Name: Antonio Rosario
Year: Third Year
Major: Psychology, Data Analytics Minor
Hometown: Hampton, VA
Tell me about some of your involvements at UVA!
My main source of involvement at the University has been the club that I co-founded, called SWAP. SWAP is a clothing swap organization where students donate clothes and get tickets in exchange. We then organize all of the clothing as a club and students "shop" for those clothes with tickets. This year, we're trying to expand the club to incorporate more secondhand shopping and thrifting with the goal of helping people be more confident in the clothes that they wear. I feel like this organization has given me the biggest sense of belonging at UVA, and I'm very excited to continue doing it next year.
Another thing that I just started recently is conducting psychological research. Last semester, I did the psychometrics lab with Prof. Karen Schmidt, even though I didn't have any experience with research prior. It challenged me in a way that I haven't been challenged in school, because I was actually able to see results and discover new knowledge. I used to think research was super intimidating, and now I realize that I'm pretty competent with it (and that it's also kind of fun).
What is something you wish you knew about college before arriving?
A bunch of things. For one, coming to this university, there were so many opportunities to delve into things I never thought I'd be able to do. I never thought I would start an organization about something I was interested in, or participate in research at an R1 university. I also didn't think I'd have so many opportunities to meet people very different from myself. Here I feel like everyone is different from me in a really good, diverse way. So just being able to work with those people and realize how similar we are– I feel like it's given me a good life perspective.
How would you describe your experience at UVA?
I wouldn't be honest if I said it was always easy, but looking back, I've definitely learned a lot about myself. I think the biggest experience I've had has been coming into my own and figuring out the kind of person that I can be and want to be. Throughout my UVA experience, I've had to really confront my weaknesses and accept my strengths. When you first get to college, you're not necessarily going to be in a situation where you feel comfortable. There won't be anyone meeting you there to hold your hand, and you won't know exactly what you're getting into academically. But you'll eventually get into it and start to learn. I know now that, if I didn't struggle at first, I wouldn't have been able to accomplish the things that I'm most proud of now, and I wouldn't have fostered such a deep love of learning.
What are your thoughts about diversity at UVA?
I believe this University is diverse. For students that come from less privileged backgrounds, there can still be a sense of otherness that may be hard to shake. Even before I came here, aspects of my identity (I'm LGBTQ, low-income, and Hispanic) made me feel like I didn't have a chance to assimilate as well as everybody else. That being said, I think you have to be intentional about the communities you join at the University, these are the groups and people that will heighten your feelings of acceptance at UVA. There are lots of different kinds of people here, more so than in many cities and towns in America. It's this mix of people who really create a culture at UVA that encourages diversity and makes you feel like you belong.
Advice for incoming students?
I would say my biggest piece of advice is to just get out there and try as many new things as possible– things that you're curious about, things that you didn't think you could do previously. Trying new things at the University can be kind of intimidating, especially because lots of clubs here are pretty competitive, but you have to pull the trigger and just go. Sure, there are things that I've tried and realized weren't for me, but most of the things that I've put effort into I'm still a part of. For example, I couldn't imagine life without SWAP at this point in my college experience. I've put in a lot of effort into working with others to build this organization, and I have had so much fun doing it. I don't know how I'd make up all of that time if I hadn't done that. That being said, if you have an idea that you want to see happen, find the courage in yourself to come up with your own organization that matches your interests and fulfills a need on Grounds.
Recent TV/movie/book recommendations?
TV: You need to watch Succession. It's fantastic. It has witty characters, and the dialogue and script is amazing. It might not seem like it because it's just a bunch of people in business suits, but it's actually kind of Shakespearian.
Movie: I saw the new Spiderman: Across the Spiderverse on opening night because I'm a huge Spiderman fan. If you appreciate animation as a medium, then I don't think there's a better film. This is one of the best animated movies of all time. I love Spiderman.
Books: For my psychology lovers, I'd recommend The Gift of Therapy by Irvin D. Yalom. I'm trying to do psychotherapy as a future career, and this book is a classic in the genre of therapy-related knowledge books. It's just 80 succinct pieces of advice from the author's experience providing therapy, and his "tricks of the trade" are good supplements to an actual psychology education.
As far as regular books go, I recently read a book by David Foster Wallace called Consider the Lobster. It's an essay book containing his thoughts on a bunch of random phenomena. For example, he talks about a lobster festival in Maine and offers random thoughts on it from a philosophical standpoint. He talks about different perspectives you'd never really consider, and there's lots of funny dialogue throughout the book. It's easy to understand and a great introduction to the essay book genre
Abby Kupstas
School of Education and Human Development, Class of 2025
Youth and Social Innovation major, Entrepreneurship minor
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