February 17, 2012
Every dream is within reach, more than 800 St. John’s students
learned when the cast of MTV’s “The Buried Life” came to the Queens
campus on February 15.
The
stars of the extremely successful series came to St. John’s as part
of “The Buried Life Mega Tour,” a cross-country trip based on the
show’s premise: cast members slashing items from their personal
“bucket lists” while helping complete strangers to fulfill their
own goals. The Department
of Student Life and Student
Government co-sponsored the event.
“After listening to the cast speak, I was inspired to create a
bucket list myself,” said Farrell Thomas ’13C, who was among the
students gathered in Carnesecca
Arena. “Whether it involves helping others or accomplishing
something I’ve always wanted to do, I will make a point of doing it
before it’s too late.”
The tour takes the show to different colleges and universities
chosen in a nationwide contest. St. John’s was among the winners.
The first 200 students to arrive at Carnesecca Arena were invited
to a special meet-and-greet with the cast after the event.
Alysha Velez, Graduate Assistant in the Office of Student Life, met
with the cast. “I was so energized,” she said. “It motivated me to
pursue what I want in life and not let fear stop me. I have a
bucket list, but I view (the items) as dreams. These men showed me
the sky is the limit!”
(Experience the event in this
video.)
Overcoming Obstacles and
Fulfilling Dreams
During two seasons on MTV, the show’s cast members achieved a
number of notable goals, including playing basketball with
President Obama, telling a joke on late night television and asking
a celebrity on a date. The wishes they help strangers fulfill often
have a deeper meaning: for example, locating a long-lost loved one
or shedding light on a worthy cause.
The show has received many awards celebrating its dedication to
making a positive difference in people’s lives, and has donated
hundreds of thousands of dollars to charity.
Catherine Neira ’12CPS was excited by their visit. “‘The Buried
Life’ has inspired me to work harder to achieve my goals,” she
said.
“The premise of the show not only parallels the values of the
University but inspires others to achieve their own dreams,”
observed John Marchi ’13TCB. “By bringing the cast to St. John’s,
Student Government hopes students will focus on one of their dreams
and try to accomplish it before graduation.”
“As a senior, it's intimidating entering the ‘real world,’” said
Ellen McBurney ’12C. “But the cast of ‘The Buried Life’ reminded me
that I really can accomplish anything, and I should never be afraid
to fight for what I want.”