Student Profiles
Jessica Flaten Class of '07
Hometown: Brooklyn Park, MN/South Asia
Activities: Resident Assistant, Sister of Sigma Kappa Sorority, Women’s Leadership Program, Babson Christian Fellowship, Center for Career Development student employee
Please describe how you balance being a Resident Assistant (RA), your coursework and other involvement on campus.
A good calendar/datebook is what has kept me balanced this past year. I would rather be late to a meeting to go get my calendar then be on time and not have it. Generally I am not a very forgetful person but I usually have anywhere from two to five meetings on any given day so a week of meetings gets very confusing so I have to have somewhere to remember them. I also have different focuses for different parts of the day. My classes are all in the morning because I concentrate better on what the professor is saying then. I work in the afternoons at the Career Center because that’s when it is most busy and I like the activity. The evening is when I go work out, schedule my group meetings for projects, attend Sigma Kappa stuff and plan my events for my residence hall. Most importantly, I try to make sure that I am involved things that challenge me physically, spiritually and intellectually.
What have you gained from being an RA and being involved in co-curricular activities?
I love the people I meet and get to know. The people at Babson are exceptional. The friends that I’ve made as an RA, my women’s on-campus Bible-study and a sister of Sigma Kappa are friendships I will know keep for years to come. The business world is very group work focused and the activities related to the different organizations, such as planning a movie and pizza night in the residence hall lounge with my co-RAs or doing the walk for Breast Cancer Research in the fall with the ladies in the Women’s Leadership Program, definitely are preparing me for it. I also like the responsibility that my leadership positions bring. Being an RA has brought be behind the scenes and I have learned so much about this campus and how amazingly smoothly it works.
Why would you recommend that others get involved in them?
Generally the people who do not get involved on campus are the ones who don’t like it here. As an RA I have gotten to know not only the other RAs but the entire staff of Campus Life as well as a lot of people that live on campus. Being in Sigma I have not only gotten to know the other Sigma Kappas but also members of the other five Greek chapters on campus. It is the people that you get to know that really makes college life fun. You really must be involved to get the most out of your time here.
Do you have anything else you wish to mention to incoming students interested in getting involved at Babson?
At Babson, you really can be involved in what you want but it may mean sacrifices. I have friends who are athletes who do not have time to be involved in multiple things because of time conflicts. They enjoy doing it that way but I need a wide variety of things going on to keep me stimulated. The great thing about college is that it is all about you. It is your time to test the things you have thought about but you are not sure you really could do it. I wanted to be an RA ever since someone told me what they were when I was a junior in high school. I applied the first opportunity I had and got the job! I also was interested in joining a sorority since I was in high school and decided to rush then my second semester of my freshmen year. Both being an RA and becoming a Sister of Sigma Kappa are two of the best decisions I have made since I got to Babson and I am so glad I took that little glimmer of an idea from way back in high school and went with it.
Rashida Malcolm Class of '08
Hometown: New York, NY
Sport: Volleyball
Please describe how you balance playing a sport, coursework and other involvement on campus.
As a first year student it was extremely hard for me to balance volleyball, the heavy Babson course load and my other activities on campus. Although I played varsity all four years in high school, college volleyball proved to be a challenge. We are in division three but we played in the top level of our division against schools like MIT, Wellesley and Tufts. The competition surpassed anything I experienced in high school. Therefore, I spent a lot of time working on my personal game. I eventually earned a starting position. At the end of the season, I was recognized for my hard work and won Most Improved Player. Many times I was forced to compromise the time I spent in other activities, since our season was so demanding (practice everyday plus tournaments nearly every weekend). But in the end, I was extremely proud of the accomplishments we made as a team!
What have you gained from being involved on a sports team at Babson?
The most important thing that I gained from being on the volleyball team was time management. I was forced into a crash course the first two weeks of the semester, but it helped me acquire the perfect mentality in which to start college. I am truly grateful because my grades are a positive reflection of this lesson.
Why would you recommend that others get involved in athletics?
I would recommend that others get involved in athletics because it is a positive outlet for academic frustrations. Personally, when I spend a few hours with my team, I am able to escape all my papers and presentations for a brief moment. Then when that time is over and I have to return to my work, I feel less stressed and more confident that I can tackle the load.
Do you have anything else you wish to mention to prospective students interested in playing a sport at Babson?
To all prospective students who are deciding whether or not to play a sport, I recommend that you make this decision wisely. Acquiring and maintaining a position as a collegiate athlete requires a great deal of time and an equal amount of commitment. Therefore, you should map out your goals for your first year at Babson. If being a member of a sports team is a high priority, then you know that you are making the right decision!
Tony Bonitatibus Class of '07
Hometown: Stow, MA
Activities: Peer mentor, Admission Assistant Program, President Campus Activities Board, VP Campus Activities for Student Government Association, Brother of Sigma Phi Epsilon
Please describe how you balance your involvement in various activities on campus and your coursework.
