Name: Jenn Islam
Year: Senior
Major: Sociology and Women’s and Gender Studies with Minor in International Studies
Hometown: Astoria, NY
How did you get involved with NASPA?
Jenn: “I am in the NASPA Undergraduate Fellows Program (NUFP). My first year as an RA (sophomore year), I grew attached to the position and all of the opportunities I had taken through it. I appreciated all my mentors have done for me, and I wanted to continue having a similarly positive impact on my students. That summer, I attended a student affairs luncheon where my friend, Mariah Geritano who was working as a graduate assistant (GA) for the Residence Hall Association (RHA), introduced me to her other GA friends. I told them I admire them for pursuing the field of higher education and that I hope to do so, as well. One of them, Jasmine Knighten, mentioned that I should apply for NUFP. We met up for coffee later that week to discuss the program in further detail. My mentor, Anthony LaViscount, former Director of Student Activities at Stony Brook, was also involved with the program encouraged me to partake in it. The program is great for anyone interested in higher education. I received opportunities to partake in exclusive projects in Stony Brook because of my affiliation with NUFP. For one of my grad schools, there’s even a scholarship specifically for NUFs! I really enjoy being in an organization of other undergraduates who are passionate about making a positive impact in students’ lives and wanting to further their professional career early on.”
How did you become a JFEW Scholar?
Jenn: “I had heard of the organization when I was in high school. My friend, Nicole Bustamante, mentioned it to me when I was a sophomore looking into the field of non-profit work and international relations. I have a great interest in cultures, social justice issues, and the helping professions. My other friends, Olivia Sanchez and Alex Romero, were JFEW scholars. We shared similar visions and perspectives, and they both spoke highly of it, so I applied and became one of ten selected Seawolves in my cohort. It is honestly one of my favorite organizations and has had an overall positive impact on my Stony Brook (and life!) experience. I meet so many inspiring women, most of whom are my peers, who inspire me to continue being confident, ambitious, grateful with everything I do. Our bond is strong. In fact, when I studied in Italy last spring, I visited a few Scholars and country-hopped with them. We all want to make a great difference in this world, and we all want to support each other in doing so.”
Why should people pay attention to the organizations and projects you are a part of?
Jenn: “The projects I work on and the organizations I am apart of have an overarching theme: to make this world a better place. I hope that everyone can help me with this goal.”
Can you tell us about the Boobs and Bras event you helped to create?
Jenn: “I thought of the idea when I was bra shopping a few years ago with friends. We were complimenting and wishing for each other’s bodies, as opposed to appreciating our own bodies. I knew we weren’t alone so I wanted to put on an event where people who can relate, overlook what they don’t have, and appreciate what they do. I brought it up with my friend, Jamie Leonard, who was also on my staff, and he suggested to collaborate and add a breast health aspect to the program. I wanted to also involve my friend, Mallory Rothstein, who was heavily involved with USG and student life at the time, so that our program could have a wider reach. The year after, Alexa Goldstein wanted to get involved with planning the event, while Jamie had to step down and I was away in Europe for the semester. The program had grown tremendously within that year and has impacted many. There were a lot of components, which excited me so much. We had an amazing panel of guest speakers. We had a popular photoshoot of people of all genders showcasing pride in their bodies and raising awareness about breast cancer and self-care. We collected surveys electronically, giving us an idea about our audience. We provided decorate-your-own bra stations. Unfortunately, the program will not be taking place this year because the co-chairs, Alexa and I, do not have the proper amount of time to dedicate to this project. However, I hope to put this on again someday; perhaps in a different university, as well. I consider it to be an incredibly empowering event, and I know others do as well.”
What advice would you give to your freshman self?
Jenn: “Dear Freshman Jenn, please don’t doubt yourself. Doubt holds you back from so many great opportunities. Don’t always pay heed to the negativity some may throw your way. Use it as fuel for the fire in you. You have great ideas and have much to offer. Even if something sounds ridiculous, go for it, because you never know unless you try. I’m proud of you for challenging yourself, and encourage you to continue doing so.”
How has your involvement changed your Stony Brook experience?
Jenn: “I’ve gained more confidence in my life, which has helped me to challenge myself, and inspire others to challenge themselves. I’ve learned a lot about professionalism and thoughtfulness. Most importantly, I’ve realized that I have an AMAZING support system in the Stony Brook community, particularly in Tabler and DOS (the Office of the Dean of Students).”
What do you want your legacy to be?
Jenn: “I don’t like to use the words ‘never’ and ‘always,’ except when I say to always be kind. I’ve given a lot of time and energy to Stony Brook. I worked really hard especially in the realm of event planning, to create a great impact on a large audience. However, a lot of these events may be discontinued, and that’s okay. It’s okay for traditions to break, and it’s okay if a program is a one-time event.
Back to your question, I want people to remember my heart, and to emulate such. I consider myself a caring person. There have been many times where I saw a sad face and said, ‘Hey. Everything okay?’ Sometimes, I’ll receive a quick, ‘yup, thanks’ as a reply. Other times, I’ll have a meaningful conversation that reveals more about that person. People have talked to me about coming out, suicide and depression, family issues, and the list goes on. I feel so grateful that friends and strangers feel comfortable and trust me enough to share their personal stories and thoughts with me. I write thank you cards to friends and mentors all the time. These little kind acts go very far in someone’s life. It fulfills me to know that I could help someone get to a better day and get to be a stronger person, to make it to the next day and with a smile, too. I’m not sure how to answer this question other than to say always be kind. It’s nice to win awards, plan events, and study/work hard, but I think having a kind heart is more important than any of those things. Who you are as a person is what matters most…ALWAYS.”
What’s next for you?
Jenn: “That depends, do you mean directly after undergrad or in the far future? Right now, it’s application season. I’m looking for summer internships/jobs & in the fall, I’ll begin studying for my Master’s in Higher Education. In April, I will declare which university I will be attending. In the far future, I hope to serve as a Dean of Students, build a school in Bangladesh for at-risk/vulnerable girls, and create a study abroad program so that my American students can come with me to volunteer in my Bengali school every winter/summer. I’m not sure how to accomplish that yet, but that’s okay because I know it’ll happen. That goes for most things in life – if it’s something you really want, you’ll find a way to make it happen.”