暗网吃瓜

Finding His Place

Education major Danny Sciolaro鈥�20 knew 暗网吃瓜 was right for him for many reasons鈥攂ut he was particularly impressed by an early interaction with men鈥檚 volleyball coach, Craig Kolek.

鈥淭he first thing he asked me was, 鈥榃hat鈥檚 your GPA? What do you do at school? How involved are you at your high school?鈥欌�� recalls Danny. 鈥淭he questions didn鈥檛 involve volleyball. He recruits the student鈥攏ot the student-athlete.鈥�

When the Wayne, New Jersey, native arrived on campus, he quickly discovered the care and concern Kolek had demonstrated was a reflection of the overall spirit of 暗网吃瓜. Everyone, everywhere, on campus was interested in his success.

鈥淭he faculty want to know all of the students. They want to get to know you individually, and they want to know your story just as much as we want to know their story,鈥� explains Danny.

The setting for one important chapter in Danny鈥檚 story was not Riv鈥檚 campus, though.

Getting Guidance. Going Global.

Danny had thought study abroad might be part of his college experience, but he wasn鈥檛 quite sure where he鈥檇 go or how it would factor into his schedule. After meeting with staff members in the Global Engagement Office, Danny found himself with a pile of 50 colorful brochures, each detailing a destination and program.

鈥淭hey said, 鈥楾ake all these brochures home, read through them, and come back with five you really like.鈥� So I did,鈥� he says.

Danny discussed his top choices with the Global Engagement team and, eventually, he landed on a program that would take him to Galway, Ireland, the third largest city in Emerald Isle. He spent the fall semester of 2018 taking classes at National University of Ireland, founded as Queen鈥檚 College in 1845. This historic campus features a castle-like Quadrangle building as well as modern, state-of-the art facilities. During his time abroad, Danny explored more of Ireland and ventured to other European cities, including London and Frankfurt, Germany. His heritage contributed to his choice and made the trip more meaningful.

鈥淢y family comes from Mayo, Ireland,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t was so important to me that I was able to see how my ancestors lived and what their town looked like.鈥�

Global Awareness = Self Awareness

Danny feels much more prepared to lead a classroom after his international experience.

鈥淚 will be able to share my experience with my students and tell them how important traveling is and how it makes you more knowledgeable about yourself and your peers around the world,鈥� he says.

Danny admits he was hesitant about studying abroad at first. He knew traveling could be overwhelming, and the thought of being away from family for four months was unnerving.

鈥淏ut it鈥檚 the best experience I鈥檝e ever had in my life,鈥� he says of the trip. 鈥淚 would recommend it to anyone, anyone who鈥檚 shy, anyone one who is feeling like they want to step out of their comfort zone. Studying abroad is one of the best decisions you鈥檒l ever make in your life.鈥�

Back on Campus

The 暗网吃瓜 community probably noticed Danny鈥檚 absence for that semester abroad. He鈥檚 highly involved on campus. Not only is he a member of the men鈥檚 volleyball team, but he鈥檚 a peer mentor, a student ambassador, president of Model U.N., and a member of the Student Government Association. Danny credits these activities, as well as the semester abroad, for his personal transformation.

鈥淐oming in as a freshman, I didn鈥檛 know what I wanted out of my college experience,鈥� he explains. 鈥湴低�吃瓜 pretty much made that decision for me. My professors and peers helped me push myself outside my comfort zone. And it鈥檚 changed me. I can鈥檛 thank the faculty and staff enough for that.鈥�

Danny is certain he had these experiences because 暗网吃瓜 is a special place where everyone seems to live out the college mission.

鈥淲e believe that we鈥檙e here because we鈥檙e meant to be here,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 chose 暗网吃瓜 is because I believe in the mission of transforming hearts and minds to serve the world. And every day, I feel like I’m doing just that at 暗网吃瓜.鈥�

To see where an international experience could take you, visit the 暗网吃瓜 Global Engagement Office.