Cara Cherepon, English major, hails from the small rural town of
Ashford, Connecticut. She attended high school right next to the
University of Connecticut campus, which about half the graduates of
her high school typically attend. This was not the case for Cara,
however. She felt the urge to get out and spread her wings, and St.
John’s has provided her with plenty of opportunity for this. Cara
had applied to and been accepted at many schools, but there was no
better choice than St. John’s University; Being accepted to the St.
John’s Honors Program was the final incentive that affected her
decision.
Cara has always been an involved student. In her small middle
school, she received many awards and recognitions for her
involvement, and moving up to the much larger high school seemed
daunting only for a moment. In high school, Cara soon became
involved with new activities such as volunteering with inner-city
kids, as well as her traditional favorites, the Drama Club and the
softball team. Despite her busy high school schedule, Cara remained
devoted to her family, including her sister Hailey, her twin
brothers Joseph and Adam, her mother, Cathy and her father,
Joseph.
Upon arriving at St. John’s University, Cara quickly immersed
herself in a new world. In doing so, she noticed a theme in her St.
John’s education, that of “discovery.” As she befriended a diverse
group of classmates, she discovered things about herself that she
had never suspected. “A lot of people believe the old saying that
‘college is where you find yourself. I think college is where
you get to lose your old self and try exciting new things as part
of your life journey. The ‘discovery’ happens in life not when we
are finding ourselves, but instead during the thrilling adventure
of getting lost…”
Cara has certainly enjoyed her continuing journey of “losing”
herself as she has participated in the many St. John’s clubs and
activities. She participated in her Discover New York class in the
fall of her first year and was able to familiarize herself with the
city she now so frequently visits. With encouragement from her
speech professor, Dr. Jaime Wright, she joined the prestigious St.
John's University Debate Team during her second semester and found
herself discovering the important skill of understanding and
arguing both sides to issues.
Another discovery Cara has made at St. John’s has been the
amazing number of volunteer programs. Cara has long been interested
in human rights, and has been globally minded and conscious of
social justice issues around the world. One of her favorite maxims
is “Think Globally, Act Locally,” and St. John’s University has
helped Cara live this. In her first year at St. John’s she mentored
at least once a week in Brooklyn through the Campus Ministry
program and participated in the Habitat for Humanity program. Cara
hopes to become even more involved with these activities throughout
her career at St. John’s. “There are so many programs at St.
John’s to choose from you would be kidding yourself if you could
find an excuse not to participate.”
“Whether going to the gym, playing piano and singing in St.
John’s Hall, or having a movie-night, there is always something
great to do on campus.” St. John’s also offers opportunities
off-campus including walking tours, Broadway shows and museum
trips. Cara has also been offered the great opportunity to study
abroad in three different countries in one semester through the
Discover the World program at St. John’s. “One of my stipulations
for choosing a school was the study abroad program, and St. John’s
won in that category…no contest.”
St. John’s has gone above and beyond in providing Cara with the
tools she needs to accomplish her lifetime goals. She hopes to
attend law school, focusing on human rights and international law
so she can incorporate her love for travel, discovery, and human
justice into a career. “But why wait until I graduate when I can do
all those things now?” Cara is already living the life she wants,
making a positive change in the world. Eventually she would like to
use her degree in English to settle down, teach, and write about
her experiences.
Cara truly loves the opportunities for growth both inside and
out of the classrooms at St. John’s University, and she knows her
experiences here are just the beginnings of a lifetime of
achievement and discovery.