On Tuesday, April 26 Cabrini held its 10th annual academic symposium, where students showcase their academic achievements and celebrate their creativity.
This event is not just for undergrads, it welcomes graduates as well. At the academic symposium students and alumni have the opportunity to present posters, artwork, oral presentations and performances.
Students present on a wide variety of topics, this year ranging from cultural norms to ways to make a difference in the community relating to mental illnesses.
Being a presenter in the symposium takes a great deal of preparation and planning. Many of these presentations takes months to work on, sometimes entire semesters, and the stress that comes along with them can be overbearing.
“I think it is a good learning experience, but I do find it to be stressful,” Krystal Donia, a sophomore psychology major, said. “There are a lot of people and there is a lot of time and effort that needs to be put into the projects.”
Even though the work leading up to the symposium is stressful, the hard work does pay off. The symposium allows for students to showcase the hard work that they have put forth throughout the semester.
This event provides students with the opportunity to enlighten and educate others in the community. The projects allow for attendees to grasp basic understandings of topics that they may not have previously been aware of.
“I am learning a lot from this and it is a great way for students to showcase what they have learned over the semester,” Ryan Mullen, a sophomore criminology major said. “It is also a great way to catch up with previous professors.”
The academic symposium provides a chance to see what other students have been working on throughout the semester. Viewing the presentations of others and witnessing the passion exuded when presenting gives new light to the purpose of the event.
Tricia Stocker, a sophomore education major, worked on a poster that advocated for autism awareness after reading the book, “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime” for an education class.
Stocker said, “The book made me see things from the eyes of a child with autism and get inside their head. Through that, I have become more aware of what they go through and want to help in any way that I can as a future educator.”
Whether presenting in the event or taking the time to attend, students have the opportunity and outlet to have intellectually charged conversations on well-researched topics. All of the presentations were on varied subjects and gave students a wide variety of topics to ponder.
“It is an interesting experience to see different projects and to see everyone’s hard work pay off. Anthony Cirillo, a sophomore graphic design major said, “It is a great experience for everyone.”
The symposium allows for students to step out of their comfort zones and gain understanding of current issues happening around them. Students become more in tune with their surroundings and can showcase their support and advocacy for putting an end to some of the controversial issues.
