Sitting down after leaving the heat from Get on Board Day, Danielle Drago, a junior majoring in finance and Spanish and editor of Mosaic magazine talked about her experience as a student at the University.

Q: On your journey at UA, what has been the hardest obstacle you have had to overcome?

A: Leaving North Carolina was not easy for me. I left home and moved to a place where I only knew my roommate. I didn’t know anyone, and everything was new to me, but Alabama has such a welcoming campus.

Q: UA can be considered a melting pot. Was coming here a culture shock for you?

A: It was a small bit. Just being here geographically it is a lot warmer. The different cultures were very welcoming. As UA continues to grow, there are more cultures and it will continue to help us as individuals grow.

Q: Our freshman class is constantly growing, and tuition is constantly rising. Where do you see UA about five years from now?

A: I know that, in the next few years or so we will reach top 25 [universities]. I think people are starting to realize the caliber of UA, and the value of this education. It is not as expensive as other schools, and we have great faculty and staff. Although I may have to fight for a seat in the Ferg more, it is worth it to see UA grow.

Q: Although currently the job market is still in a state of recovery, what do you see yourself doing after graduation?

A: I will continue on to graduate school to pursue my masters in business administration.

Q: There are more than 300 different student organizations on campus, what has been the one club you have joined that has impacted your college career the most?

A: Being a part of the Honors College Mentoring class impacted me tremendously because teaching the kids math and reading gave them something to look forward to—college. Also, my involvement with Reformed University Fellowship it has had a great impact on me as far as helping to shape my identity in college. It’s such a genuine ministry that has such a welcoming presence.

Q: Of the three, which do you feel is the most significant impact UA has on the city of Tuscaloosa: economic, community outreach or social?

A: I would say all three. Students live here, shop here and eat here, and game days bring in such an economic impact to the city. Students interacting and networking helps the community as well as all of the service organizations. There are 30,000 students here, and many of them just want to be able to help and the city benefits from that.

Q: After leaving UA, what do you hope your most significant impact was on this campus?

I hope Mosaic continues to thrive and survive once I leave the campus and continues to showcase a good representation of the Honors College. After I leave UA, I just hope that I was able to touch the hearts of all the people I knew.

Q: What is one piece of advice that you wish someone had told you when you started college?

A: Don’t do everything. It is very easy to spread yourself too thin with so many club opportunities here, and my advice would be to commit fully to just a few things.

Q: The purpose of this piece is to interview students that are accomplished in different areas, what is your definition of and what does it mean to you to be accomplished?

Being accomplished does not mean you always have to have straight A’s. To me, it means you are a well-rounded individual that has heart and finds passion in what you do.

Q: Last question, what do you think is the biggest misconception about college life in general? 

A: I think people think this is a black hole in your life, and what you do in these four years doesn’t matter. Although some people have the misconception that college students can’t make a difference, I strongly beg to differ.