Samantha Rose: Meet A USF Her Campus Member

Name: Samantha Rose
Major: Public Relations
Year: Senior
Hometown: St. Pete Beach, Florida

What are you most looking forward to this school year? “Acing all my classes and kicking my senior year’s butt before graduating in the summer! But in all honesty, I’m just looking forward to what the year has in store. My boyfriend just moved to Tampa from Tallahassee where he lived all of last year, so I’m really excited to see what it’s like to be in a regular relationship in college versus a long distance one.”

Two words to describe your summer. “Unexpectedly exhausting.”

What has been your best USF experience? “I would probably say that my best experience was living on campus in Juniper my freshman year. I had the best random roommates anyone could ever ask for; probably the best roommates I’ve ever had in the three years that I’ve been in and out of college living. My whole floor was really close. We would get lunch and dinner together, go to games together and just hang out watching television in the common room. My freshman year was the first year that USF enforced freshmen students to live on campus and I remember a lot of people weren’t very happy about it, but I think it’s the best decision I’ve ever made!”

What advice do you have for students new to campus? “It sounds so cliché, but get involved! When you’re at a new school with roughly 50,000 people, it can be really overwhelming. Make the best of it! I know so many people (including myself) that look at the incoming freshmen and say, ‘Wow, I wish I could go back!’ Freshman year is THAT much fun. Take advantage of all the free stuff you can, go to football games, join organizations and clubs that meet your interest, but most of all stay on top of your classes. It may seem tough to balance it all out now, but you’ll get there…I promise!”

What is your favorite food off and on campus? “My favorite food off campus…this is probably the most difficult question anyone has ever asked me because I am such a little foodie and I will eat everything. I love getting sushi at Ocean Blue after 10:00 p.m. because all of the rolls are half off! Other than that, I will never say no to Tijuana Flats or Jersey Mike’s. My favorite food on campus is probably Starbucks in the library, if that qualifies. It’s almost a bad idea for me to go to the library to study because it’s impossible for me to say no to a hot tall chai tea latte with soy. I literally cannot do it.”

Why did you choose to be a Bull? “It’s really close to home. That sounds silly because most people go to college to get away from home, but I have a really good relationship with my parents so it’s nice to be only a 45 minute drive away. But honestly, the only other place I considered was UCF and when I toured the school, it just didn’t feel like home to me. It was all new and there was no shade, like no trees anywhere; for some reason that really bothered me. USF has a lot of trees. I like that.”