Jan. 29, 2020
By Gianna Glover
Managing Editor
Members of The Lighthouse staff reconnected with five journalism program alumni on Jan. 6. These Class of 2019 graduates—who included last year’s editors-in-chief Zully Arias and Emma Caamano, managing editors Carina Paserchia and Nazli Tiyaloglu and webmaster Sean Leonard—addressed students during Ms. Pastor’s journalism classes.
The panelists gave advice about transitioning from high school to college and discussed their experiences during their fall semester.
Although the visiting alumni have diverse majors and are attending a variety of colleges, their takeaway message was the same: LHS graduates will be fine no matter where they wind up as long as they immerse themselves in their new community.
Arias, who is a freshman at Yale University in New Haven, Conn., said when applying to college, she knew she wanted to go far from home. She said after sending out applications to very selective schools and getting deferred from one, she became anxious.
“One piece of advice I have for seniors is once you submit your application, there’s not much more you can do,” Arias said. “I wouldn’t freak out about ‘What school am I going to get into?’ or ‘Which school will give me the best money?’ It all works out in the end.”
She said Yale was the last school that responded to her application. It was also the one that gave her the best financial aid package.
Arias said an early challenge she encountered was dealing with imposter syndrome, or the feeling of not belonging.
“What helped me through it was meeting other people who were in the same situation as me. College is hard, and a lot of people are going through the same thing. Having that support system really helped,” Arias said.
She said her struggles inspired her to join a program called Matriculate, which helps high-achieving, low-income students navigate the complexities of college applications.
“I felt like if I helped other people and I gave them insight into what helped me in the process and made me feel like I belonged here, not only would it encourage them to apply to schools that are very prestigious but make them feel like they fit into them,” Arias said.
Paserchia, who studies social work at Monmouth University in West Long Branch, N.J., said participating in a first-year seminar helped her transition from high school to college.
“We did work, but we also had classes where we just sat there and cried about what was going on, and that was okay. It really helped me adjust,” Paserchia said.
She said she has gotten involved at Monmouth by joining the Social Work Student Society and the Student Activities Board. Paserchia said her extracurricular activities allowed her to socialize with other students and expand her horizons.
“College is fun. Don’t let fear stand in your way,” Paserchia said.
She said she encourages students to communicate with their professors and leave their dorm room doors open to meet peers and make new friends.
Leonard said in January 2019, he had no idea what school he wanted to attend, but by April, he decided to major in biology at The College of New Jersey in Ewing, N.J.
“College is hard, and a lot of people are going through the same thing. Having that support system really helped.”
Leonard said visiting professors during office hours helped him do well in his classes.
“Your professors don’t want you to fail. They want you to succeed,” Leonard said. “They’re there for you, so you just have to take advantage of what’s there.”
In addition to focusing on his studies, Leonard is part of TCNJ’s club ice hockey team. He said the team practices about two times a week and has games on weekends.
“I recommend just getting involved in something, anything you want to do. It’s fun and a way to get to know people. I met most of my friends from the team and eventually met their friends too,” Leonard said.
He also joined Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society and the American Medical Student Association, which he said allowed him to obtain volunteer hours and get involved. He said all students should try to branch out past their comfort zones and take risks.
Leonard’s final tip to the students was to be open to a variety of schools and majors when applying to college. He said it is important to have a broad set of options rather than a set plan.
Caamano, who is studying graphic design at the Corcoran School of the Arts & Design at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., also said seniors at LHS should have faith that everything will work out for them.
“I initially was a mess when it came to the college process. I applied to half of my colleges for journalism and half for graphic design, not really knowing what I wanted to do,” Caamano said.
She said although there is sometimes a stigma surrounding the arts, she does not have any regrets about her course of study.
“It doesn’t really matter what other people think if you’re going into art because, at the end of the day, you know how much work you’re doing and hours you’re putting in,” Caamano said.
She said even though graphic design is her passion, her three years of experience in journalism at LHS have been useful because they helped her further develop her social skills.
PHOTO BY ALYSSA FERRARA
Like Paserchia, Caamano said she leaves her dorm room door open and talks to residents passing by.
Nazli Tiyaloglu, who is also studying in Washington D.C., is majoring in political science at American University. She said although she grew up with the goal of becoming a journalist, her experiences during high school led her to have a passion for legal justice.
Tiyaloglu said journalism has helped her immensely during her first semester in college. When applying for a competitive press internship for Senator Bob Manendez, she said her background in journalism gave her an advantage over other applicants and led her to be hired for the position.
She said one highlight from her internship was accompanying Menendez to the Supreme Court for a protest supporting Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.
“As a child of immigrant parents, it was really interesting to see. I’ll never forget the DACA testifiers coming [from] the Supreme Court, holding hands and chanting. It was a beautiful moment,” Tiyaloglu said.
She said her internship was challenging at first because she was required to gather press clips, which took her nearly two hours. However, she said as time went on, she began to enjoy the responsibility and completed the task with speed and ease.
Tiyaloglu said she learned within her first few weeks at American University the importance of accepting failure.
“As a senior, I was a mess and super worried about where I was going to go. I didn’t really know what to do, but the obstacles you face can always be turned around in a positive light,” Tiyaloglu said.
She said the academic rigor and expenses associated with being an undergraduate student can seem overwhelming, but she urged students in the journalism program to push towards their goals.
“If you put your mind to it, you really can follow your dreams and go to the college of your choice,” Tiyaloglu said. “No matter what, you’re all going to end up in a great place. Don’t lose sleep over it. You’ll be fine wherever you go.”
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