In honor of their upcoming commencement, SJC Long Island’s Campus Ministry featured on its podcast Awe & Wonder several members of the Class of 2021 throughout their final semester at St. Joseph’s College.
Throughout the “Senior Showcase” edition of the podcast, Cristian Murphy ’14, director of Campus Ministry at SJC Long Island, interviewed eight graduating students about their time at the College as well as what’s next in their journey.
“I selfishly missed our students and wanted an excuse to have fun conversations with them, and I knew that I wasn’t alone in missing our students,” Murphy said of his decision to create these episodes. “I felt that this class deserved every opportunity to be heard and validated in countless ways. Through these conversations, you can bear witness to some amazing young adults who we are all so proud of, and now we have these conversations to reflect on.”
And while the original goal of this podcast was to bring a sense of hope for some positivity during the pandemic, this series brings a different sense of hope — hope for a brighter future in which the Class of 2021 inspires real change.
Reminiscing About Their Time at SJC
Joshua Hammer, who’s earning a B.S. in Political Science with a Minor in History, was very involved during his time on campus. From joining the Campus Activities Board (CAB) to serving as an Orientation leader and getting involved with all things Campus Ministry — including participating in quite a few of the College’s alternative breaks — Hammer found a way to help out, make a difference and bring a smile to the faces of those around him.
“(I enjoyed) just building up new friendships, and mostly helping the communities of states that were devastated by storms and poverty-ridden areas,” Hammer said of his participation in alternative breaks. “I’m partly happy (to be graduating)… but I’m also upset that I’m leaving. Four years just went so fast. I really, really loved everything I’ve done at this school.”
Michelle Bradford decided to transfer to SJC Long Island as a sophomore, pulled in by all the service opportunities offered at the College.
“I went away to a school that claimed they did these things of service, but we never really did anything,” said Bradford, who’s earning a degree in sociology with a minor in religious studies. “Coming here, I saw that (St. Joseph’s) has Mission Trips, and you do a whole bunch of outside activities with STARS and helping people.
“I got to go with you guys to North Carolina, and it was just amazing being with people from this campus and the Brooklyn campus, and just making friends, hanging out, helping people and building things,” she added. “That was really like a turning point in my life, and something that I want to take and do forever after I graduate.”
Looking Forward to Their Future
In addition to Hammer and Bradford, Murphy also spoke to seniors Thomas Lownds, Xanthia Zoe, Yicel Moreno, Rebecca Vasquez, Taylor Fields and Carly Credidio.
“I felt like I found a lot of my identity here the last four years,” Credidio, who majored in business administration and minored in speech and economics, said in a special “season finale” of the podcast. “Trying to bring that into the real world is something I’m ready for.”
His episode with Credidio offers a look at what the podcast will be like moving forward, with an in-person interview conducted on campus in the the Student Hospitality Lounge.
“I hope that viewers/listeners are moved by the depth for which our students have and the ways in which they care about their community,” Murphy said. “It was touching to me to reminisce with them and to see how much they all have retained from their SJC experiences. I was shocked by how much each student held onto and how thoughtful they have been about their time here.”
People can listen to the episodes on Spotify or view them on the Campus Ministry’s YouTube channel.
