Meghan Lai ’19 of Honolulu, Hawaii knew she wanted to go to college on the mainland, and Marist offered her an attractive scholarship, but there was an initial adjustment period.  Says Lai, “The northeast is definitely culturally different from Hawaii.  People always ask me if I surf, which I don’t!”  During the course of her freshman year, however, she found her group of friends and never looked back.  A communication major with a concentration in advertising and a minor in graphic design, she has had an enriching college experience.  Lai spent a semester in Prague, where she interned for Prague Pride, the Czech Republic’s largest LGBT organization, where she organized a business forum encouraging companies to commit to increasing diversity and decreasing bias.  Lai treasured her time abroad, taking photos of people and street scenes in Prague in 35 mm with her grandmother’s old camera.

Back on campus, Lai stays busy by working at the Center for Civic Engagement and Leadership and accumulating professional experience for a future career in advertising.  Her advisor, Professional Lecturer of Advertising Joanna D’Avanzo, recently connected her with a local company, and she is now working on a branding and marketing campaign for them.  After graduation, Lai plans to stay on the mainland, but New York City feels too big.  She says, “I’m considering Philadelphia, Boston, or even Seattle to pursue my career.  The thing I’ll miss most about Marist is my friends and having them all in one place!”