Hartwick college

Where are you from?
Galway, NY—near Saratoga. It's a small town where everybody knows everybody. There were 84 in my high school graduating class. Three of my cousins are at Hartwick—Sally ['10], Rosa ['10], and Anthony ['12] Casimano.

Why double major in Political Science and Psychology?
I like to argue for what I believe. In politics, people are always arguing a point. My family is always talking about politics; we always have the news on.

Psychology because I'm interested in how people think, why they do what they do. That's important to understand in politics.

Why the Three-Year Degree Program?
Financial reasons, mostly. I loved this environment, the campus, and I really wanted to go here. The three-year program made Hartwick possible.

What else are you doing at Hartwick?
Orchesis right now—I'm dancing jazz, lyrical pieces, the Michael Jackson dance. It's a lot of fun. I've danced since I was really little.

When did you know Hartwick was for you?
The moment we got on campus, I knew it was perfect. Then when I came for an overnight experience and I got to see the sense of community, that was it.

How do you describe Hartwick to friends back home?
I call it my new home, my second home. Not only is it beautiful, everyone is so nice, and everyone's willing to help you.

What are your first semester classes?
I'm taking 19 credit hours, since I'm in the three-year program: everything from International Reations to Fundamentals of Acting. When my other classes get too stressful, I like acting. I took a lot of classes in high school, AP classes, that prepared me for now.

Where do you spend most of your time?
In the library—studying and hanging out; in town—I love Sal's cold pizza; and in the dance studio. My friends and I like to go there when it's quiet.

What does "theory into practice" mean to you?
Basically, being able to get out there and start to try to figure yourself out. You learn by doing. What works for you, what doesn't. Practice can give you a more adult perspective.

Where will you go from here?
Law school, maybe. It sounds really interesting—a lot of work, but also fun. I took college-level Spanish in high school, and I really want to go to Spain during one of my J Terms.