Her Campus Hofstra has some badass women, so let’s meet them!
Up first we have Micaela Erickson, Editorial Contributor.
Photo courtesy of Micaela Erickson
Major: Journalism
Minor: Musical Theatre
Hometown: Los Alamitos, CA
Member Since: February 2019
Why did you join Her Campus?
“I originally came in as a drama major, and spring semester last year I switched over to journalism. Her Campus was the first organization I got involved in within the School of Comm. and it was a really nice way to transition into the School of Communications and to meet new people and branch out.”
What is your favorite part about being involved in Her Campus?
“I really think its great how many opportunities we have to write about whatever. There is no real cap on what we can and can’t write, within reason. I really like the freedom of it. It’s so nice because it is an easy way to get published and to get better at writing while finding out what you are interested in writing about.”
What is your favorite article you have written for Her Campus?
“I am really happy with one of the recent articles I’ve written. It was about exclusionary feminism and TERFs (Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminists). It’s nice to be able to write an educational and informative piece to let people know about a certain issue if they aren’t already aware. I am an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and a lot of my friends are aligned with the community, and obviously, I believe feminism should not be exclusive.”
What else are you involved in on Campus?
“I write for the Chronicle. I mostly write for the arts and entertainment section right now, but I would like to expand that. I am hoping to write for the op-ed section, and my first news story was just published. I am also a part of Nonsense Humor Magazine, and there is a new issue coming out soon and I will have my first piece in that. This issue’s theme is “TeenSense”, so like Tiger Beat, Teen Bop, stuff like that.”
Why have you gravitated towards the arts and entertainment section?
“I’ve been involved in theatre for a long time, and I felt like it was something I have a bit of insight into and that I understand the ins and outs of it to an extent. I like tv, and I thought this is something I could use to get my foot in the door.”
What is your favorite form of punctuation?
“I use a lot of commas, like all the time. Instead of ellipses, I will use commas. I will rarely use just one exclamation point, and I feel so annoying in emails because I hate using periods because they just sound so rude. And then if I’m texting, I don’t really use any punctuation, or I just use a bunch of question marks and a ton of exclamation points unless I am trying to show that I’m annoyed with somebody.”
What was it like changing your major from drama to journalism?
“I was home over winter break freshman year, and I was in my room. I was like ‘Do I want this?’ When I was in high school, I was absolutely sure this is what I wanted to do with my life, and if it didn’t work out, I could always teach or write. But, journalism had always been in the back of my mind. When I was sitting at home, I was like, ‘I don’t think acting is something I want to make full-time career,’ and even if I did, it would just be for a few years and then i’d be like, ‘Ok, let’s steer the focus somewhere else.’ So then, I was thinking maybe I would want to be a theatre education major, but Hofstra doesn’t really have a specific track for that. So, I ended up being like, ‘Ok, Journalism sounds like something I want to do.’ I was going back and forth between that and public relations, and I ultimately decided to go with journalism because the course listings sound a lot more interesting.”
What is your favorite role that you have played?
Probably Irene in Hello Dolly! Or Alice in The Addams Family.
Being from California, why did you choose to come to Hofstra?
“I was out here during my sophomore year of high school during spring break, and my parents suggested we tour a few schools since I had been saying since I was in fifth grade that I wanted to go to school in New York. I was supposed to tour Hofstra, and my mom told me, ‘It’s on Long Island. We will take a car out there.’ I thought that sounded horrible, so my mom suggested tour Fordham instead, and I was like, ‘Ok, sounds great.’ When I was a senior and applying to schools, I was like, ‘I really want to go to Marymount Manhattan in the city,’ and I got waitlisted for their theatre program. I was like, ‘Shoo! All my other schools are in the midwest, and that is not where I want to be at all.’ So, I took a look at what schools still had their applications open and I found Hofstra, where I didn’t tour, but I applied super quick and I heard back and I toured in April. I was like, ‘Ok, this will work if nothing else.’ A week before May 1st, I got an email from Marymount saying ‘We can’t accept you at this time,’ and I was like, ‘Fine! I’m just glad that I know where I’m going.’ I was really, really scared coming in, and I wasn’t sure how I was going to like it because I just wanted to be in the city and I didn’t know if I would like the drama program. But, the drama program is so great and I feel like it’s so overlooked by people because it’s not right in New York City and it’s not necessarily a school with a big name. I’m very happy that I’m here and I’m really happy with the people that I’ve met. They have made the experience so much better and it worked out, which is good.”
Biggest misconception about Californians?
