uniting people through music and words
Jordan DeGaetano '20
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Freshman Jordan DeGaetano, loves running, Nutella, and the Berkshires.
MCLA appealed to Jordan because of its affordability, and inspiring environment. "What better place to invoke a sense of creativity than a mountainside liberal arts college," Jordan said.
As an English Major with a creative writing concentration, Jordan describes herself as an artist and an aspiring songwriter. Her ultimate goal is to unite people through music and words. More than anything else though, Jordan says she's just someone who likes to laugh and eat. In her free time, Jordan plays the guitar, piano, and ukulele. She also enjoys, writing songs, working out, running, and spending time with her friends.
Currently, she spends most of her free time with her MCLA Cross Country teammates. Being a part of this team has helped her feel so at home at MCLA and has inspired her to pursue other engagement opportunities across campus once the season is over. "Right now I am all about cross country, but once the season ends, I plan to become actively involved with the Student Activities Council," Jordan said.
In her short time living on campus, Jordan is already starting to see herself grow and change. "I accomplish work a lot more efficiently than I did in high school," she said. "Also, I do laundry more frequently, and I have to wash my own dishes. Buying my own dental floss was strangely adult."
She hopes her legacy will be starting a track and field team at the College, and hopes that she will be able to inspire the funding for a team in the next four years. MCLA has been academically rewarding as well. Some of Jordan's favorite experiences include when her Creative Writing Professor helped her develop a new level of content and development in one of her poems, and when she achieved a perfect score on a test through the guidance of her Introduction to Literature professor.
Overall Jordan describes her college experience thus far as full of fun, learning, laughter, and occasionally getting lost. "I have a habitual tendency to get lost in the most simple of places," Jordan said "Like seriously, where is the mailroom?! I've only found it once, and it has since disappeared..."
During her time at MCLA, Shadea has fully embraced the many opportunities available to her, participating in theatre, the WJJW Radio Station, and Dance Company. This semester, Shadea is embarking on what may be "one of the most rewarding experiences of her life," studying abroad at the University of the Virgin Islands in St. Thomas. While there she will be taking classes in English, Communications, and Theatre, auditioning for their dance team, and exploring opportunities with the University's radio station. Shadea's study abroad experience was made possible through the National Student Exchange Program and was funded by applying her financial aid awards from MCLA.
Shadea is just one example of the impact financial aid makes. Did you know that 46% percent of all MCLA students were eligible for Federal Pell Grants last year and that 90% of all MCLA students applied for financial aid? Due to this increasingly pressing need, this year the College has introduced a special scholarship initiative to help increase funds available to our students and their families. The need is greater now than ever before. When you give to the Alumni Fund, you are making it possible for MCLA's students, like Shadea, to begin and complete their journey; allowing them to fulfill their dreams and discover their passions.