting and have made me want to learn more and more. They gave me such a greater perspective on people’s lives and the differences we all have and broadened my scope of life a lot,” she says. One of her favorites was Gender, Sexuality, and True Crime, an ideal class for Julia as she’s a self-acclaimed “true crime fanatic”, and enjoyed looking at it through the lens of gender, sexuality, and race. 

Julia also shared some advice for incoming freshmen, “Don’t take rejection personally and grow from it. When I came in as a first-year student, I wanted to get involved with a lot of different stuff on campus, but a lot of the clubs can be a little exclusive. I took the rejection from those clubs really personally and thought something was wrong with me. But there’s just so many of us wanting to be involved, that it’s just a numbers game most of the time,” she shares insightfully.

She will be going into her senior year this fall with not only a master’s level course load, but with great friends by her side. “The friends that I’ve made here have helped it feel like home. I’m friends with a majority of the people I was best friends with my freshman year, which I think is a little unique and different. Not a lot of people can say that, and I’ve been really grateful in that sense,” she says. 

Interested in being featured on My OUS Story next? Fill out the interest form here!

As a Staff Writer for Villanova University’s Office for Undergraduate Students, sophomore Gabrielle Piccirilli shares the stories, experiences, and accomplishments of the students of Villanova’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

The Freshman Experience: On-Campus Jobs

Hello! My name is Gabrielle Piccirilli and I’m a rising sophomore at Villanova University. Typically, I write student features for OUS Magazine (to be continued!), but this May I completed my freshman year and decided to begin this series! When I was looking at colleges and awaiting the start of my first year at Villanova, I was buzzing with both questions and worry. My hope is that through sharing my experience, I can answer some of the many questions new and prospective students have! This summer, follow along with a new topic each week shedding some light on what it’s like to be a Villanovan.

Whether you have a Federal Work-Study or are simply looking for some extra spending money, Villanova has many options for on-campus job opportunities. I’m well acquainted with Villanova employment – I have three on-campus jobs! I started them all as a freshman, and have had super positive experiences with them all. If you’re interested, it’s never too soon to start applying!

For me, the application process was very simple and straightforward. I was able to apply for all of my jobs by searching for “Student Jobs” on MyNova and clicking on that icon. You will then be taken to a page of job postings that you can search by keyword, posting number, department, position title, and which college you want to work within. If you don’t have a particular job in mind, you can also do a general search for all available positions. To apply, you’ll submit some personal information and a cover letter online. Some jobs may ask for writing samples, relevant work, or a resume. I also completed interviews for two of my jobs, while one of them did not require one.

Working as a full-time student can seem tricky, but Villanova is extremely accommodating. Your employer will ask for your availability around your class schedule and will never ask you to work during class time. Personally, all of my employers have been extremely understanding when I needed to take off for an educational event or extra study time. Your education will always come first when working. 

To give you a glimpse into what working at Villanova can entail, I’ll briefly dive into my jobs here. The first is in our nursing school as a Standardized Patient. This includes acting as a patient in accordance to a script, and sometimes even putting on a hospital gown, fake IV, and breathing mask. I act within a simulation of a real-world hospital experience, in which nursing students participate and learn. At the end of the scenarios, I can give the students feedback. It’s really rewarding and unique work that has also allowed me to meet many fellow actors and many nursing students, with whom I’ve formed friendships.  

My second job is what you’re reading right now! I work as a Staff Writer for our Office for Undergraduate Students. Typically, I interview students within the College of Arts and Sciences and write student features to share their stories, experiences, and accomplishments. I’ve branched out into sharing my own experiences and advice through this series. This job has been wonderful for me as I love to write and have gotten to meet so many amazing students here at Villanova. It’s also opened my eyes to all the different paths and opportunities that are out there. I stumbled upon this job when I saw a sign advertising it outside of the St. Augustine Center – so keep your eyes peeled for postings around campus!

My third job is working as an Access Services Technician at Falvey Library. I split my time between working at the service desk, assisting with patron questions and checking in and out books, and at the Interlibrary Loan department, sorting and packing books from other universities. Through this job, I’ve made friends with my co-workers and have enjoyed helping out students, professors, and visitors with their inquiries. It’s given me great customer service experience. My jobs just scratch the surface of jobs you can hold at Villanova. Working here has been a wonderful experience for me and I’ve only ever encountered friendly, helpful, and dedicated employers and co-workers. So, don’t hesitate to check out the postings for an on-campus job!

As a Staff Writer for Villanova University’s Office for Undergraduate Students, sophomore Gabrielle Piccirilli shares the stories, experiences, and accomplishments of the students of Villanova’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.