Building on Fashion
With a major in mass communications and minors in dance, Italian, and public relations, Sharon, Pa., native Christina Grasso ’11 looks to a future of her own design in the fashion industry. In the meantime she’s knitting together a quality education supplemented with all that Saint Mary’s has to offer.
Saint Mary’s came highly recommended—by Christina’s sister, Natalie Grasso ’08. But the College was also everything that she wanted: small, private, Catholic, safe, and beautiful—part of a list that goes on says Christina. “It was a leap of faith, but I could not imagine having my college experience anywhere else.”
Christina has made her own way at Saint Mary’s; she is a member of the Junior Class Board, Dance Company of Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s College Republicans and both the Saint Mary’s and Notre Dame Right to Life groups. She has also been active with the Friends with Sisters program, Dance Marathon, and she has studied abroad.
Putting her minor in Italian to the test, Christina studied abroad in Rome during the fall of 2008. “It was by far the best and most enriching experience of my life,” says Grasso who had the opportunity to meet the Pope. “My experience in Rome was truly a fairytale and through it I have grown significantly in faith, in self-confidence, and have become a much more worldly young woman.”
Two of her professors in Rome made a lasting impression. Mass communications professor Peter Sarram challenged Christina, which she says helped to expand her knowledge and thought processes. Christina noted that Professor Inge Hansen helped her to blossom. “She would take me out to lunch and we would discuss everything from Roman architecture to Coco Chanel. Her classy manner, vast intelligence and eloquent speech truly astounds me and she has become every bit my role model.”
Christina’s minor in dance has also been nurtured by dance professor and alumna Jaclyn Thompson. “She completely revived my passion for dance and taught me that dance is not about having perfect technique, but simply loving what one does, and I feel this can be applied to any aspect of life,” says Christina. “She has so much energy and passion for what she does, and continues to inspire me through her spirit and enthusiasm for doing what she loves even as she has relocated to New York City.”
Christina might find herself in New York City someday as she hopes her education will lead her to a career in the fashion industry as a booking editor or fashion editor for a major fashion magazine in the City. “It has been my dream since I was a little girl, and I have made some great connections in the industry that have opened a lot of doors, so I’m very excited to see how things shape up!”
Students First
“It’s nice to be at a school where students are excited to learn and are proud of the school they go to,” says communication studies major Kristin O’Reilly Steel. “And it is nice to be at a school that emphasizes the importance of the students instead of the reputation of the institution itself.” The Green bay, Wis., native transferred to Saint Mary’s because she wanted to be in a Catholic learning environment. “The idea of an all girls school excited me as I believed it would allow close friendships to develop. It is nice to have small classes and close contact with teachers, yet, still enjoy all of the benefits of the University of Notre Dame.”
Kristin has had the opportunity to develop close friendships in her introduction to communications class last semester. She says her professor, Susan Baxter, aided the class in forming close relationships with one another through their speech assignments. “Each of these presentations brought us closer to one another, and were an enjoyable experience. Professor Baxter always brought comedic relief to stressful days.”
Kristin has also developed relationships with others through her activities on both Saint Mary’s and Notre Dame’s campuses, participating in the Notre Dame Dance Company and the Saint Mary’s spring musical, Candide. This year she will be in Dance Ensemble Workshop at Saint Mary’s, and she will be a Resident Assistant (RA) in Le Mans Hall.
Kristin says that all of her professors have been wonderful and more than willing to meet outside of class. “The professors here are focused not only on the academic success of students, but their happiness as well. I never felt that I was bothering my teachers when I came in for extra help, and whenever I see them they all greet me by name.” This goes hand-in-hand with how Kristin interprets the Saint Mary’s slogan: She’s Saint Mary’s. “When students get here I think they really understand what that quote means,” explains Kristin. “Because it is not the buildings or the reputation or the classes that make Saint Mary’s what it is—it is the students.”
Getting the Story
Future reporter Areli Bautista '12 can get her story in English and in Spanish. The communication studies and psychology major says that her favorite class was "Introduction to Communications" with Professor Terri Russ. “I had a great experience throughout this course. The assignments that Professor Russ gave throughout the semester made the class very interesting,” explains Areli. “I had the opportunity to interview a famous Hispanic reporter from Univision, a Spanish-speaking [television] channel. It was a great opportunity because I gained knowledge of what a reporter’s career consists of.”
Areli says the best part of being a Saint Mary’s student is the one-on-one relationships she can develop with professors, and Professor Russ is just one example. “Dr. Russ is a great professor, not only in the classroom but also outside the classroom. I have met with her during her office hours and she always made sure that I understood the material correctly, and if I had a problem, she always made sure to make it clear.
During the summer Areli volunteered at local nursing homes near her hometown, Warsaw, Ind. On campus, she stays busy with the Student Diversity Board (SDB) and last year she was the chair for the SDB-sponsored Disabilities Awareness Week. She's now the chair for the Journalistic Relations committee of SDB, and the treasurer for the student club, La Fuerza. Areli is also involved with Campus Ministry.
Even with all that she does, Areli stays focused on her future career goal of working in the media, either as a news anchor or a reporter. “I hope that I can use my first language, Spanish, and do something great in the media!”
