Hello everyone! My name is Aaliyah Quintal and I am a junior English and Communication double major here at UMass. I grew up in Fall River, Massachusetts, which is about two hours away from UMass. As for a little about myself, I love fashion, gaming, red lipstick, and enjoying the sites around Amherst. In my time here at UMass I have been involved in the Koffee Haus Event Series, Women for UMass, the Academic Fellows Program, and I am currently a Peer Advisor for the Communication department. 

My time at UMass thus far has been an incredible experience that has enhanced me socially, academically, and professionally, all of which I am incredibly thankful for. I do not regret my decision to attend UMass in the slightest. The number of opportunities on campus has encouraged me to flourish and the support system I have here had my back since day one. UMass is a wonderful place, and I encourage anyone considering UMass to take advantage of the multitude of opportunities here, you will not regret it! 

Why did you choose your major?

I chose a double major in English and Communication for one simple reason, the broadness of both majors. English and Communication are very open majors. The skills that one can learn from both can easily be applied to many fields, which is extremely appealing to me. I am someone who is always searching for something new and exciting, and that truly extends into my professional life, so I could not see myself majoring in something that was very specific and limited my career options. My current after-college goals are to break into the fields of marketing, human resources or higher education and both my majors will help me explore any of my desired fields of interest. While I genuinely love the course work in both of my majors, each majors adaptability is a big selling point for me. 

Where do you live on campus?

I currently live in Southwest in one of the towers, but I previously lived in Central during my freshman and sophomore year. While both residential areas have their perks, I loved my time in both areas equally and I do not regret my decision to live in either. So, why did I make the move from Central to Southwest after two years? Simple — I wanted change. I knew that I would only be at UMass for two more years, so why not spice things up and try out a new residential area? It was perfect timing as many of my close friends were moving off-campus, so I took the chance and moved to a new area of campus. This was one of the best decisions I have made thus far at UMass. Living in a new area not only freshened things up, but I got to experience UMass in a new light. I highly recommend trying out a new residential area on campus during your time here at UMass. Why not explore everything UMass has to offer?

What is something that everyone at UMass should do before graduating?

Attend a UMass athletic game! While admittedly I am not the biggest sports fan, attending a UMass game was one of the best experiences I had on campus. At games, I easily found myself getting hyped up with the energetic crowd around me. I fed off their excitement as friends and strangers alike banded together to support UMass. The thrill and pride of sports culture is something that I have always admired and experiencing that while cheering on your university is truly wonderful. Even if you are not into sports, attend a UMass game! It will be well worth it, win or lose. 

If you have any questions about UMass or my experience feel free to reach out at asquintal@umass.edu.