A fond memory of inflatable, "oversized" sports, courtesy of Target, stuck out in Stephanie Locatelli's mind when thinking about her time at Boston College. After finishing her thesis, her Mod-mates decided a giant inflatable basketball and basketball hoop were a wise purchase. Soon enough, the six girls had also purchased inflatable soccer, hockey, badminton, and Frisbee. It was an afternoon of Mod fun that Locatelli has never forgotten.
Although she only graduated from BC in 2006, Locatelli speaks of her college experience with more enthusiasm than most adults speak of their children. "Whenever I think back on my four years there, I'm always a little incredulous that in one place I met so many inspiring people. From professors, to staff, to fellow students, there are so many people at BC who have such a passion for life," she says in an e-mail.
Through it all, Locatelli attributes her BC education as a reason for her spirit. "It's difficult to be at BC and not feel challenged to do your best, to find your niche in the world and really come into your own," she says.
While at BC, Mod sports aside, Locatelli majored in international studies on the political science track and minored in Italian. She took on an internship the summer before her senior year in the state department, working with five or six returned Peace Corps volunteers who convinced her to volunteer herself.
After graduating, Locatelli then threw herself into volunteerism - finally persuaded by her colleagues - and joined the Peace Corps. "I've always been interested in service, traveling, learning new languages, and learning about new cultures. I've done a lot of work with kids, from summer camp to classroom settings. My Peace Corps service basically pulls all these things together." Locatelli also notes that in her other travels she was more or less just a visitor. Her time abroad with the Peace Corps, however, has granted her the opportunity to be a community member, something she regards as priceless.
Now, as a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) volunteer in the lone high school on the island of Maio, Locatelli teaches English to seventh through ninth grade students for approximately 26 hours each week. Although her work is sometimes difficult, the end result is worthwhile.
"My students are so challenging because they can be fantastic and make me [feel] so great one minute, and then they can do something completely frustrating or heartbreaking the next. After a year and half of a serious campaign on my part to get my name disseminated to the general public, my students (and most adults) still will only call me "teacher,'" she says.
Regardless of her title, Locatelli knows her students care. "A couple of weeks ago, I had a 102-degree fever and some stomach problems due to a parasite. I was sick the whole weekend, and when Monday rolled around, I still couldn't bring myself to get out of bed. So, I missed my first ever day of school.
"After a year and a half of begging me to skip a class so they could spend a free period … you would think this would make them happy. I had six classes that day, and every single one of them [my students] showed up at my house to inquire as to why I was not at school teaching them."
Her experiences abroad in the Peace Corps have altered her once-defined future plans. Although still certain of earning her master's degree, her experiences have pushed her toward applied linguistics and teaching English as a foreign language. "Either way, I somehow see myself working internationally," she says.
Looking back, not only on her time abroad but on her time at BC, Locatelli insists that the greatest thing that any BC student can do is explore. Although memories of her Mod sports days linger, she acknowledges that the University has provided her with many other opportunities. "At BC, you want to do something - organize an event, start a club, protest something - and there's always someone else who wants to help, or who at least wants to support you in your work. There is always an opportunity for you to be involved in something, always an opportunity to bring to fruition an idea you've had. This is such a huge opportunity to exploit, but it's hard to do so because while you're in the moment you take this sort of thing for granted. I know I definitely did," Locatelli says.
"There's so much great stuff going on at BC that four years almost isn't enough to take a good look around. But if you try, you're bound to find something that makes all those cold winters worth it," she says.
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