I need to start each day knowing what time I can set aside to get homework done. If I just try to fit it in throughout the day I find it much harder to use my time effectively. I often try to wake up a few hours before class so I can get reading done in the morning. The more involving work, like problem sets and studying for exams, I save for the night time. I also try to use time between classes to get work done. The trick is to know ahead of time when and where you will be doing homework and to find a place free of distractions to get it done.
What have you gained from being involved in co-curricular activities at Babson?
Joining clubs and organizations at Babson is a great way to meet people. And not just students! You will meet faculty and administration as well. I recently played in a departmental softball game full of Babson employees and I was surprised by how many people I knew! They took me in as part of the family and that is one of the great things about getting involved at Babson. Once you get to know people, the Babson community becomes a second family. And let's not forget that co-curricular activities are where you learn valuable skills that can't be taught in a classroom. Oh, and did I mention they're fun?
Why would you recommend that others get involved in them?
Babson isn't a school for the idle. We're a campus full of active students who love to fill their plates with all kinds of co-curricular activities. It is through these activities that we form friendships, learn valuable skills, and have fun. I recommend all first years try out a few different activities. Some you may like more than others, but NEVER be afraid to try one!
Do you have anything else you wish to mention to prospective students interested in getting involved in co-curricular activities at Babson?
One of the best ways to avoid getting homesick is to keep yourself busy at school. Co-curricular activities will both keep you busy and help you meet new people. Also, college is not high school, so try something you may not have considered doing before. Try writing for the Babson Free Press, or start you own radio show on Babson College Radio. You won't regret it, I promise!
Patrick Cahill Class of '06
Hometown: Medfield, MA
Activities: Brother of Sigma Phi Epsilon, President of Campus Activities Board (CAB), VP of Campus Activities for Student Government Association (SGA), Co-host of radio show on Babson College Radio (BCR), member of Honors Program, Partner of a registered student business, Mistico Jewelry (misticojewelry.com), occupant of undergraduate hatchery business space, elected to serve as Executive Vice President of SGA in September.
Please describe how you balance your involvement in various activities on campus and your coursework.
No homework! Well, not really. I find that when I do coursework, I do coursework and nothing else. It’s very easy to be distracted and watch TV and chat online while doing work. I try to schedule time in for HW just like it was a meeting, so that way I don’t let anything else get in the way. But to be honest, when you get very involved it’s often hard to balance because doing some math equations doesn’t really compare to planning an event that involves 70 volunteers and $60,000 or planning your next radio show. Because I get easily distracted I do HW with classmates that are responsible when it’s possible. This way I have to answer to them if I drop the ball.
What have you gained from being involved in co-curricular activities at Babson?
I can’t even begin to explain. In the beginning it was the sense of belonging to the new environment (Babson) because I was heavily involved with what was going on. Then it grew into the amazing relationships with the best people on campus. As I grew within each organization it began to be the sense of responsibility as I was put in charge of more and started to feel the rewards of a big event well received. The confidence I gained and the leadership experience is extraordinary. But running the show isn’t what its always about either. Just being part of something can be a rewarding experience. I became a brother of Sigma Phi Epsilon second semester sophomore year and was already committed to a point where it was not possible to attempt at a leadership position within the fraternity. It was with SigEp that I truly found the value of just being part of something that I was proud of without trying to take charge. This has also been a very rewarding experience. To summarize I have gained confidence, community, friends, recognition, and feel I've learned what it takes to be a good leader and follower when appropriate through my involvement in activities at Babson.
Why would you recommend that others get involved in them?
When I came to Babson I had a motto that I have lived by while here: “get as much out of Babson as possible.” While I think I’m well on my way to achieving this I have learned that getting as much out almost amounts to what would seem to be the exact opposite. While getting as much out of Babson, I have been able to put so much into the community. I would recommend others to get involved in organizations if they enjoy the satisfaction of feeling like they ensured an amazing experience for themselves, others, or (preferably) both during their four short years here.
Do you have anything else you wish to mention to prospective students interested in getting involved in co-curricular activities at Babson?
Don’t shy away from those that want to talk to you about their organizations. Be open to the many opportunities Babson has to offer. It doesn’t hurt to join a bunch and through the year(s) figure out which ones you care about a little more than others.
| Morgan Newman Class of '06 |
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Hometown: McAfee, NJ
Sport: Skiing
Concentration: Marketing
Photo by John Risley Please describe how you balance playing a sport, coursework and other involvement on campus.
When I prioritize the things that I need to get done and things that are important to me, it really is not too difficult to allocate my time to these various things. I try to recognize the things that I really must do, but I always include time for myself as one of those things.
What have you gained from being involved on a sports team at Babson?
Being involved in a sports team at Babson has opened me up to a large community of athletes, many of whom are my good friends. It has also allowed me to make friends at a bunch of other schools around New England. I also have learned how to better manage my time and accomplish a lot more in my day than I otherwise would have.
Why would you recommend that others get involved in athletics?
Being involved in athletics is a great way to make a bunch of close friends outside of the dorms or classrooms. Being on a team at Babson is one the best ways to be involved in the school and have a great time.
Do you have anything else you wish to mention to prospective students interested in playing a sport at Babson?
Give it a shot. If you are considering joining a team and you don’t try it you might regret it your whole time at college.
