By Matthew Laurrie
Features Editor
Somewhere along their journey, senior Bonnies traded in crayons and overalls for a degree and dress clothes. As the class of 2013 looks toward the future, some students took time to reflect on their youthful dreams.
Brittany Gasper, a journalism and mass communication major, had astrological aspirations when she was a young girl. Gasper said her room was painted dark blue with golden stars adorning the walls, while a mobile of the solar system swayed from the ceiling.
“When I was eight years old, I decided to become an astronaut,” Gasper said. “I figured I already had most of the qualifications, which meant I knew the location of the Big Dipper.”
However, Gasper’s ambitions evolved after she decided to explore a journalism and mass communication major in college.
“When NASA rejected me, I decided J/MC would have good career substitutes,” Gasper said.
She plans to start a career in advertising or public relations after graduation, and envisions that her job search will involve traveling, which she said she is perfectly fine with.
“I’m prepared to start my life in the ‘real’ world, in a career I love,” Gasper said. “And if that doesn’t work, maybe I’ll try out that astronaut idea again.”
Brett Keegan, a philosophy major, said he once had high hopes to break into a number of scientific fields, like meteorology, astronomy, and volcanology.
Keegan later realized his love of writing and said he has used it as an outlet to better his life and the lives of those around him. Keegan is so zealous about his passions that he has developed several projects he hopes to publish in the future.
“I feel like writing – the direction I’m moving in now – is something that really struck in the latter half of high school,” he said. “When I was younger, I loved telling stories, but never wrote them down.”
Post-graduation, Keegan said he plans to return to Egypt to teach English, find a steady job and continue to write and build his portfolio.
Marie Dirle, an international studies major, has been cognizant of her true calling from a very young age.
“I wanted to be a teacher when I was around seven or eight,” she said. “I really loved languages specifically. I knew Romanian and Spanish and started learning American Sign Language, so I wanted to use those language skills to help others develop their own. I even taught my grandmother’s friend basic English when I was nine or 10!”
Dirle said she was sidetracked for a while after considering a career in journalism, but quickly rediscovered her old passions.
“(At the) end of sophomore year, I realized that I still really enjoy languages and helping people, so I wanted to go into the humanitarian aspect of international affairs.”
Dirle said she plans to pursue a volunteer opportunity at the International Institute of Buffalo after graduation, where she will assist refugees from various countries in overcoming linguistic and cultural barriers. She hopes to gain experience that will help her land a full-time job in her field.
Waheed Ameen, a journalism and mass communication major, also reflected on his career ambitions as a youngster.
“When I was like 12 I wanted to be a pilot on a plane,” Ameen said. “I love to travel and I thought what better way to do that than to fly planes to different countries.”
When his aviation dreams didn’t take off, Ameen said he experienced an awakening in high school that sparked his interest in learning about reporting sports news.
“One day during my senior year of high school, I started to joke around and pretend I was a broadcaster for one of the junior varsity games and my friend said, ‘Wow you sound good, you should be a sports broadcaster,’ so I said, ‘Hey, might as well try,’” he said.
Ameen said he plans to work in media production after college and said during his time at Bonaventure, he has come to understand the value of pursing his dreams and goals in order to make them a reality.
Now, it’s to the Bona Bubble and beyond for this year’s graduating class. Seniors will soon strut across the graduation stage with flowing gowns and swelling pride – officially alums of St. Bonaventure University.
