Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Victoria "Torie" DiPippo

As Victoria "Torie"听DiPippo听finds herself living in Houston, TX, working towards a Master鈥檚 degree at the University of Houston, a Carnegie-designated Tier One public research university, she thinks, "How did I get myself here? What did I do to get so lucky?" The answer, says DiPippo, is simple. "I chose to attend the 91制片厂 in Manchester, and they chose to believe in me."

DiPippo听graduated in May 2015 with a degree in . While she may not be attending the University at present, she says, "I am still and will always be a part of the 91制片厂 Manchester community." And, as such, she shares her top 15 things for students to consider at 91制片厂 Manchester. Read on!

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Looking back, it鈥檚 easy for me to say that 91制片厂 Manchester provided me with the greatest opportunities imaginable, here鈥檚 how you can take advantage of them.听

15. Learn American Sign Language
91制片厂 Manchester is home to the oldest accredited bachelor degree听program in which听I think is pretty cool! Prior to attending the University I had seldom interacted with the language, but at 91制片厂 Manchester it鈥檚 a part of our culture, and I fell in love with it.听

Not taking American Sign Language (ASL) is my biggest regret 鈥 really, it鈥檚 my only regret about 91制片厂 Manchester. Learning ASL opens up a gateway of communication previously unavailable between two people.听If the classes don鈥檛 fit into your schedule, do what I did befriend students who are Sign Language Interpretation majors who are all very passionate about what they do. Ask them questions and educate yourself about Deaf culture.

14. Get to Know Your Professors
Whether you鈥檙e going to graduate school or into听the job market after graduation, good references are a must. Getting to know your professors is a great way to secure those (that, and hard work of course). 91制片厂 Manchester, with its home-like sense of community, makes getting to know your professors easy. 听

Beyond sparkling letters of recommendations, a good relationship with your professors is a good relationship with one of the top minds in their particular field of study 鈥 so go ahead, pick their brain and start filling your own well.听

13. Get to Know Your Classmates
The diverse student population makes for great discussions inside and outside the classroom. Try to really listen to your classmates and see from their perspective, reflect, and let your mind grow.听

I was able to get to know some amazing people who did amazing things students who owned their own businesses (some at the age of 18!), moms and dads, veterans, first-generation Americans, ESOL speakers, citizens of other countries, and recent high school graduates.

Our future politicians, teachers, journalists, doctors, and leaders 鈥 they鈥檙e all here. These are the people who will define a generation with you, get to know them.听

12. Get to Know the Staff
I have never met a community of staff members who are more supportive than at 91制片厂 Manchester. Every member of the team operates with one goal in mind: student success.

Getting to know the staff opened doors for me that I didn鈥檛 think were imaginable. They all believe so fully in the college and in their students it鈥檚 a beautiful thing. Quite frankly, our staff members rock!听

11. Become a Friend of the Library
On that same note 鈥 I鈥檇 like to give a shout out to the Library, because our librarians are the best!听

Whether it鈥檚 database research, journals, or books, they are ready to help you find what you need to further your quest for knowledge.

Also, if you鈥檙e stressed during Finals, the Learning Commons is the place to be. You can work on a puzzle with some friends, eat cookies, drink hot cocoa, and if you time it right, pet some adorable puppies!听

10. Take Advantage of Career Services
Another department that totally rocks my socks (honestly, they all do!) is the department. You would be silly not to take advantage of the career services provided,听including resume reviews, mock interviews, and great networking opportunities. Career Services also provides transportation to the Durham Job Fair every year as well as tips for while you鈥檙e there.听

9. Do an Internship
Internships are a great way to build your resume as well as gain real-world experience. Interested in two different fields in your study? An internship can help you narrow your focus.

Not sure if you鈥檒l like working in an office environment? Internship.

Want the ability to demonstrate your skills beyond the classroom setting? Internship.

My internship at the Franco-American Centre provided me with more opportunities than I could even imagine, including meeting the Governor听and the French Consulate to Boston.听

8. Take a Humanities Class
Take a class, or major in Humanities! Humanities classes are demanding and wonderful all at the same time.

