Terrier Volume 78, Number 1 - Spring 2014 | Page 9

Today’s Terriers

Elizabeth Peralta ’15 — Finding Her Way
By Meghan Lewit

Like a lot of students, history major Elizabeth Peralta ’15 initially struggled to find her niche.
“The first semester was rough. I felt kind of alone,” Peralta said. “And then I met Bro. Greg
(Cellini, OSF). He just said, ’Why aren’t you putting yourself out there? This school is for you,
so you just have to go and reach out for it.’ ”

T

hat was a turning point for Peralta. In her
the layers of people’s lives, she says. As a fellow in
freshman year, she started a chapter of the
the SAFA program last summer, Peralta researched
Society of Claudel at St. Francis. The group,
Gabriel Furman, a historian whose journals from the
which also has chapters at Columbia, New York
19th century are housed at the Brooklyn Historical
University and Fordham University, meets once
Society. (Editor’s Note: Brooklyn’s Furman Street is
a week to discuss topics of faith and to organize
named for Gabriel Furman’s father.) Through her work
community service projects. Members currently
in the archives, Peralta explored the history and
tutor children in East Harlem once a week.
changing attitudes towards slavery in New York.
Peralta also heads the History Club at the College,
While the three-year grant for the SAFA program
and was a Summer Fellow in the Students and Faculty
has ended, Peralta hopes the College will, in the
in the Archives (SAFA) project at the Brooklyn
future, find the means to continue providing similar
Historical Society.
experiences to students. “We need more things like
Peralta came to history through
that because it’s an opportunity
music. She played saxophone
“We need more things like [SAFA at the Brooklyn to discover who you are and what
in high school, and her music
you love,” she said.
Historical Society] because it’s an opportunity to
teacher suggested that she
Her desire to help other students
explore the history of jazz. Peralta
find their way also inspired Peralta
discover who you are and what you love.”
fell in love with jazz — both the
to run for and win the election for
music and the story behind it.
Student Government President for
She felt that the melodies gave voice to the pain and challenges in
the next school year. “St. Francis is small enough for everyone to have a
her own life. The middle of five children, Peralta took over much of
voice, but a lot of people don’t know that,” she said. “What I love about
the responsibility of caring for her younger siblings when her mother
St. Francis is the personalness, and you don’t get that at other schools.”
became ill. Peralta lost her mother several months ago, but said her
Assistant Professor of Fine Arts Jennifer Wingate describes Peralta
mom will always be a major inspiration.
as the ideal student. “She genuinely enjoys learning and is very open
“My mom was amazing. I’m always impressed by her, even now,”
and curious about new subjects,” Wingate said. “She brings a lot of
she said. “She never gave up. Every time someone said ‘no’ to her she
positive energy to class, along with thoughtful questions and a sense
just worked harder.”
of humor.”
Peralta noted that her mother
After graduation, Peralta plans
was also dedicated to public
to pursue a Ph.D. and hopes to
service; she started working
eventually teach at the college
for the March of Dimes as a
level. The strength that she gained
member of the janitorial staff,
from her faith and from the St.
and eventually worked her way
Francis community allowed her
up in the organization.
to open up to everything the
“I just thought, ‘If my mom
College had to offer, she said.
could do this and have five kids,
“I know now that if I just sit in
I’m one student and I can
the shadows I’ll never get anything
definitely do this.’”
done,” she added. “But when
Although Peralta initially
I graduate, I don’t want to forget
considered law, she quickly
about this school. It’s the greatest
changed her focus to history
thing that’s ever happened to me,
Elizabeth Peralta ’15 at the
shortly after arriving at St. Francis.
and it’s molding me into the person
Brooklyn Heights Promenade.
History allows her to peel back
I’m becoming.” ●

ST. FR ANCIS COLLEGE TERRIER | SPRING 2014 | 7