Giana Moreno ’20
Hometown: Berwyn, IL
Major: International Studies & Anthropology
Why did you join the multicultural recruitment team?
I joined the Multicultural Recruitment Team for a tangible way to leave my footprint on Trinity. I knew the moment I stepped foot on campus that there was work to be done. I wanted to promote the message of a holistic view of diversity. When we think of diversity, we must think of it geographically, ethnically, racially, culturally, and more. We must also think of diversity in the realm of thought. Therefore, I wanted to be a part of this team to help diversify this campus for future generations to come.
What is the biggest lesson you learned from your first semester on campus?
The biggest lesson I learned from my first semester on campus is to spend my energy and time wisely. In other words, I learned how to say no. It is easy to get overwhelmed by the abundance of opportunities a campus has to offer. However, it is important to preserve one’s own energy.
How has a liberal arts education fostered your thinking? What class impacted you the most?
A liberal arts education has taught me how to view things from different angles and standpoints. I have been able to dip my toes into subjects that have been significantly eye-opening such as Toxicology and Darkroom Photography. Darkroom Photography has been the most impactful in my life because I discovered something that soon became my passion. I initially took it to fulfill my arts requirement and simply fell in love with this art.
What legacy do you hope to leave?
The legacy I hope to leave on campus is through multiple facets. The first is through the Underground Coffeehouse. When I first walked on campus, I knew the space had great potential to expand artistically. Since I have been a manger this year, I was able to redo our mural and we also redid our chalk board. The policy in the Underground is a lot more organized as well.
How has the city of Hartford impacted your college experience?
The city of Hartford has significantly impacted my Trinity experience. I have met some of the most beautiful individuals since my first year on campus by simply walking through the city. My involvement with The Trinity’s Chapter of Temple of Hip Hop for the past four years has connected me with artists and creatives in the city. Since Hartford is relatively small and tight-knit, I found it easy to connect and create relationships.
If you were a fruit what fruit would you be?
If I was a fruit, I would be a guayaba or a papaya. Perhaps a crossbreed of both!
What areas of campus makes you feel at home?
One place that makes me feel at home is the Underground Coffeehouse. It’s a space where I found community in my first year on campus because of how I was able to connect with others through political and personal conversations. It’s a space where you can nap, relax, destress, and even study. The second place simply has to be my house. I live with eight beautiful humans on Crescent Street where I know I can come back, sometimes exhausted, by the end of the day and feel at home.
Who is your favorite professor?
My favorite professor is Professor Aldrete. She is a professor in the Hispanic Studies department, and she makes me feel at home. She is someone that genuinely cares for her students and wants to connect with them beyond the academic setting. You can see her frequenting the Underground connecting with her students often. Once, she and I went off campus to a coffeeshop named Story and Soil and it was a beautiful time.
