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PAST ISSUES

Hometown Hero, an interview with Kaitlyn Driggs

by Amy Marie Santana
Exchange Staff

AS:  Where are you from?

KD:  Castleton, NY…. small town about 8 miles south of Albany 

AS:  Why did you choose to come to Franklin Pierce?

KD:  I fell in love with the campus the first time I came to visit.  I actually didn't even want to apply anywhere else, but my parents thought it would be better to be safe than sorry.

AS:  I know you started off as a Mass Communications major, what made you switch over to Finance?

KD:  I started out Mass Comm. I loved my peer group and made amazing friends, but I didn't like the classes; they just weren't interesting to me.  I took a sociology class and some accounting classes and debated between social work, finance, and education for a while but ultimately decided to declare finance.  I love kids, but I don't like to discipline someone I am not related to.

AS:  What activities are you involved in on campus? Why do you do them?

KD:  I am really involved in Community Service.  I am the coordinator of Head Start and I am currently volunteering there four hours a week. Last semester I was there at least six hours a week.  I love the kids and seeing the difference I make in their lives.  Throughout the year you see the different kids come out of their shells to talk to you and approach you, instead of the teacher, when they have a problem.  It is a good feeling to know that such a young child feels comfortable with you to ask for your help fixing a problem or reaching a toy, when in the beginning of the year they wouldn't even look at you. 

AS:  What exactly is Head Start?

KD:  Head Start is a preschool for 3-5 year olds from low income families, or any child with any type of disability.  It is a great chance for underprivileged kids to get the same experience that any other child would receive.

AS:  Anything else besides community service?

KD:  I am also involved at the TV studio.  Although I switched majors I still like being up there and helping out.  We have a ton of fun filming shows and meeting the guests on the shows.  I just feel it's a good way to make friends and a good way to learn new stuff without being required.

AS:  What's something you've learned from your parents that you think is worthwhile?

KD:  My parents taught me to be who I am.  They never cared what I was doing as long as I was happy.  Within this they taught me never to quit. If I joined something and didn't enjoy it I needed to hold out until the end.  At that time I could decided if I wanted to continue another year, or another season, or not.  It was never about doing "what all the other kids" were doing; it was more about being me, and finding out who I was.  My parents and I have always been really close and I think this helps me go to them when I have a problem at school, or when I wanted to change my major.  I knew they wouldn't be mad at me, even if it meant picking up an extra credit or summer class here or there.

AS:  You're a sophomore...right? What do you want to get out of the next two years?

KD:  I am a current sophomore.  In the next to years I really want to figure out what I want to do with my life. I want to decide where I want to locate myself after college and what kind of job I really want.  I also want to make the best of the next two years, and be involved in as much as possible and open myself to any opportunity that may arise.  I want to be more adventurous and daring. The only thing I am sure about right now for after college, I want to be near my family, if they relocate I'll relocate most likely, and I really want to work in real estate at some point in my career.

AS:  Who has influenced you the most in your life? Why?

KD:  My Uncle Mike was always a huge influence on me.  For as long as I can remember we shared a special bond, and I looked up for him for being able to take on so many activities (fire fighting, EMS, 3 children, hockey coach, CEO of small company) and still having time for his family.  After he passed away I realized how much of an impact one person can have on so many different people.  If I can make an impact on a quarter of the people he did, I would be happy.  I have also always looked up to both sets of my grandparents. They have gone through, and struggled through, so many different medical ordeals and emotional ordeals that I look up to them so much for staying strong for their families throughout everything.

AS:  So...how about some fun facts...favorite movie?

KD:  Favorite movie—I am the biggest kid—I love anything Disney or Pixar – but I would have to say CARS is my favorite, and anyone who knows me would agree. 

AS:  Favorite food?

KD:  I love pizza and macaroni and cheese. 

AS:  Favorite place?

KD:  I love going to Florida but I think I would hate living there. 

AS:  What do you like to do in your free time?

KD:  I love going mini golfing, laser tagging, and bowling with my friends and not feeling immature at all.

AS:  What would you say is your biggest pet peeve?

KD:  Guys who dip.  The mere thought of it makes me sick.

AS:  Guys who dip??? What’s that?

KD:  Guys who dip---chewing tobacco that guys put in their lip…also called packing a lip. They put chewing tobacco in the lip and spit it into a can or a cup every so often.  It's probably one the most disgusting things that I have ever seen in my life.  I don't mind that guys do it. That's their own choice, but I think it's gross and rude to do in front of other people, especially girls or in class.

AS:  What's something you've been through that was kind of sucky at the time but you realize now made you stronger?

KD:  When I was a senior in high school I worked at a ski resort.  On the best day of the season----Mountain Dew Challenge Day (lots of competitions and prizes)---my friend, and fellow co-worker, lost control and hit a tree.  He passed away that day.  Although this was a wicked hard time for me, I realized that everyone needs to live life to the fullest (I know I know, kind of cliché) but in all honesty, Alex was only 15, almost 16, he was working on his G.E.D. after being home-schooled, and already had enough college credits to start off as a sophomore or a junior when he went off to school.  I was 18 and didn’t even know where I was going to college in the fall. I had one college class under my belt because I needed it to graduate high school.  He was more determined than I had ever been.  He was the happiest, most caring person I had ever met.  He was actually willing to work without pay (if that was legal).  He worked for the gratitude of teaching someone how to snowboard, not for the money.  Every day I try to impact just one person's life as much as he impacted every single employee at my local ski resort.

AS:  What has been the best experience of your life thus far?

KD:  I would definitely have to say my family.  In the past few years I have become best friends with my sister and have had the opportunity to watch my younger cousin grow up in front of my eyes.  I was 12 when he was born and being able to be a kid with him for the past 8 and a half years has kept me sane.  What other excuse would I use to buy cool toys and play childish games in the pool over the summer?  My extended family has always been a huge part of my life, but in the past few years I feel that a lot of us have gotten a lot closer.  I think that this opportunity has helped me develop as a person, even if a lot of that time was spent playing Spongebob video games and Guitar Hero with an 8 year old, I wouldn’t change it for the world.