Brandywine Student Spotlight: Julia D’Orazio

Year: Second

Major: Communications

Involvement: Secretary, Student Government Association (SGA); member, Brandywine Benefitting THON; member, Council of Club Presidents; member, Student Initiated Fee committee

Brandywine: What was your deciding factor in coming to Penn State Brandywine?

D’Orazio: I’ve always wanted to go to Penn State, and once I got accepted to Brandywine, I thought attending a smaller campus would be a good fit for me. Once I came to campus, I really liked it and knew it was the place for me.

Brandywine: How did you choose your major?

D’Orazio: I knew I wanted to go into a field that works with a lot of people, but I wasn’t sure which field that was yet. I thought communications would be a great way to get one foot in the door.

Brandywine: What challenges have you faced at Brandywine if any?

D’Orazio: Finding a good group of people was the biggest challenge for me. Once I got settled at Brandywine and found my people, it was golden.

Brandywine: Who at Brandywine has supported you, and how?

D’Orazio: Jordan Polillo (a fourth-year student and SGA president) has really supported me. She was the one who encouraged me to get involved in my first year of college.

Brandywine: What made you interested in joining Brandywine Benefitting THON? What do you enjoy most about it?

D’Orazio: I’ve known I wanted to join THON since I learned about Penn State. I remember when I was in fourth grade, my teacher told us she went to Penn State and her experience at THON, and I knew that was something I wanted to do. I really enjoy getting to raise money for the kids, especially at events like Dining Under the Stars.

Brandywine: What made you interested in joining SGA? What do you enjoy most about it?

D’Orazio: Jordan encouraged me to join SGA. She was secretary last year, and she told me about all the stuff SGA did, like going to the Commonwealth Campus Student Government meetings at different campuses, and that really piqued my interest. I enjoy getting to work with a small group of people and deciding what our game plan is for meetings.

Brandywine: What advice do you have for students who are looking to get involved?

D’Orazio: Don’t hesitate; just do it. Getting involved helps pass time on campus a lot faster. You get to meet a bunch of new people too. I’ve really enjoyed it so far.

Brandywine: With your involvement at Brandywine, how has your time on campus been impacted?

D’Orazio: I feel like I’ve gotten to know so many people at Brandywine that I see at least 20 people I know walking around campus. I really enjoy being on a smaller campus where I can get to know a lot of people.

Brandywine: What's your favorite memory you've made at Brandywine?

D’Orazio: My favorite memory was the day of the Involvement Fair and the first Dining Under the Stars of September. It was such a good day.

Brandywine: What has been the most valuable lesson you've learned at Brandywine?

D’Orazio: The biggest thing I learned is to not overthink different situations. When I got here last year, I was so nervous about the school year, but once I set foot on campus, I knew this was exactly where I wanted to be. I feel like it was the overthinking that made me nervous, but once I got over it and got here, I’ve been enjoying my time here so much more.