Meet Marley! She has one of the brightest smiles you will ever see and a giant heart to match. She is always willing to give a helping hand to those around her and always has a positive attitude. She is, quite literally, one of the nicest people you will ever meet in your entire life. Trust me. I’m her roommate, I should know! Read on to find out more about Marley and what she has planned in her future!
Class Year: 2018
Major: B.S. in Economics
Minors: Environmental Studies and Math
Her Campus Siena: What are you involved in on campus?
Marley Bonacquist-Currin: I’m a Peer Adviser for the Nexus of Success and an RA in Hines! My favorite thing to do in the Nexus is to help students figure out what their next few years at Siena look like. It’s really exciting to see their plans come together as they add minors and wiggle in room for study abroad. I’ve gotten to meet so many amazing individuals and I can’t wait to see where life takes them!
HC: Why did you decide to become an RA?
Marley: I didn’t start off at Siena. I transferred in second semester of my freshman year. After going through orientation, twice, and making friends two times over, I knew I wanted to help incoming freshman with their adjustment. I wanted to be there to help them on the days when they felt like they knew no one and to celebrate with them when it felt like their lives here had fallen into place. While I wouldn’t take back my first semester, because I think it made me appreciate Siena that much more, I wouldn’t want anyone to feel that way. I applied to be an RA to help people find their home here, which is what my RA, Taryn, did for me when I first came here.
HC: What is your favorite thing about being an RA?
Marley: That’s easy. On the first day of orientation they looked a little bit like lost puppies; they were excited, nervous and all kinds of confused. But today, when I walk through my hallway, they own the place. They’re involved busy bees who have grown into beautiful souls over the past year. I feel like a lucky duck to have been here to see their transformation.
HC: Could you talk about your study abroad program for next semester?
Marley: SO MUCH EXCITEMENT. I’m going to spend a semester in Solheimar, Iceland, which is a 100-person ecovillage. Basically, I get to fuel my inner hippie by doing environmental conservation research. The village is an integration of workers with special needs, prisoners assimilating to life again with their families, long-term unemployed getting vocational training, farmers, and students. The village focuses on fostering a relationship between humans and nature and giving every person an equal chance to maximize their personal potential. It’s beautiful, I’d leave tomorrow if I could.
HC: Do you have any plans to apply what you learn/experience during your study abroad trip to the Siena community when you return?
Marley: I have so many ideas in the back of my mind, but people keep telling me that I’ll learn so much and grow as an individual and my goals will grow with me when I get back. I’m really excited to see what that looks like, maybe ask me again in December? Right now I’m hoping to turn it into some sort of research project (if any professors want to jump on board, that’d be great). Plus, I want to use it in my volunteer life. I work with our Inspire Club on campus for Autism Awareness and am hoping to get more involved with organizations like the ARC, and Capital Roots when I come home.
HC: What are your plans for the future after Siena?
Marley: Trying to save the planet. Still waiting to hear back from mother nature on my application, but I’m hoping to be her intern. We’ll see how that goes. I’d love to work in inner cities developing new businesses that fight food deserts and encourage a sustainable relationship between people and the environment. I’m hoping a semester at Solheimar will give me some tangible experiences to make that happen.
HC: As your roommate, I know first-hand how busy you are on a daily basis. Do you have any advice for people that may be struggling with their time management skills?
Marley: Google calendar is your new best friend. The moment you make plans with someone, put it in. Seriously, whether it’s dinner with friends, class, or a group project meeting, everything but the kitchen sink belongs in that magical thing. I even schedule in my breaks as “homework in the library” or something, that way I keep myself on task and don’t waste time. Remember to schedule in “you time” too! I make sure to put an hour a day in my calendar for running or yoga. It helps keep me sane.