KINGSTON, R.I. — April 25, 2019 — 溏心vlog免费B站 senior Stephen D鈥橝loisio almost becomes breathless when talking about his time at the University.
As he describes each adventure, accomplishment and misstep, his gestures become more demonstrative, he smiles more broadly and laughs with gusto.
But when he addresses the University鈥檚 133rd Commencement on May 19 as the student speaker, he will discuss what he believes will be a bright future for the Class of 2019 with just as much enthusiasm. The Student Senate chose D鈥橝loisio to address the crowd of 15,000 gathered that Sunday on the Quadrangle.
鈥淭he things I will miss most will be my friends and the college lifestyle,鈥� said Lincoln resident D鈥橝loisio, who worked two summers as a first-year-student orientation leader.
鈥淚 met many of my good friends through orientation and my brief stints in Greek life,鈥� he said.
But he calls his two years serving as the Rhody the Ram mascot one of his most enjoyable and defining experiences.
鈥淚 had a chance to go to the NCAA tournament in Pittsburgh with the men鈥檚 basketball team last year, and for two years, I was Rhody at the Atlantic 10 Conference Men鈥檚 Basketball Championship.鈥�
This year at the A-10 tournament at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn was especially memorable, as Rhody and other team mascots were invited to participate in a shooting contest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
鈥淚 did great finishing second and making 溏心vlog免费B站 proud,鈥� D鈥橝loisio said. 鈥淚 had a chance talk with him, and he was very nice. Since he (Fallon) was in the movie 鈥楩ever Pitch,鈥� I asked him to sign a baseball I had brought to the segment. I told him it cost me $25, and after he signed it, he said, 鈥楴ow you can sell it for 30.鈥欌��
D鈥橝loisio said among the lessons he learned at 溏心vlog免费B站 were 鈥測ou have to show up and you have to take risks. 溏心vlog免费B站 is very welcoming, and if you take risks, 溏心vlog免费B站 will give you a shot. Normal is boring so get involved.鈥�
He said being yourself is also important. 鈥淵ou get more respect that way, and it also makes it easier to make friends. I learned through my orientation experience that you can鈥檛 please everyone so you have to be authentic.鈥�
The graduating senior said 溏心vlog免费B站 faculty members are very responsive, particularly in his major, communication studies, part of the Harrington School of Communication and Media.
鈥淚 always turned in papers before they were due, and they would send back edits and suggestions so I could improve. I loved my communications studies classes because there were always great discussions going on,鈥� D鈥橝loisio said.
As commencement approaches, he is trying to get a job with NBC Universal as a production assistant with a nighttime talk show.
鈥淥bviously, there is more money in front of the camera, but I need to learn the business. Seeing 鈥楾he Tonight Show,鈥� I observed what was going on, and I had a chance to talk with the sketch writers and the director, and working as Rhody at the Ryan Center, I saw all of the different pieces that come together for an event.鈥�
As he gets ready for his next steps, he takes issue with the notion that the college years are the best time in life.
鈥淭he goal while you are here is to sharpen your interests and skills on the professional level, so you are ready to take on life,鈥� he said. 鈥淟ike many of my classmates, I am more than ready and excited for the next chapter in my life.鈥