Meet four students who share their experiences at Rutgers
Rutgers Today set out to meet people doing ordinary things on campus. Meet four students who share some of their favorite things at Rutgers and talk about how their outlooks have changed since coming here.
Year: Junior
Major: Public Health
Hometown: Weslaco, Texas.
Rutgers Today: Where is your favorite place to go on campus?
Ochoa: I like to go to the Center for Latino Arts and Culture. I am very involved with the Latino community and it’s a great place to study and hang out, plus there are a lot of interesting events.
Rutgers Today: Who has influenced you most at Rutgers?
Ochoa: Everybody I have met here has influenced me. My peers, friends, and professors have all influenced me in different ways.
Rutgers Today: What is your favorite on campus activity?
Ochoa: I am the President of the Latin American Womyn’s Organization. It is both cultural and political and we work to raise awareness and empowerment.
Rutgers Today: How has Rutgers changed you?
Ochoa: I think the diversity here has changed me the most. I have been exposed to cultures, ideas, beliefs, and personalities. It has really opened my eyes. It is not diverse at all in my hometown.
Year: Sophomore
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Hometown: Hamilton, New Jersey
Rutgers Today: Where is your favorite place to go on campus?
Deguzman: Busch Campus Center is my favorite place to go. The lounge is quiet so it’s a nice place to relax.
Rutgers Today: Who has influenced you most at Rutgers?
Deguzman: My teaching assistants have always been a big help. They pay attention to you individually in big lecture halls, where the professor can’t get to know each student. I go to them for help and they’ve always been there.
Rutgers Today: What’s your favorite on campus activity?
Deguzman: Between studying and being an editor at RU-TV, I can’t find the time for many other activities.
Rutgers Today: How has Rutgers changed you?
Deguzman: I definitely study more or else I’m going to fail. I have become more independent. Basically Rutgers has taught me to find my own way.
Year: Sophomore
Major: Math and Statistics
Hometown: China
Rutgers Today: Where is your favorite place to go on campus?
Chen: I like to go to the Busch Campus Center because it is close to all of my classes.
Rutgers Today: Who has influenced you most at Rutgers?
Chen: The teacher of my first writing class was very helpful because I didn’t know how to write an essay in English. He really helped me out a lot.
Rutgers Today: What is your favorite on campus activity?
Chen: I like to go to the gym and work out with friends. It’s like a social thing for us.
Rutgers Today: How has Rutgers changed you?
Chen: I am more independent, especially being so far from home. I am also more familiar with American society and am speaking much more English.
Year: Senior
Major: Philosophy
Hometown: Piscataway, New Jersey
Rutgers Today: Where is your favorite place to go on campus?
Licciardi: It’s a toss-up between the Philosophy Department and the College Avenue Student Center. I enjoy the people at both places and the environment.
Rutgers Today: Who has influenced you most at Rutgers?
Licciardi: A ton of my professors have helped me. Although I don’t want to offend them by just naming one, I guess Holly Smith comes to mind. She was my ethics professor and she was an incredibly committed teacher, brilliant, and nice to her students.
Rutgers Today: What’s your favorite on campus activity?
Licciardi: I’m not here often, but I really enjoy the variety of food. My favorite places are Au Bon Pan or King Pita Palace.
Rutgers Today: How has Rutgers changed you?
Licciardi: I would love to say Rutgers has made me grow up. I’m certainly smarter than when I first started here and I’ve forged many lasting relationships.