A College Utopia in the Heart of the City: How St. John’s Became Home for Hailey Brizuela
St. John’s University is “a small utopia within a big city,” according to senior Hailey Brizuela.
“My college years have enabled me to find my footing, not only in my own life, but also in learning how I can give back to others,” she said. “St. John’s has given me so much, and I can’t wait to pay it forward.”
“Trying to find the right college for me during the peak of COVID-19 was not easy, but St. John’s had a special spark that I couldn’t shy away from,” Hailey said. “This school seemed like it could be a home away from home—and that’s exactly what it turned out to be.”
“St. John’s also has an amazing reputation. I knew that if I came here, I could reach the potential I wanted to in my college career. Three years after making my decision, I can confidently say that I made the right choice.”
A commuter student who resides in Brooklyn, NY, Hailey is set to graduate in May 2025 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Relations from St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences on the Queens, NY, campus.
During her first year as a Johnnie, Hailey majored in Homeland Security before she eventually realized this field was not the right fit for her.
“I came across someone at the Annual President’s Dinner during my sophomore year who helped me find what made me happy and what major fitted me best—and that was public relations,” recalled Hailey.
The President’s Dinner, scheduled to be held on October 30, is St. John’s signature fundraising event, the proceeds of which are used to support scholarship assistance for students who, because of economic burdens, might otherwise be unable to realize their dream of a St. John’s education. In the past 26 years, the President’s Dinner has raised more than $55 million in scholarship support for St. John’s students.
Hailey is grateful for the two scholarships St. John’s awarded her: the St. Vincent de Paul Scholarship and the Student Service Scholarship. “Without these scholarships, I wouldn’t have been able to attend St. John’s as it wouldn’t have been an affordable option for me,” she said.
She is heavily involved in activities outside the classroom, including serving as a mentor in the R.I.S.E. Network (Reach, Inspire, Succeed, Empower). R.I.S.E. is a multicultural program designed to provide students with individualized mentorship and guidance. It emphasizes reaching first-year students who may need help adjusting to the academic and social demands of college. Hailey is also the public relations chair for the Latin American Student Organization on campus. In addition, she worked as an orientation leader for two years and assumed the role of Orientation Coordinator of Staff Training and Development for the past year.
Hailey views her work in the New Student Orientation program as the most impactful extracurricular experience for her, especially her time as an orientation coordinator. “Becoming a coordinator was a goal I had set for myself during my first year as an orientation leader,” she said. “Juggling this position, while attending school full time, and working full time at my job outside of St. John’s, was not the easiest thing to do. But I was determined to make sure I did everything I had to do and excel at it all, as well.”
During her own period as a new student, she said, “Orientation helped me acclimate to St. John’s, and then I was also helping other new students do the same thing as they entered. I was introduced to so many new people and networked with faculty, as well.”
“Thanks to the faculty and my peers in this program, I was motivated to get more involved after my first year and had a drive to establish myself more on campus,” said Hailey. “If it wasn’t for Orientation, I wouldn’t be as truly connected to the University as I am now. When I think back on my college experience five, 10, or 20 years from now, Orientation will forever be the first thing I think about.”
Although there are many commuter students at St. John’s, Hailey observed, “There is a comforting feeling about St. John’s that makes students think of it as home. Being a commuter student myself, I often go out of my way to come onto campus for events and to spend time with friends.”
Asked if there was a theme to her years at St. John’s, Hailey said one exists that revolves around “transformation and growth.”
“My college years have enabled me to find my footing, not only in my own life, but also in learning how I can give back to others,” she said. “St. John’s has given me so much, and I can’t wait to pay it forward.”
To support students like Hailey, please make a gift to the President’s Scholarship fund.
