Transfer student finds purpose through academics and service at St. John’s University
Olivia Padilla, a transfer student from Bowie, Maryland, has found her place at St. John’s University after leaving her previous college in California due to financial difficulties. She shared that leaving her friends and original school was challenging: “It was very much a mental battle leaving my friends and the school that I thought I was going to stay with,” she recalled.
Now majoring in biochemistry, Olivia credits a scholarship from St. John’s and additional support from the Clare Boothe Luce Program for Women in STEM for enabling her to continue her education without incurring debt. “I’m going to graduate with no debt, which is incredible,” she said.
At St. John’s University, which offers more than 100 undergraduate majors across six schools and colleges according to its official website, Olivia quickly became involved in campus life. She highlighted the diversity and inclusion within the Department of Chemistry as important factors in helping her feel welcome. “My old school was very small,” she noted, adding it lacked diversity compared to what she found at St. John’s and in Queens.
Outside academics, Olivia joined Run Hustle Run, a local running group that provided community support during her transition: “They’ve become my family away from my family,” she said.
Seeking to make the most of her time as a transfer student, Olivia participated in various programs on and off campus. One such program was Global Passport, which allows students short-term study abroad experiences in Paris or Rome as part of their first-year curriculum. After participating in this program, Olivia enrolled for a full semester abroad in Paris—a decision she described as life-changing: “It’s such a magical place,” she said. “You take all your classes in one building, but outside those walls is the most beautiful city.”
During her time abroad, Olivia also traveled to Morocco and Ireland and ran races throughout Europe. Her enthusiasm led her to become a Global Ambassador for study abroad at St. John’s: “I took a bioorganic chemistry class in Paris. Having the opportunity to study abroad within such a tough major is a rare thing.”
While studying overseas confirmed for Olivia that transferring to St. John’s had been the right choice, it also inspired further engagement with university initiatives rooted in its Vincentian mission—an integral part of its identity as outlined on its official website. After learning about the Vincentian Service Immersion (Plunge) program via email while still abroad, Olivia spent two weeks volunteering with families in Panama.
“My host family was two sisters who had a farm in their backyard,” she shared about the experience working on food sustainability projects and environmental education with local children: “Some days we visited a school and did environmental activities with the children teaching them not to throw trash into the river… It was such an enriching experience.”
Since then, Olivia has taken on leadership roles within service programs at St. John’s—including helping lead an upcoming trip focused on cultural immersion and sustainability efforts.
Reflecting on these experiences—which align with university centers supporting multicultural efforts locally and globally (source)—Olivia expressed ambitions beyond graduation: “There is a difference between consumers and producers… I want to produce, and I want to reduce our footprint. I want to contribute in a positive way.”
After arriving at St. John’s feeling uncertain about her future path—and now deeply involved both academically and socially—Olivia summarized how these opportunities have shaped her outlook: “Study abroad really flipped the script for me… After Paris I realized how much St. John’s and New York City have to offer—I found outlets; I found community; I found a home.”
St. John’s University operates campuses in Queens and Manhattan as well as international sites including Rome and Paris (source). The institution is affiliated with both Catholic traditions and the Vincentian Community (source), under current president Rev. Brian J. Shanley O.P., according to information available through its official website.
