College Students Share the Decisions That Changed Their College Experience

“I Said Yes to a Mentor” — Carolina Li

Class of 2027

Bachelor of Science in Economics 

Legal Studies Minor

The decision that has had the most positive impact on my college experience was joining the R.I.S.E. Network mentorship program as a mentee during my first year. I remember receiving the email invitation and not paying much attention to it. I assumed I would fit in and know how St. John’s worked simply because my parents went here too, which was definitely not the case.

I remember the email mentioning weekly meetings with a mentor, and I was worried that R.I.S.E. would take time away from school and making friends on my own. Looking back, the opposite was true. It helped me academically and introduced me to new people. After receiving several emails encouraging me to join, I finally decided to sign up. I’m so thankful I did.

At the start of my first semester, I was paired with my mentor, Jamour. First-year me had no idea how much that experience would impact my college journey.

The first few conversations were a little awkward, but within a few weeks, we were talking almost every day. With all the changes that come during your first year of college, having someone to talk to makes a huge difference. Whether I had a question, needed help finding an office on campus, or just wanted to vent, my mentor was always there. He never treated the role like a job; he genuinely wanted to help. I feel incredibly lucky to have had such a supportive and caring mentor.

R.I.S.E. did more than give me a great mentor and friend. The program also helped cover the cost of books, provided extra Stormin’ Loud vouchers, and introduced me to even more students across campus.

My experience with R.I.S.E. stayed with me as I entered my sophomore year. I decided I wanted to become a R.I.S.E. mentor myself because I hoped to provide incoming students with the same guidance and support that my mentor gave me. Through R.I.S.E. training, I learned about additional campus resources, met even more people, and gained valuable leadership experience.

As an official R.I.S.E. mentor, I was also able to expand one of my passion projects: GIVE (Guiding Immigrants to Verbal Excellence), a language volunteer program that pairs students with adults interested in learning English. Beginning this fall, it will be available to St. John’s students as a R.I.S.E. initiative. Bringing GIVE to campus has been one of my goals since I started college, and the support I’ve received through R.I.S.E. has helped make that possible.

It never crossed my mind that a quick online application could have such a significant impact on my college experience. I would have never imagined becoming a mentor or helping bring GIVE to campus. R.I.S.E. introduced me to amazing people, meaningful opportunities, and experiences that have shaped who I am today. As I prepare to begin my junior year this fall, I’m excited to see what comes next.

“I Stepped Outside My Comfort Zone” — Gali Desir

Class of 2028

Bachelor of Science in Information Technology

Master of Science in Library and Information Science

One decision that has had the biggest positive impact on my college experience so far was joining the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA). My friend Tomas first recommended the organization to me in February 2025, in the middle of my sophomore year. At the time, I was looking for ways to become more involved on campus and grow professionally. I held one leadership position and had very little experience with networking and career development.

When Tomas explained that FBLA was a competition-based organization offering opportunities to attend conferences and compete against students from across the country, I decided to give it a chance. Looking back, that decision completely changed my college experience.

Since joining FBLA, I have accomplished more than I ever expected. I have won several competition awards, served as vice president over the past academic year, and will serve as president in the upcoming year. These experiences have helped me develop valuable leadership, communication, teamwork, and organizational skills that I know will benefit me throughout my career.

Beyond the leadership positions and awards, FBLA has helped me grow as a person. Before joining, I was often hesitant to put myself out there because I was nervous about stepping outside my comfort zone. Through my experiences in the organization, I learned that leadership is not about being perfect—it’s about being willing to learn, support others, and lead by example. I’ve also learned the importance of helping others discover opportunities and achieve their own goals.

FBLA has opened many doors for me. Through the organization, I have traveled across the United States to compete alongside students from different schools, including attending national conferences in Dallas, TX, and, most recently, Las Vegas, NV. These experiences have helped me build confidence, form meaningful connections, and expand my professional network through conferences and platforms like LinkedIn.

Today, many first-year and sophomore students in the organization look to me as a role model and leader, something I never would have imagined when I first joined. This experience has taught me that some of the best opportunities come from taking chances and stepping outside your comfort zone. Joining FBLA has given me valuable leadership experience, lifelong friendships, and opportunities that have truly shaped my college journey.

“I Discovered the Power of My Voice” — Teodita Vanesa Cabral

Class of 2026

Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy 

Legal Studies Minor

One of the decisions that had the greatest impact on my college experience was entering a writing competition for first-generation college students. I decided to participate because I wanted to share my story with other students who may have faced similar challenges. As a first-generation college student, I had many moments when I felt uncertain, overwhelmed, and alone. I hoped that by being honest about my journey, someone else would realize they weren’t the only person experiencing those struggles and that success is possible despite obstacles.

Winning first place was an incredible honor, but what happened afterward made the experience even more meaningful. My essay was published on the St. John’s University website, where it caught the attention of Chicago, IL, author Julio Abreu. After reading my story, he reached out to interview me and asked to include my experiences in his book, First-Generation Voices of Success.

During the interview, I had the opportunity to reflect on my journey and discuss the importance of perseverance, education, and resilience. Mr. Abreu also compensated me for my time and later sent me a copy of the published book. Seeing my story included alongside the experiences of other first-generation students was both humbling and inspiring.

This experience gave me confidence in ways I never expected. It showed me that taking a chance and sharing my voice could open doors I never imagined. Since then, I have become more willing to take risks, pursue new opportunities, and believe that my experiences have value. Most importantly, it reminded me that my story has the power to connect with and inspire others.

Looking back, entering that writing competition was about much more than winning. It taught me the importance of stepping outside my comfort zone, embracing new opportunities, and trusting that my experiences can make a difference. It remains one of the most meaningful moments of my college journey and continues to shape both my personal and academic growth.

“I Turned an Idea into Action” — Alexandra Cicala

Class of 2027

Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Business/Juris Doctor (J.D.)

During my freshman year at St. John’s, I created the financial literacy app, uFinLit, to educate college students about the fundamentals of financial literacy. My mission is to empower future generations with financial education.

My journey with financial literacy began in high school when I attended the Conference on National Affairs (CONA), a national conference bringing students together from across the country to discuss national and international policy. In preparation for the conference, I drafted a bill to establish a financial literacy course requirement for high school graduation. At the conference, conversations with fellow delegates revealed that many students lacked financial literacy education in school; however, they were interested in access to these resources. As a senior in high school, I initiated a research project with two professors at St. John’s to further explore the impact of the lack of financial literacy in America. The confluence of CONA and my research project motivated me to take action. uFinLit started as an idea with a mission. 

As a freshman at St. John’s, I learned about the new hub for entrepreneurship on campus, the Venture & Innovation Center (VIC). Wanting to turn my idea into a reality, I visited the VIC and met with its Director, James M. Kinsley, M.B.A., Professor, Management, Entrepreneurship, Consulting, and Operations.  

I was connected with Maspeth Federal Savings and pitched uFinLit to the executive team at Maspeth, an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Maspeth awarded me a $15,000 grant to bring uFinLit to life! uFinLit officially launched at St. John’s University this past April, Financial Literacy Month. uFinLit is available to all students on the STJ Connect platform.

Through my college journey, I learned the importance of pursuing your passions and having the determination to transform them into a meaningful purpose.