2009 Valedictorian: Suzanne Guese
Mark Freeman
Issue date: 5/12/09 Section: News
Suzanne Guese never expected to be valedictorian. In fact, she originally was not even going to apply. Talking to her sisters one night changed her mind though. "They told me that they thought I had something unique to say," Guese recalled.
Even after her meeting with the Senior Senate, Director of Residence and Community Life Jim Sciuto and Vice Provost of Academics Frances Sweeney, she was convinced she would not be chosen. "On paper I don't feel like I'm super-involved," Guese explained. "And that's why I thought they wouldn't really pick me-I don't have a laundry list of activities, and a large part of my time was abroad too."
However, Guese, a communication and Italian studies double major, impressed the committee and was chosen for the honor. Originally from Denver, Colorado, she was involved in various activities at Saint Mary's during her four years, including the Dante Club, riverrun literary magazine and Orientation Leaders. She feels that what will be especially memorable about her time at Saint Mary's are the professors she has known. "I'll never forget Costanza [Dopfel] or Maria Grazia [De Angelis-Nelson], those vivid personalities," Guese said.
Guese has an intense love for Italy. She spent a full year studying abroad there, one semester in Syracuse, Sicily and the other in Florence. She also went to the summer program in Sorrento after her freshman year and spent last January Term in Taormina, also in Sicily.
Guese says that right now, preparing for graduation and all that will come after it is "a weird time," with some feeling fearful, some feeling pressured to make decisions. However, she has a positive attitude about everything. "I'm really excited," she said.
She plans to return to Italy shortly after graduation, spending the summer teaching English to a girl there. She may extend her stay and continue teaching after this, but this is not yet definite. "Ultimately, I'd like to get into travel writing," Guese said.
No matter what she does, she plans to do just what she advises others to do: pursue your passion. "It bothers me when I hear people are doing things they're settling on or because they're going to make a lot of money doing it, when your happiness isn't really factored in there," she said. She explained that all her time spent in Italy has been following her passion for the country. "And that's kind of what Saint Mary's is supposed to be about," she said. "We're supposed to find these areas that we love."
Even after her meeting with the Senior Senate, Director of Residence and Community Life Jim Sciuto and Vice Provost of Academics Frances Sweeney, she was convinced she would not be chosen. "On paper I don't feel like I'm super-involved," Guese explained. "And that's why I thought they wouldn't really pick me-I don't have a laundry list of activities, and a large part of my time was abroad too."
However, Guese, a communication and Italian studies double major, impressed the committee and was chosen for the honor. Originally from Denver, Colorado, she was involved in various activities at Saint Mary's during her four years, including the Dante Club, riverrun literary magazine and Orientation Leaders. She feels that what will be especially memorable about her time at Saint Mary's are the professors she has known. "I'll never forget Costanza [Dopfel] or Maria Grazia [De Angelis-Nelson], those vivid personalities," Guese said.
Guese has an intense love for Italy. She spent a full year studying abroad there, one semester in Syracuse, Sicily and the other in Florence. She also went to the summer program in Sorrento after her freshman year and spent last January Term in Taormina, also in Sicily.
Guese says that right now, preparing for graduation and all that will come after it is "a weird time," with some feeling fearful, some feeling pressured to make decisions. However, she has a positive attitude about everything. "I'm really excited," she said.
She plans to return to Italy shortly after graduation, spending the summer teaching English to a girl there. She may extend her stay and continue teaching after this, but this is not yet definite. "Ultimately, I'd like to get into travel writing," Guese said.
No matter what she does, she plans to do just what she advises others to do: pursue your passion. "It bothers me when I hear people are doing things they're settling on or because they're going to make a lot of money doing it, when your happiness isn't really factored in there," she said. She explained that all her time spent in Italy has been following her passion for the country. "And that's kind of what Saint Mary's is supposed to be about," she said. "We're supposed to find these areas that we love."