Erica Saviuk '10

Communication Studies major and Journalism minor

Why Stetson?

Stetson was the only school I visited and the only school I applied to when I was a high school senior. I had heard about its academic excellence and beautiful campus from family and friends. Once I visited and met some of the people, I was hooked. The small class sizes were ideal, too, and I liked the fact that I would really get to know my classmates and my teachers. I didn’t want to be known to my professors as “that girl in the back.” Stetson and I both value and foster close relationships.

What do you like best about Stetson?

I like the friendly atmosphere best. That sounds cliché because EVERYONE says it, but it really is true. I cannot walk from one place on campus to another without seeing people I know and stopping for a moment to say hello. I even find myself smiling at people I don’t even know, and vice versa! This is a place where people know you and are genuinely excited to see you around, give you a hug and ask how you’re doing. I love that.

What are you involved in?

The first thing I got involved in as a freshman was SGA (Student Government Association). I was a regular member (or Senator, as we call it) for my first semester and then became Academic Affairs Chairperson during my second semester. From there, I became secretary of the Executive Board. I was on the Reporter, our school newspaper, as columnist and copy editor for a year and a half. I became an RA (Resident Assistant) when I was a sophomore and I oversaw a hallway in Hall A. During my junior year, I was Head Resident of Gordis Hall, which is three hallways of freshman boys and three hallways of freshman girls. So far, that has been my favorite extracurricular; I really love doing hall programs with my residents and being a leader for the first-year students.

Plans for the future?

I would like to move to New York City and write for a newspaper or magazine. Since my cancer diagnosis last June, I have also been really interested in writing books for teens and young adults who have to learn to cope with the disease.

Whoa. Did cancer affect your life at Stetson?

Yes and no. I am so grateful I was able to come back to school in the fall 2008 semester. For a while, I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to return, and that was devastating. I was so worried that I would fall behind and then have to play catch-up so I could graduate on time. Plus, I was so nervous that I wouldn’t be able to see my friends for that semester. Luckily though, I was making such good progress with my chemotherapy that my oncologist gave me the go-ahead to come back, as long as I promised not to overexert myself (which I have a tendency of doing).

The only things that were affected by my illness were my extracurriculars and my time management skills. I had to quit SGA because there just wasn’t enough time to do three meetings a week in addition to my four classes and doctor visits AND being a Head Resident. Even though I have good time management skills, I had to REALLY work hard to make sure that sleeping all day every other Thursday, Friday, and Saturday (one of the side effects of chemotherapy is being very lethargic) didn’t affect my grades. My professors were so incredibly understanding if I couldn’t make it to class because I was at a CAT scan or didn’t feel well. All the kids at Stetson were so supportive, too. People from school that I didn’t even KNOW sent me messages on Facebook to let me know they heard about my story or had seen me around and were thinking of me. That was really nice, and definitely something that I don’t think I would have gotten if I were at a larger university.

How do you spend your free time?

A lot of people think that there is not a lot to do in DeLand because it is SUCH a small town, but I don’t think they are looking hard enough! There are all sorts of things to do in town and on campus. On weekends, I like to take a blanket and a book to the Quad and do some reading or hanging out with friends. I watch a lot of movies with my friends in our dorm rooms, too. There is a place downtown called Clay Pigeons that I also like to go to so I can paint pottery and relax. And of course, I also try to squeeze in a good nap every now and again!

What was the best class you’ve taken so far?

That is a very tough question because I have taken a lot of incredible classes. I can tell you my top three: Journalism, Multimedia News and Storytelling, and Beauty and Body in American Culture. The first two were for my minor, so I was already interested in the topics. But Andy Dehnart, the professor, is absolutely hilarious and knows what he is talking about because he has worked in the journalism field. Beauty and Body was an elective class that I took; it was taught by Emily Mieras, who is so helpful and just completely brilliant. That’s one thing about the professors here – they are so smart and well-versed in their subject areas and they genuinely want to see their students succeed.

Do you have advice for someone coming to Stetson for the first time?

Yes. First, have an umbrella with you at all times. DeLand is famous for its spontaneous downpours that can leave you drenched without a moment’s notice. Also, get involved and cultivate your interests. If you love the theater, take a theater class or try out for a play (and if you can’t act, then at least attend the play and get some Cultural Credit while you’re there)! Don’t just enroll in classes because you heard the professor is easy; sometimes it’s nice to have a class you can fly right through, but in the long run it is a lot more beneficial to take a class that was a little more challenging.