September 07, 2010
Nicole Apps is definitely not a typical college freshman.
After being a residential student at St. John’s University for just
a few days, this dynamic young woman already knows what she wants
and is ready to do whatever is necessary to help make her dreams
come true.
She is eagerly looking forward to participating in everything that
the University has to offer, especially the Alumni Insider’s
View…Programs. These unique initiatives are designed to give
students a wealth of information and practical skills from
successful alumni that will help them succeed in college and move
successfully into an exciting career when they graduate. She will
be encouraging her fellow students to attend these valuable
programs and will also solicit their feedback through a series of
video interviews that will document her personal, four-year journey
through the Alumni Insider’s View.
“When you’re a part of the Alumni Insider’s View…Programs you get
to meet and learn from the people who have already gone through
what you’re going through and have succeeded,” she said. “That’s
really amazing! I can’t wait to get into these programs and I’m
going to try to get as many other students as I can to get involved
in them as well. These programs can help us succeed right from the
start, and we really need to take advantage of them.”
Not surprisingly, taking the initiative has always been a part of
Nicole’s personality. “When I was a junior in [Commack] high school
[on Long Island], I wasn’t allowed to be on the bowling team
because it was only for boys,” she recalled. “I figured that it was
up to me to change that, so I petitioned the administration to
start a girls’ team, recruited a bunch of girls for the team and
found a coach who would moderate it. The girls’ bowling team is
still a part of the sports program there, and that’s something I’m
really proud of.”
During high school she spent as much of her free time as
possible at a nearby elementary school, reading to the students and
doing whatever else she could to help out the teachers. “I’ve known
from a very young age that I wanted to be a teacher,” she said.
“Just being in a classroom is the best feeling for me. I absolutely
love it, and a few years from now, I can’t wait to be called ‘Miss
Nicole’ by my students.”
When it came time to choose a college, the portion of her
personality that has always inspired her to reach out to others
made the decision an easy one.
“I decided to enroll at St. John’s because it’s a Catholic
university with a great Education program,” she said. “I’m really
religious, and my religion was a big factor in choosing to come to
St. John’s. I love the mission of the University because I
absolutely love doing things for people who are less fortunate. I’m
really into helping people any way that I can, even if it’s just
putting a smile on their face, and so I knew that St. John’s would
be the ideal place for me. The mixture of a great education and the
opportunity to provide service to others is a combination that
really works for me.”
This effervescent freshman is quick to express her gratitude for
the generosity of the alumni who helped to finance her St. John’s
education. “I received a partial academic scholarship based on my
high school grades and I know that my grant is supported by the
alumni donors who give back to the University. I’m really grateful
to them for what they’re doing for me and for other students just
like me. I’m looking forward to meeting some of them at the Alumni
Insider’s View…Programs.”
For a firsthand view of Nicole’s participation as a Student
Insider in these exceptional programs, follow her on Twitter at
www.twitter.com/STJ_myAIV.
You can also see her on Facebook.
More Information
For additional information about Alumni Insider’s View…Programs,
please call Mark Andrews, Associate Director, Office of Alumni
Relations at (718) 990-5897 or e-mail andrewsm@stjohns.edu.