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The University of Massachusetts Amherst is the quintessential college in the Northeast when it comes to offering the freedom and opportunities of a large school. Many people have left their tiny New England towns to be greeted with countless new faces and communities at UMass Amherst. This can be very daunting, but if you ask Valeri, a member of the class of 2025, it’s completely worth it. 

Valerie came to UMass from Canton, Massachusetts, a tight-knit community southwest of Boston where“everyone I had went to school with I had been classmates with since kindergarten.” But Valerie was not daunted by all her new peers at UMass and understood that “everyone has to adjust a little bit to college.” 

With this mentality, Valerie made sure to get involved with her new big school and make the most of every opportunity. She “moved in early because I did Powerup," a program where incoming students move in two days early to gain familiarity with campus and meet their new classmates. "So I made friends in that program just by talking to people,” Valerie said. When other students moved in, she already knew her way around campus and had friends. And from there she put her best foot forward by socializing with her roommate and floormates, building a network of friends immediately. 

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Valerie has paid that forward by becoming an RA in the beautiful Orchard Hill residential area of campus. “Being able to meet the other RAs in my cluster and being able to meet new people and different people has been really cool,” she said. “I like my residents and I really like my co-RA and we always plan our events together.” In addition to being an RA, Valerie works as a tour guide and is a member of the Student Nursing Association. 

Even though Valerie has carved out a strong community for herself, getting there took some growing up, which is normal in college.  “Naturally I am kind of a shy, reserved person so doing things without my friends was something I was scared to do,” Valerie admitted. “But I have learned to do things for myself. Even if it’s scary, it’ll probably work out and it's better to do for yourself.” Now that she’s in such a great social circle, Valerie proudly claims, “I am incredibly happy with my choice and I love it here. I can’t really imagine myself anywhere else.”