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Success Stories
Name:
Darci Ramirez
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Residence:
Schererville, Indiana
Graduation Year:
2003
Major:
Physical Education
Minors:
Biology and Spanish
Why did you choose SJC?
One of the main reasons I chose SJC was because
I enjoyed my high school experience on a small campus and was looking for
a similar college environment. I was also interested in a college that allowed
me to take courses for my major during freshman year, and the unique format
of the Core Program made this possible. Two additional factors that played
a role in my decision were the reputation of the College's athletic program
and the proximity to my home and family. As a student, what were you involved in?
I was a four-year member of the cross-country and
track teams and received Academic All Conference honors for all eight seasons.
I was the President of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Vice President
and Treasurer of Diversity Coalition, and a member of Alpha Lambda Delta
freshman honor society. I was also involved in Faith Group, Kairos retreats,
and Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). What are you doing now?
I am a Technician at APT Plus Physical Therapy
in Hammond, Indiana. My job is to help patients suffering from illnesses
or injuries to successfully recover from them so that they can once again
manage their normal daily routines. We also run a work conditioning program
in our office that simulates job tasks for patients preparing to return
to work. I'm also working
towards earning my Associate of Science degree from Ivy Tech State College's
Physical Therapy Assistant Program. After I graduate, I'll be a licensed
Physical Therapist Assistant. Aside from work, I perform with a Latin dance group at different cultural events, and I am continuing my running career by training for and participating in competitions such as the Chicago Marathon.
How did SJC prepare you for the "real world"?
My involvement at Saint Joseph's College taught
me that there was more to graduating from college than learning facts from
a book. The Core Program pushed me to form my own opinions and be confident
about them, and my participation in extracurricular activities taught me
the importance of developing time-management skills and interacting with
a variety of cultures and personalities. All of these elements are extremely
important to having a successful career, and they can't be developed by
simply reading a textbook. The small class sizes made one-on-one contact
with professors readily available, and visiting the Career Development Center
was extremely beneficial - those on staff were more than willing to read
over resumes, help with job searches, and even conduct mock interviews to
prepare students for the real thing. At SJC, I learned to be me.
