Connections - An Alumni and Friends Magazine by Holy Cross College, Notre Dame, IN
Campus Job Leads to Vocation
Abby Stopczynski, received her Bachelor of Arts in May '09 and by June had landed the job of her dreams.
"I am fortunate to have a job right out of college with the economy the way it is," she said. Miss Stopczynski's new career will be as an Admissions Counselor at Manchester College in North Manchester, IN, which is about 40 miles west of Fort Wayne, IN.
With seventy other applicants applying for the job at Manchester, Stopczynski stayed focused. She had ten phone interviews and five on-campus interviews before she received the offer. "I am very excited to start. I will miss Holy Cross, but luckily Manchester is also a beautiful campus, and there are a lot of things to do within a thirty mile radius of campus. I am very thankful for Holy Cross' help and especially for my work experience in the admissions office."
As one of the top Student Ambassadors for Holy Cross College, Stopczynski grew to love the admissions tours work she performed. "(Admissions counselors) talk to high school students and set them on a path toward their college education and a better life. What a great job!" she said.
"As a senior at Holy Cross, I would see freshman walking around campus that I had spoken to on campus tours. Knowing that I had been a part of their decision to come here always gave me a great sense of pride," Stopczynski continued. Interestingly, independent research shows that 80 percent of students choose a college based on the connection they made with the student ambassador.
"I was drawn to Holy Cross because of the small class sizes and the fact that I could get to know the professors personally," said Stopczynski. When asked about her first year at Holy Cross College, Abby stated, "I automatically felt like Holy Cross was a good place. I guess my love of the place carried over into my work."
"Holy Cross professors and staff challenged me inside and outside of the classroom. What helped me the most was that I was able to make connections with students and professors during my four years," Stopczynski explained. "Connecting with people is a major part of working in admissions. In a much larger school, I don't think I would've had such opportunities."