You may not expect to hear a high-achieving student and athlete who earned a bachelor's degree before coming to Onondaga Community College say her time here was transformative, but that's Vanessa Esposito's story and she's sticking to it. "It changed my life for the better, more than I could have ever imagined. I'm so grateful. I took a chance and came here and it's one of the best things I've ever done."
Esposito grew up in Bermuda, surrounded by sandy beaches and the North Atlantic Ocean. After her freshman year of high school, her family moved to chilly Montreal, Canada. She was an outstanding swimmer who was recruited to swim collegiately at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). She competed in long-distance events, was named team captain her senior year, and qualified for the Canadian Olympic Trials.
In the classroom, she focused on psychology and biology but didn't figure out what she really wanted to study until her senior year. That's when she decided her goal was medical school, but she was missing prerequisite courses for admission.
Her boyfriend, who was also a swimmer at UMBC, was from Syracuse and Esposito had visited the area with him regularly. She decided to attend an Open House at SUNY Upstate Medical University where she shared her academic path and her goals. When it was recommended she attend OCC so she could complete her prerequisites, she decided to enroll for the spring 2024 semester. "Before starting I was super nervous because in undergrad it was a very different experience. It was huge classes mainly being taught by TA's (teaching assistants). The first day here I remember walking in class and it was much smaller. It was a bit of an adjustment, but a really good one. I got to know my professors. Every professor I've had has been so passionate about teaching I've never wanted to be in class more. After the first month, I was like 'I love it here.'"
Esposito excelled in the classroom and was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. During the most recent semester break, she participated in the USURE Science Undergraduate Research Experience, working in a laboratory at Syracuse University. "It was an amazing experience being at SU for two weeks with undergraduate students, seeing what they did, and learning different lab techniques. The most rewarding part was seeing the biology we learned in class happen in real life. I understood complex concepts. It was really cool!"
Esposito has a busy stretch ahead of her. This month she takes the Medical College Admission Test. Next month it's final exams while also applying to Upstate. And this summer she will complete her Mathematics & Science degree. Despite everything she accomplished before coming to OCC, her success here has given her a stronger belief in herself. "I really struggled in undergrad not knowing if I was good enough to go to med school and lacking confidence in my abilities. OCC helped me prove to myself I could do really challenging things. All the professors were such amazing mentors. They genuinely cared so much and wanted the students to succeed. It was almost a healing environment for me."
