By Jennifer DiTomasso '22In trying to make good use of this quarantine period I have been focusing on self-improvement. I began working out, rededicated myself to playing guitar, and crafted a list of all the things I should be grateful for. This past school year has been one of the most fun and rewarding of my life, so I was heartbroken to hear that it would be ending prematurely in March. However, I truly believe that in all bad there is good and this pandemic made me realize how truly blessed I am to be a part of the Marist community. I am thankful for the career coaches in the Marist College Center for Career Services who are still guiding me in this uncertain time. In such an unclear job market I thought I lost my opportunity to intern this summer. However, all it took was one phone call to career services to quell my fears and to build a new plan. Last week I spoke with Executive Director Mary Jones, who has been guiding me since my freshman year. She suggested that I begin searching FoxQuest for remote positions this summer. She also recommended that I participate in the Center for Career Services’ upcoming webinars that focus on the internship search. Career Services recommended that I use the Alumni Career Network to reach out to professionals in my field, which I will do even more moving forward. Doing this in the past has had extremely positive results, and I always walk away from the conversation with a new perspective on the internship search. For example, one alumni mentor suggested that I use Twitter to search for freelance writing opportunities. It’s nice to know that if I still have trouble finding an internship after taking these steps, I can still schedule an appointment with a career coach and make a new plan. There is no manual for handling this pandemic, but I am thankful that Marist has always kept students at the forefront of their minds during their decision-making processes. I am thankful to attend a college where the faculty and staff wanted to stay on campus as badly as the students did. I’m also grateful that Marist has been so communicative during this time by always sending updates and being willing to listen to the feedback of the community. Jennifer DiTomasso '22 (left, playing guitar) performs during Love in the Afternoon, a benefit concert hosted by Marist Music on March 7, 2020, in Nelly Goletti Theatre. Jennifer is taking voice lessons by video conferencing with Marist faculty members during the college's period of online instruction. I am thankful to have professors who start and end each weekly update with a message wishing us good health and happiness. I feel very privileged to have instructors this semester who not only care about my education, but who care about my well-being. Although the transition to online instruction has not been perfect, it’s enough to know that my professors are trying to make their classes as informative and engaging as possible. I am thankful for the Marist music department, who refuses to let distance stop us from practicing our craft. My voice lessons over video chat are the highlight of my week and I take comfort in knowing that this community will always be there for me whether we are on campus or not. I am thankful for all the clubs I am a part of on campus---HerCampus, Students Encouraging Environmental Dedication (S.E.E.D.), and Dance Ensemble to name a few---whose email updates always make me smile even if the messages are those of parting. Finally, I am thankful for all the wonderful friends I have met at Marist College. I feel very fortunate that I have people in my life who always make me laugh, who text me just to tell me that they miss me, and who I cannot wait to see on campus in the fall. Although things are scary right now there is still so much we should be thankful for. So in this time where we are all counting our blessings, it’s nice to remember that Marist College will always be at the top of my list.
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