How a Transfer Student Found a Home at St. John’s

Like many transfer students, Olivia Padilla’s path is not the one she originally intended. However, her arrival at St. John’s University during her sophomore year has been a transformative experience. Here she found confidence, community, and purpose, and has trumpeted her journey with as many of her fellow students as possible.

A native of Bowie, MD, Olivia originally attended college in California, but financial issues forced her to withdraw and consider new options. “It was very much a mental battle leaving my friends and the school that I thought I was going to stay with,” she recalled.

Olivia’s mother saved an outreach postcard for transfer students from St. John’s and encouraged Olivia to apply. “Initially, I didn’t want to go to New York, but St. John’s ended up being a saving grace in my life. I genuinely believe everything happens for a reason.”

A biochemistry major, Olivia noted that she received a generous scholarship from St. John’s, which was supplemented by a grant from the Clare Boothe Luce Program for Women in STEM, which essentially covers the remainder of her tuition. “I’m going to graduate with no debt, which is incredible,” she said.

Almost immediately, Olivia found a home at St. John’s, especially within the Department of Chemistry. The diversity and sense of inclusion she found at St. John’s—and the borough of Queens—played an essential role in helping Olivia feel grounded and supported.

“My old school was very small,” and not very diverse, she noted.

An avid runner, Olivia discovered Run Hustle Run, a Queens-based running group built around inclusive, all-paced runs and local engagement. “They’ve become my family away from my family,” she said.

As a transfer student, Olivia felt like time was of the essence for making the most of her college experience. She immersed herself in activities both on and off campus and is now at the center of thriving communities for which she strongly advocates.

One such activity is the Global Passport program, which offers students weeklong study abroad experiences in Paris, France, or Rome, Italy, within the scope of a required first-year course. Olivia was so enamored of Paris that she enrolled in a full semester abroad program there that changed her life.

“It’s such a magical place,” Olivia enthused. “You take all your classes in one building, but outside those walls is the most beautiful city.”

She did not limit herself to the City of Lights either. “I visited Morocco and Ireland. I ran a race in Milan and cheered on friends running in the Berlin Marathon.”

So enthusiastic about the experience, Olivia became a Global Ambassador for study abroad at St. John’s. “I took a bioorganic chemistry class in Paris. Having the opportunity to study abroad within such a tough major is a rare thing.”

Olivia’s experience in Paris cemented in her mind the decision that attending St. John’s was correct. While in Paris, she received an email about the University’s Vincentian Service Immersion, or Plunge, program. Feeling intense gratitude for her experience inspired Olivia was inspired to lean into the University’s Vincentian mission.

She applied and spent two weeks in Panama. “My host family was two sisters who had a farm in their backyard,” she shared. “I got to see the beginning of the food chain and their role in the process. My host mom was the boss, and she had workers washing the vegetables. It was fascinating to see how food went from crop to table. I got to see what life was like for them day to day. Some days, we visited a school and did environmental activities with the children teaching them not to throw trash into the river, which is a real problem there. It was such an enriching experience.”

Olivia has since become a student outreach leader for the Plunge program, and will help lead her upcoming trip to Middletown, NY. Her experiences with cultural immersion, service, and sustainability have coalesced into a future goal—to start a company that fosters environmental sustainability.

“There is a difference between consumers and producers,” she explained. “I want to produce, and I want to reduce our footprint. I want to contribute in a positive way.”

After arriving at St. John’s in a very uncertain frame of mind, Olivia found herself transformed. “Study abroad really flipped the script for me. After Paris, I realized how much St. John’s and New York City have to offer. I found outlets. I found community. I found a home.”