Meet this week’s campus celebrity, Tracy Peterka! This California native is all about the community, whether she’s participating in St. Mike’s volunteer Fire & Rescue program, leading a VITA (campus ministry peer group) program, or simply giving you a smile as she passes you by on campus! I’ve personally known Tracy as the kind-hearted, warm and smiley individual she is known to be throughout campus, and it is my privilege to share her with Her Campus!
Tracy is now a senior at St. Mike’s, but that doesn’t mean she’s any less busy! She’s a double major in History and American Studies, with a triple minor in Classics, Philosophy, and Religious Studies! On top of all of this, she juggles Fire & Rescue, VITA, and Volleyball! She was inspired by her dad to join Fire & Rescue since he is also a firefighter, and she loves the physical aspect of the job. She says that along with volleyball, “Fire and Rescue is like having a second team.” She also loves being a part of the larger community, since Fire & Rescue serves not only the St. Mike’s community, but also the greater Colchester, Winooski, and Mallets Bay areas.
By being a member of Fire & Rescue, Tracy says that she gets to be a part of something that is bigger than herself. Their motto is to “save life and protect property”, and she loves being able to live up to that motto. She also loves how she gets to apply what she’s learned in training to the outside world. “In class, sometimes you learn things that you don’t really get to apply to the outside world right away. In Fire & Rescue, we train twice a week and the things that you learn in training you get to apply right away on calls.” As a senior member on the Fire & Rescue team, Tracy now drives both of the Fire engines and is able to train rookies and other members. She says this is one of the most rewarding parts about being on Fire & Rescue. “I love training the rookies and the other members because it’s a great feeling, making sure that the department is really successful after you leave.” The other rewarding part of being on Fire & Rescue, she says, is being able to help the community and be an example for them. Fire & Rescue delivers Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets during these holiday seasons, and Tracy loves when she drives the engine and is recognized as a woman fire-fighter.
“For the 4th of July, we had the whole fire brigade in the parade and I was driving one of the engines. There were multiple times when kids and their mothers would point and say, ‘look, there’s a female fire-fighter!’ That’s just really rewarding.”
When asked what she likes best about St. Mike’s, Tracy says that it’s definitely the community. “I love the people here. I love the students, the faculty, janitors and Alliot workers. If you smile at them, they’ll smile right back and ask you how your day’s going. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who’s blatantly disrespectful or hates life. You can also tell if people need help, because they aren’t afraid to reach out to one another.”
Tracy radiates this sense of community that she sees among her peers. She is so friendly, loving and open with everyone she meets, and it is evident that she has a bright future ahead of her. In five years, she would like to be teaching High School, whether it’s Philosophy, History, or Religion. She would also like to be on a volunteer fire department and coaching volleyball. Wherever she ends up, she will lead her life with drive, vision, and compassion, so the world better get ready for her.