Samantha Driscoll ’14 believes that some of the best learning occurs outside the classroom. “Being in clubs and student organizations enabled me to meet people who, in turn, made my collegiate experience more enjoyable,” says Driscoll, a dual major who graduated in May. “At Syracuse University, those experiences made me a better student.”

The oldest of four daughters, Driscoll hails from the idyllic town of Derry, New Hampshire, just north of Boston. (Poet Robert Frost settled there in the early 1900s.) Driscoll eventually made her way to Syracuse University, majoring in biology and German and pursuing a minor in Environment and Society. In her spare time, she presided over the Syracuse University German Cultural Society; served in Delta Phi Alpha, the National German Honor Society; and held down a variety of part-time jobs.

Although Driscoll is done with classes, her education is far from over. This summer, she travels to Germany for a yearlong cultural immersion program through the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals. “It’s very exciting,” says the third-degree black belt and former lacrosse player. “But I’m up for the challenge.”    

The College of Arts and Sciences recently caught up with Driscoll to ask her a few questions:

Why did you choose Syracuse University?
For its academic opportunities, reputation, location, and beautiful campus.

What did you like most about it?
My professors and the colleagues I met. Those connections will assist me in the future and will allow me to stay part of the campus community, long after I’ve graduated. I also love being a Syracuse University sports fan.

What are your future plans?
During the early part of this summer, I will be a women’s lacrosse official and will officiate various youth and high school games. Afterward, I will go to Germany and, through Cultural Vistas, will intern at the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals. It’s a yearlong program, broken up into three phrases. The first phase involves intensive language training; the second, study at a German university; and the third, a five-month internship with a German company.

How has Syracuse University helped you achieve your goals?
I’ve always wanted to travel to Germany and learn more about the culture. Through the education and experiences I’ve gained at Syracuse University, I was an ideal candidate for the Congress-Bundestag program.

You have an impressive resume. What are you most proud of, thus far?
I am extremely proud to be a graduate of Syracuse University and, specifically, The College of Arts and Sciences. I’m also proud to have served as president of the Syracuse University German Cultural Society, during my senior year.

What’s the best way to unwind as a student?
Participating in clubs, sporting events, and student organizations was how I spent my free time at Syracuse University. There’s nothing like being part of a crowd in the Carrier Dome and cheering on the Orange.

What did you do off-campus?
I enjoyed outdoor activities, such as hiking, snowshoeing, and apple-picking, all of which enabled me to appreciate the beautiful Central New York landscape.

Anything else?
I loved being in the German Cultural Society. Every spring, we'd do an event called "Volkswandertag," where we'd hike around Green Lakes [State Park] and then eat authentic German food.

What’s your advice to rising seniors at Syracuse University?
Join student organizations and get involved with activities, on and off campus. Through these experiences, you’ll meet a lot of new people and make some very special friends.