May 16, 2024
In Fall 2020, amid the pandemic, St. John’s University welcomed a new class of Johnnies—more than 2,000 first-year students whose college experience would be unlike any class before them. Their perseverance amid adversity showcased their determination and ability to overcome obstacles with resilience. We caught up with some of them as they reminisced about their distinct college journey and the wisdom they gained over the past four years.
Christopher Bhola
B.S. in Quantitative Risk Management
M.B.A. in Enterprise Risk Management
While Christopher has learned countless lessons at St. John’s, his experience as a student during the pandemic showed him the benefits of taking risks. For example, when restrictions started to loosen, he was adamant about taking as many classes in person as possible despite the perceived convenience of remote learning.
“It would have been easy to do everything remotely, but college during COVID taught me that it’s a lot more rewarding and beneficial to take the harder option of stepping outside of your comfort zone,” he said. “I would say the main theme of my St. John’s experience was to transform risk into opportunity.”
He continued, “You have to challenge yourself and go beyond what you expect of yourself. It’s only when you’re uncomfortable when you know you’re growing as a student, professional, and person. I’ve learned that uncertainty is inevitable, but a positive mindset and self-confidence will transform those risks into immense opportunity.”
Always seeking fresh opportunities, Chris jumped at the chance to see the world as a student. “My favorite experience at St. John’s was the two-week Study Abroad trip I did during my junior year,” he said. “I traveled to Switzerland; Paris, France; London, England; and Miami, FL. This experience has shaped my perspective on what I expect from my career in terms of traveling and working with diverse groups of people.”
With an eye on completing his M.B.A. next year, and entering the workforce soon thereafter, Chris offered this advice for like-minded students: “The best thing you can do as a student is internships because they give you a feel for working in the city and with people of all different backgrounds.”
Michael Marceda ’23CCPS
B.A. in Government and Politics
Michael didn’t let the pandemic slow him down when he entered St. John’s in 2020. In fact, he graduated from the University in just three years by taking 18 credits per semester and one summer course. Today, he attends the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University.
“In my first year, I expressed some interest in attending law school, so I decided to pursue a minor in Legal Studies,” he explained. “My freshman adviser, Geraldine Vopelak, gave me the best advice at St. John’s and told me which classes I should look to take, as her son was already in law school. She also made sure my timeline to get into law school was accurate. I cannot thank her enough for her help.”
He added, “I also owe a big thank-you to James A. Croft, Esq., Director of the Legal Studies program and Associate Professor in the Department of Criminal Justice and Homeland Security. He was my professor for a year, and he gave me great advice along the way. He offered criticism in a way that made me work harder and want to succeed.”
A commuter student, Michael acknowledged that it took some time to settle into a routine on campus. “Once more people were on campus, things began to feel normal,” he said. “I had a great time at Stormin’ Loud and Men’s Basketball games. My girlfriend and I would go to events like these together and meet up with friends.”
While Michael had a full plate as a student—balancing six classes each semester, studying for the Law School Admission Test, and holding down a job—he graduated in 2023 with a 3.99 grade point average.
“One of the biggest lessons I learned from my time at St. John’s was to communicate and connect with others,” he said, “because you never know where such connections will lead.”
Sydney Nocera
B.S.Ed in Adolescent Education
“My college experience was nothing like I would have imagined it—but I wouldn’t change a thing.”
That sentiment is a fitting snapshot of Sydney’s time at St. John’s, which began in August 2020 when the University operated under New York State’s COVID restrictions.
“I was so worried during my first year that my whole world would be confined to me, my roommate, and FaceTime calls with my friends from home,” she recalled. “I struggled with the isolation and online-based education brought on by COVID—and truth be told, I almost left. When the world opened up again, I could get a taste of what St. John’s had to offer and I decided to stay. Four years later, I’m part of a world of love and friendship.”
Sydney certainly hit her stride during her sophomore year, auditioning for the Chappell Players Theatre Group’s production of Legally Blonde, and later, spending 10 days in Salamanca, Spain, through the University’s Study Abroad program. “It was honestly a life-changing experience, and I am so grateful to have done it,” she said. “Study Abroad definitely drew me in when I was applying to college, but I never would have thought of Spain as somewhere I wanted to visit. It was an amazing opportunity.”
While Sydney enrolled at St. John’s as a Government and Politics major, she changed her focus to Adolescent Education with a concentration in English. “I’ve connected with other students in The School of Education, people who may very well be my coworkers one day. Seeing someone I know and love every time I was on campus brought me so much joy.”
Sydney recently completed a semester of student teaching at a local high school, teaching ninth grade English. “I’ll graduate with my certification in 7–12 English Education, and I’m applying to graduate school to get my master’s degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages,” she said. “The School of Education’s connections have been such a help to me by providing me with the opportunity to meet professionals from various backgrounds.”
Khadijah Rahim
B.S. in Biological Sciences
From an early age, Khadijah Rahim had her heart set on attending St. John’s. After four years as an undergraduate at the University, she looks forward to returning here in the fall.
“I am thrilled to continue my studies at St. John’s by pursuing my M.B.A. in Health Care Systems,” she exclaimed. “St. John’s has been such a wonderful environment that it’s led me to want to stay.”
She explained her decision. “I still love the University the same way I did when I first set foot on the Queens, NY, campus. At St. John’s, I learned never to underestimate my abilities. I am proud that even in moments of doubt, I stood up to every challenge and persevered.”
While she cherishes her time at St. John’s, she admits that there were periods of isolation in the early days of the pandemic. “In my first year of college, I would describe campus as a ghost town,” she said. “However, it became vibrant, diverse, and lovely by my second year. This allowed me to have that true college experience by attending lectures, labs, and campus activities.”
A devout Muslim, Khadijah looks to her faith for direction. “Throughout my St. John’s experience, I have always relied on God’s guidance to bring me out of hardship and grant me success,” she said. “I truly believe college has allowed my faith to grow and has strengthened and grounded me with morals that will take me far beyond my years of undergraduate work.”
As a recipient of the Women in Science Scholarship, Khadijah discovered that the University had established a supportive framework to ensure her success. “I found such wonderful support and encouragement from my professors, and I truly believe it aided my success,” she said. “They spent time in class sharing their educational journey, which allowed me to broaden my mindset and explore new careers.”
She added, “My college experience truly has shaped me into a determined, well-rounded, and faithful person. I am blessed to have spent my undergraduate years at St. John’s, and I cannot wait to continue my future studies here.”