The Johnnies Blog

First-Year Mentorship Success at St. John’s: Laura’s Story
Between navigating new classes, building friendships, and adjusting to life away from home, starting college can feel exciting and overwhelming. That’s why St. John’s University created first-year mentoring opportunities such as E.P.I.C. (Establish Relationships, Promote Possibilities, Impact Direction, Confirm Next Steps)—pairing first-year students with experienced peers who can offer guidance, encouragement, and a sense of belonging.

Leadership with Purpose: How Ava’s College Experience Fueled Her Advocacy
Originally from Bowie, Maryland, Ava Wilson arrived at the St. John’s University Queens, NY, campus eager to dive into the full college experience.
What she didn’t expect was that it would take her from the campus stage to national advocacy platforms, shaping her future as a leader and changemaker.

How a Global Service Trip Transformed My Career and Life Perspective
Read how a St. John’s University service trip to Panama helped a communications student learn connection to humanity from Indigenous communities.

5 Financial Literacy Tips Every Young Professional Should Start Now
Landing your first job. Paying rent. Tackling student loans. Whether you’re wrapping up college or stepping into your first full-time role, one thing becomes clear fast: every dollar counts.
When you understand how to protect your money, manage debt, and plan for the future, you give yourself more freedom, not less.

What Helped Me Succeed as an International Student? A Mentor Who Believed in Me
Starting college is a big step—but doing it in a completely different country? That takes a special kind of courage. When Antonia Cuellar Urrutia ’25C arrived in New York from Santiago, Chile, she was excited, determined, and far outside her comfort zone.
But amid it all, she found something that changed everything: mentorship.

First-Gen and Fearless: Miguel’s Journey at St. John’s University
From Brooklyn, NY, to leadership success—how one first-generation student turned a challenge into a calling.

Building a Personal Brand Through Campus Leadership and Passion Projects
Read how Matthew de Prado ’25CCPS turned creativity and campus leadership at St. John’s into a powerful personal brand—and how you can, too.

Empowering Women in Business: Inside the Women on Wall Street Club at St. John’s
Discover how the Women on Wall Street Club at St. John’s University supports aspiring students in business through mentorship, leadership, and networking.

How Getting Involved in Campus Life Made Me Career-Ready: A Q&A with Sophia Feeney
In this Q&A, Sophia reflects on how her college journey has helped her grow—and shares advice for students hoping to turn their college years into meaningful career momentum.

How Attending a Crisis Conference Expanded My Homeland Security Education at St. John’s
If you are a homeland security student or interested in disaster recovery careers, attending a professional conference can be transformative. This spring, I had the wonderful opportunity to attend the Disaster Recovery Journal (DRJ) Conference in Orlando, FL.
