Student Treasures Personal and Professional Ties Nurtured at St. John’s

“‘Quality Time’ is my theme,” she explained. “Throughout my nearly four years on the campus in Queens, NY, I have formed countless bonds, whether they are with peers, supervisors, or University employees.”

“What has made these bonds genuine and lasting is the quality time I spent building these relationships,” Brooke said. “Because of the tight-knit nature of St. John’s, I’ve been fortunate enough to get to know so many wonderful people.”

She continued, “My time at St. John’s has been the best part of my life. After I graduated, I missed each and every person and place. Not all people who go to college can say that—but all people who go to St. John’s can.”

Brooke knew before she entered college that she wanted to pursue a career in the television industry. She left her native Baltimore, MD, for St. John’s in New York precisely because of the proximity of the Queens campus to Manhattan, which is well known as a news and entertainment mecca. 

“I figured that being so close to Manhattan would provide me with ample internship and job opportunities in the television market,” said Brooke, who is expected to complete her Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Arts, with minors in Television Studies and Film Studies, this May.

Her hunch about securing hands-on experience in Manhattan in her chosen field proved to be fruitful. Brooke served as a production intern for The Daily Show with Trevor Noah and The View television shows. Back on the Queens campus, she works as a live television broadcast production assistant for SJU-TV. In addition, Brooke writes and performs comedy skits for about seven minutes of airtime for WREDtv, the St. John’s University television station.

She claims many memberships with various organizations based at St. John’s, including the President’s Society, the highest honor society at St. John’s; The Lesley H. and William L. Collins College of Professional Studies Honor Society; the University’s Honors Program, and the Student Ambassador program.

But Brooke’s most impactful experience is her membership in the Catholic Scholars program, where she is part of a multidisciplinary community of Catholic leaders who join professors and campus ministers in monthly meetings, lectures, retreats, courses, and prayer experiences that integrate faith, reason, and service.

“Being a part of this program has given me so many blessings that I will continue to enjoy for the rest of my life,” Brooke said. “Some of these include growth in my relationship with God and increased knowledge about my faith and its intricacies. Throughout my time at St. John’s, I have gained a better understanding of my personal relationship with God and how that fits into the larger concept of the Catholic faith. I have also been able to have deeper and much more intellectual faith-centered conversations with my peers, and my interest in doing so has increased exponentially.”

She also noted that most of her closest friends are fellow Catholic Scholars. “These are not simply people that I have had a class with here and there or that I see at Mass each week. These people are my lifelong companions who, through the God-given goodness that is at the core of their beings, have helped me better understand myself and my place in the world.”

Throughout her college years, Brooke actively participates in a wide range of service activities, such as the University’s Midnight Run to help homeless people in Manhattan, and volunteering at the after-school program at St. Nicholas of Tolentine. Since her first year at St. John’s, Brooke has been participating in Campus Ministry by serving as a lector and extraordinary minister of the Eucharist at St. Thomas More Church, located on the Queens campus. Through the St. Vincent de Paul Society, she was part of a trick-or-treating event at the Staten Island, NY, campus called Kids on Campus.

“Participating in service during college reminds me that although it may be more accessible to serve while at St. John’s, the call to service and the need for my service does not cease after I graduate,” Brooke said. “The service I conduct at St. John’s serves as a reminder that this is something I must continue to do for the rest of my life.”