February 15, 2010
An
outstanding student with a passion for academics, Elizabeth
Stylianou ‘10TCB always possessed a special desire to help those in
need. However, it wasn’t until Elizabeth arrived at St. John’s
University that she discovered how to channel her considerable
energies toward that worthy goal.
A “local girl” hailing from the nearby Whitestone section of New
York City and a former honors student at St. Francis Preparatory
High School, Elizabeth chose St. John’s because it seemed like “a
good fit.”
Several of Elizabeth’s family members are alumni, and her mother is
currently a graduate student here. For another, Elizabeth also was
attracted by the outstanding reputation of The
Peter J. Tobin College of Business at St. John’s — one of the
few college business schools with dual accreditation by the
prestigious AACSB International–The Association to Advance
Collegiate Schools of Business.
But Elizabeth was especially drawn by St. John’s focus on service
and student success — a focus that continues to enrich her
education today. At St. John’s, she said, “I realized what I’m
supposed to do.” She discovered programs that not only prepare her
for the future, but also reflect her world view. A finance major,
she has particularly immersed herself in organizations such as
VITAL (the Vincentian Initiative to Advance Leadership) and GLOBE,
the student-managed Global Microloan Program.
Her involvement in both of these initiatives has helped Elizabeth
integrate her pursuit of academic excellence with the ideals of
leadership, collaboration and service, something she knows will
play a large part in her future success, both professionally and
personally.
A Passion for Service
As a freshman, Elizabeth focused purely on academics, feeling
overwhelmed by the many activities available to her. A friend
recommended VITAL and almost immediately Elizabeth felt she
belonged.
“I always knew I wanted to help people,” she stressed, “but how do
you go about it? In VITAL we do Midnight Runs, volunteer at soup
kitchens and hold events like the Pig-Out for Poverty. Seeing how
passionate people are about service inspired me. People are so
willing to give of themselves.”
This passion for service, Elizabeth observed, is evident across the
St. John’s campus. Yet it is VITAL that gave her the focus she
desperately wanted. At first, her VITAL experience made her
question her desire to stick with business, as it suddenly did not
seem as relevant to her. Soon, however, VITAL helped her segue into
another service organization that brought together her zeal for
service and her head for numbers.
Humanizing Business
“Business is very ‘by the book,’” Elizabeth observed. “You’re
learning about bonds, finance, T-bills, etc. Where’s the human
aspect? I didn’t want to be all about the numbers.”
Happily, such is not the case with The Tobin College, whose
students have established a global reputation for leadership in the
field of service-learning. These creative individuals have combined
the ideals taught to them with the mission of the University. Among
their accomplishments are the establishment of an African-American
owned brewing company in Harlem, a taxicab company employing
paraplegic drivers, an innovative mental healthcare facility, and a
company that purchases and renovates subsidized housing for the
poor
This commitment to service led Elizabeth to seek out the program
that fit her skills perfectly. Through the recommendation of
friends, she learned about GLOBE, a unique student-run program in
The Tobin College. She met with Linda Sama, Ph.D., Associate
Dean for Global Initiatives and Administrator of the GLOBE program.
“She really had a twinkle in her eye when she talked about it,”
said Elizabeth. “Her passion for the program was infectious.”
With
GLOBE, Elizabeth found the human aspect of business she was looking
for. GLOBE provides small loans to entrepreneurs in the developing
world, helping the poorest of the poor rise up from poverty. “This
is really a culmination of everything I’ve been working toward,”
she said. “Here we take all the ideals espoused by the Vincentian
mission and run with them.”
GLOBE students manage all aspects of the program, including vetting
loan applications, marketing the program, fundraising and measuring
program success. Students are divided into groups to manage each
area, and Elizabeth was heavily involved with reviewing
applications.
While reading the stories shared by potential borrowers on their
applications, Elizabeth was struck by the harsh realities faced by
those living in the Third World. It intensified her desire to help.
“Their stories were amazing and inspirational. Many of the
applicants were widows or had sick children whose care ate through
their savings. It stirred up so much emotion.”
These individuals don’t have the collateral to receive a loan from
a traditional bank, so they turn to programs such as GLOBE to
create a business that will help support their families and educate
their children.
Instrumental in awarding six loans this past semester, Elizabeth
said it was a great challenge to determine who would benefit most.
“It’s a big responsibility and a great learning experience.” The
smallest loan awarded was $70, Elizabeth noted. “I never knew such
a small amount of money could change someone’s life.”
Elizabeth feels that her involvement with GLOBE has enhanced her
leadership potential. “The coordination involved with group work is
challenging, but you learn so much about yourself and other people.
We all came together for a common goal.”
Through her service with VITAL and GLOBE Elizabeth has seen how her
actions have impacted both the local and global communities and
credits St. John’s for sharpening a focus she already had for
assisting those less fortunate. “All of this is influencing my
career path. I’m always going to want to help others.”