Professors are passionate about what they do and they鈥檒l make you passionate too! They open the mind and inspire thought 听actually, I鈥檓 pretty sure I鈥檓 describing all of the classes I took at 91制片厂 Manchester. 听

7. Enjoy Your Discovery Requirements
Some of the most profound classes I took were classes that I was required to take. Don鈥檛 let the 鈥渞equirement鈥 part fool you, these classes can and will be so worthwhile. Beyond forcing you out of your comfort zone, these classes will provide you with different lenses through which to see. I was always surprised to learn that I have so much more to learn!听

6. Attend First Year Service Day
If you鈥檙e new to 91制片厂 Manchester 鈥 first, welcome! Second, I hope you went to First Year Service Day!

First Year Service Day provides students with an opportunity to get to know fellow classmates听and amazing staff before the semester starts.听Not only is your involvement impactful in the community, but it will impact your entire experience at 91制片厂 Manchester, trust me.听

5. Make Manchester Your Campus
When 91制片厂 Manchester says that "the city is our campus"鈥斕they mean it. Whether it鈥檚 interning in the city or听exploring, take advantage of the Manchester component of 91制片厂 Manchester.

Elm Street is just a quick walk (or bus ride) up the street and is loaded with culture! Greek food, French food, cupcakes, Cajun food, cupcakes, Italian, Hungarian, and did I mention the cupcakes?

The Verizon Wireless Arena has hockey games and great concerts, the baseball stadium is right across from the school, and the Currier Museum (which houses a Picasso, Monet and听Van Gogh) is right up the street.

Get involved with , an organization managed by an alum of 91制片厂 Manchester which highlights the great opportunities in New Hampshire.听

4. See a Tutor
Whether it鈥檚 for writing, math, science, or a language, the (CAE) is an amazing resource.

Located in the Learning Commons, CAE provides students with an opportunity to grow in the subject matter beyond what the classroom time allows. Students are provided with one听free hour per week for each class they are enrolled in, and the CAE usually has a tasty treat on hand too.

I loved using the CAE, and I used it for everything. My papers were always better received when I had taken the time to go to the CAE. The CAE also helped me with chemistry and my letter of intent for graduate school.

3. Become a Leader on Campus
Whether it鈥檚 as a , an , Student Activities Promoter, club leader, Student Ambassador or many of the other opportunities offered on campus, taking on a leadership role at 91制片厂 Manchester will not only help build your resume but will impact you in ways you may not have expected.

When I started attending 91制片厂 Manchester I was not very social 听I did not get involved and I kept to myself. After a semester of keeping quiet I saw a notice on The Flush, a student communication,听that a Community Service club was searching for a leader. This was something I was very interested in, so I contacted the Student Activities Coordinator and began my journey into Wonderland.

Challenge yourself听and let yourself grow! Likewise, if you鈥檙e new 听befriend a student leader! They鈥檙e a great resource to have on hand and serve as a great connection piece to the school!

2. Study Abroad
Whether it鈥檚 for two weeks or four听months, consider .听Studying abroad taught me a new language and听culture, it showed me different ways to live my life and听led to听my internship and听career path. Studying abroad gave me confidence to handle anything thrown my way. Most people will only get the opportunity to study/live abroad while they鈥檙e in college, take advantage the opportunity! You can always start by visiting our (who is amazing, because our staff rocks, remember?) and go from there.

1. Prepare to be IMPACTed
Now I鈥檓 stealing a phrase from Student Activities here, and I鈥檓 applying it to the University as a whole.

Come to 91制片厂 Manchester with an open mind. Come with听a willingness to try new things, meet new people, learn new ideas, and a thirst for knowledge.听Let yourself be impacted by what 91制片厂 Manchester has to offer.

Go to the BBQ, First Year Service Day, see a tutor, become a leader, ask questions, act in a play, sing in Milling Around, try everything, even if it鈥檚 just once.

In return, the University and its community will welcome you and give back to you more than you could ever imagine 听an experience that will stay with you beyond graduation and a journey towards lifelong learning and discovery.

Written by Victoria DiPippo, humanities graduate