"I earned my bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Manhattan. I'm the first generation in my family to go to college and I felt very insecure about my ability to understand all of the course material. My professors noticed that I lacked confidence, and definitely helped me overcome that. They were so helpful during my four years of undergrad that I felt like I could take on the challenge of graduate school.

"I originally chose Manhattan College for its location and size. I grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania — I wanted a big city experience without being too bombarded by crowd. I had visited a couple colleges in New York City, and I felt like the campus was too spread out. When I visited Manhattan it felt like a really welcoming, tight-knit community. Having a more traditional campus made a big difference. I'm a little more reserved, coming from a small town. So I joined a sorority — Alpha Epsilon Pi and met some of my best friends there.

"In my MATH 492: Mathematical Modeling course we partnered with Assistant Provost David Mahan, formerly executive director of institutional research and assessment. We used statistical analysis to define patterns in and identify factors affecting student retention, engagement at Manhattan. It was my first experience applying complex math to solve a real world problem.

"One of the biggest takeaways from the Master’s program so far, is that if I don't know something, I know I have the problem-solving and research skills to figure it out.

"It was very messy - there was a lot of stuff missing and just trying to figure out exactly how to get results. The experience showed me that nothing will ever go exactly as planned. It was a glimpse of what it's like to have a career in mathematical modeling, and to work with at team. Nothing that is truly fulfilling comes easy. The fact that we worked so hard to get there, once it was done I felt an huge sense of accomplishment.

"The summer after I graduated, I interned with CPXi, a digital media holding company in midtown Manhattan. I found the opportunity through the Office of Career Pathways' Jasperlink job board and recruiting platform. As a publisher operations support intern, I assessed daily digital media reports from several different websites and help value the space for potential buyers in real-time bidding. It was really exciting. The experience helped me honed my computer skills.

"I used so many of the skills I learned in my modeling course, especially Microsoft Excel. So I was very happy that I had that experience from my course that gave me the extra push to get the internship.

"The graduate experience is very different. The class size is smaller than undergraduate — like a cohort, we help each other out. There are more projects and the pace is faster. Generally, more is expected of you. I’m also starting to feel a little more pressure in finding a job after graduation. I’m excited to start the job search.”