Syracuse University

Student Spotlight

Teresa Soldner, Chemistry, international relations, and Middle Eastern studies, class of 2011, Marquette, MI

teresasoldner4.jpgWhy did you choose SU?
Quite honestly, I chose SU because I was offered the Coronat Scholarship. Without that I never could have come here, and additionally, it has offered me so many opportunities to excel that sometimes it still makes my head spin.

What has been your most meaningful experience so far?
I have certainly enjoyed my academic experiences, but far and away, the most important things to me have been the relationships I’ve developed with groups of people on this campus. When you go to college you don’t have your family to go home to and your friends sort of step in to fill that gap. That’s why college friends usually aren’t the same as high school friends. On a campus of 17,000, it’s been surprisingly easy to find that circle of family here, people to push me intellectually, and mentors to help me find my way.

What is the secret to your success at SU?
Not having a television or video games, getting involved on campus, finding a mentor, and seizing every opportunity that presents itself. I think the last two are the ones most people overlook. I can’t overemphasize how important a mentor can be, because finding someone who can explain things and get you excited about your field makes all the difference in your studies.

How have you changed since you’ve been here?
I really don’t think I have changed that much. I have been pushed to my limits sometimes, as far as my capacity for work goes, and learned how to make time instead of find time for something that I want to do. I think I’ve also learned how much I love having my own house. It’s girly, but I just love cooking and having my own space and quiet.

What do you plan to do after you graduate?
Med school. I’m a total nerd for diseases, blood, and the capabilities of the human body. Ultimately I think I’d like to work in third-world medicine, or perhaps in rural medicine in the Rockies or the northern Great Lakes region.