“I would say just that everyone lives by the beach or loves going to the beach. Now that the beach isn’t as close to me, I miss it a little bit, but I am not a huge fan of swimming in the ocean. Not a huge fan of sand in general.”
What is the best part about Long Island?
“I like experiencing the seasons. Last fall was the first time I ever experienced an actual fall, and it was just so cool and so pretty. I also love just how accessible it is to get to the city. It would be nice to be right in the city, but at the same time, it’s nice to be a little bit removed so you don’t have to always be right in its craziness.”
What is your favorite place to go to in NYC?
“The more recent times I have gone into the city, I have been trying to change it up because I have wanted to explore new places and try new things. There is a really good coffee shop, it’s called CAVA. It’s really good and they don’t charge for alternative milk, and that’s sexy.”
What do you want to do when you graduate?
“I want to live either in Brooklyn or Queens. Manhattan is great, but I don’t think I want to live right in Manhattan. I would like to be employed. That is something I would like. If it’s not somewhere I want to be or my dream, that’s fine, just as long as I’m doing something with my degree. I don’t have a dream job right now because I am still trying to figure out what my niche thing is.”
What is the coolest thing you have ever made?
“Over the summer, I sort of got into painting at its lowest level. I don’t know if I would say I am super proud of it, but it was a nice way to be creative because I don’t necessarily let myself do that too often and I should find more time. “
Do you like surprises?
“Yeah, but not if someone partially explains ‘Ok, this is what’s happening.’ So, my mom planned something for my birthday last year and I wasn’t supposed to know, and my friend Anna told me she was taking me to the city for my birthday, but I didn’t want to go. She was like, ‘We are going like you don’t understand, we are going.’ I was getting so frustrated and she was like, ‘Ok fine. So, since you want to ruin everything for yourself,’ and then she explained the surprise. I like surprises, but I like to know what’s going on to a certain extent, and usually need a justified reason.”
Do you consider yourself patient?
“No, I am not patient. I wish I was more patient, but I am an Aries, so that’s part of the reason why I’m very impatient. I understand that things take time, but if there is something that a lot of people are understanding right off the bat and I’m not getting it, I get really frustrated. I was in Drama 55 for like 2 seconds and I was on costumes, and I could not pick up the sewing. I had never sewn before and I didn’t have my glasses that day, and one of the costume ladies kept calling me out by name, and I was like, ‘This is terrible.’ I dropped the class two days later.”
Do you have any pet peeves?
“I really don’t like slow walkers. That makes me angry. Also, when you are in a crowded place and people just stand there and they just do not know what they are doing, I’m just like, ‘Hey! We gotta go! We gotta move somewhere!’ It happens in the student center all the time and I get so frustrated.”
Do you have a celebrity idol?
“I like Mitski but she deleted all of her social media accounts. I miss her. And Phoebe Bridgers. I’m obsessed with her. It’s not even funny, I love her so much. “
What is the best Mitski song?
“Francis Forever.”
Who is the most famous person you have met?
“A couple of my friends and I on our first trip into the city ran into Christian Borle and he talked to us and took pictures with us. He was directing something at the time and he just left the theater, but he stopped and talked with us for two minutes and he was really nice.”
Who is your favorite person you share a birthday with?
“Lady Gaga and I have the same birthday. And Jonathan Van Ness.”
Do you have a go-to power outfit?
“I have this green corduroy jacket that I’m obsessed with and I wear it all the time. And, I also just got Dr. Martens and those make me feel cool, but also they hurt my feet because they are so hard to break in.”
Least favorite fashion trend?
“Low rise jeans.”
What are your phobias?
“I actually hate the mascots so much. Animatronics just freak me out, and mascots in general. I don’t hate spiders. They don’t freak me out as much as they used to.”
Do you believe in ghosts?
“Yes.”
Do you believe in astrology?
“Yes.”
Craziest conspiracy theory that you believe in?
“I don’t know if I believe in any of them, but I think the ‘birds aren’t real’ one is really funny.
What is your favorite thing to get from Trader Joe’s?
“Their pita and hummus packs are really good. They also have their version of La Colombe canned coffee, and they also have a vegan version of coconut creme cold brew. I tried the caramel spice one last week and its really, really good.”
What is your coffee order?
“It varies. I like an oat milk latte. And I like cold brew with almond milk or on its own, but it depends on the day for me.”
Favorite Movie?
“Heredity.”
Best DCOM?
“Camp Rock.”
Favorite holiday?
“Halloween.”
Most essential part of your morning routine?
“I have to get coffee.”
Favorite part of your nightly routine?
“Putting on pajamas and getting into bed. “