I’m asking some of the people you might encounter on the UMBC campus, including students, faculty, staff and alumni, to answer a few questions about themselves and their experiences. These are their responses.
Name: Caroline (Cara) Jurney.
Hometown: College Park, MD
Q: How long have you been at UMBC?
A: Just one semester.
Q: What is your current title (job or student organization position)?
A: At the moment I am just a plain old member a few groups like The Stilettos and the Health and Wellness sect of the SGA. I am also a Labbie for some math classes and if all goes well, I will have one more title soon!
Q: In 12 words or less, what role(s) do you play on campus?
A: My work ethic, character, and smile allow me to lead by example.
Q: What aspect of your UMBC role(s) do you enjoy most?
A: I honestly enjoy every bit of my life at UMBC. If I had to pick a favorite, it would probably be learning, as strange as that sounds. I really like my major, though, so I’m genuinely interested in the subject matter of all of my classes.
Q: What is the most important or memorable thing you learned in college/have learned at UMBC?
A: I have learned two things at UMBC that have completely changed the way I approach life. Firstly, I learned who I am. It seems cliché and impossible for someone to “find themselves” in one semester at college, but it’s exactly what happened. Throughout the past couple of years, I’ve been undergoing a massive personal transformation, and gaining independence in college gave me the opportunity to figure out who the “new me” is and what that really means. The second most important thing I’ve learned is that people at their core are really decent. No one wakes up and thinks, “Today, I’m going to ruin someone’s life.” People just aren’t that malicious- at worst, people are careless and they just don’t think about the effect they are having on others.
Q: Complete this sentence: "I am a big fan of __________"
A: Openness. It really makes my day when someone is open to try something new with me, or if they open up and tell me something important, or if someone is open to becoming my friend.
Q: Do you have any UMBC stories, little-known facts about UMBC, favorite spots on campus, or anything else you’d like to share?
A: My favorite spot on campus is continually changing. In the non-wintry months, I love the stairways on either side of the Math/Psych building. One of them has ivy and the other has honeysuckle, and it reminds me so much of my original home! In the morning, my favorite spot is the seventh floor of the library. It is so open (which I’m a fan of) and peaceful! Even the bathrooms are nicer up there! We have a really nice campus, guys, so explore!
