December Student Spotlight: Jessie Malatesta

I would like to take the time to tell you about my life, my story, and how this scholarship is helping to shape my future. Some background about myself; I am from Long Island, New York and I am a rising senior in the Villanova School of Business. I am majoring in Finance and minoring in International Business. I have worked every semester at Villanova. I started as a peer note taker, then started an on-campus job as a barista, finally I was hired as an intern at a wealth management firm for my junior and senior year. In the fall of my junior year I worked two jobs, as a barista and as an intern. During the summer, I work as a bartender and server at the restaurant I have worked at since sophomore year of high school. This summer I am working as a finance intern for Comcast. All of these jobs have helped save for college, but they are not even close to paying my tuition.

I have a twin, who studies political science, and also goes to Villanova with me. With both of us in college it was very difficult for my parents to assist in paying for our tuition. This resulted each of us taking out loans to pay for our college educations. These loans are a large source of stress for me and worry me for when I leave school. There is so much more pressure on me to do my best in school to get the best job to help reduce the large debt I owe for my education. I was waiting all month in anticipation to hear if I had received the scholarship. I found out late one night and immediately called my family. We were all ecstatic and so thankful for this gift.

With assistance of this scholarship, I will be better able to focus on my job as an intern with Certior Financial Group and my schoolwork rather than attempting to juggle them all. This help will allow me to attend baking club more often, because it is a passion of mine. I will also be able to better manage my time with being a member of international business club and Beta Alpha Psi, the honors business fraternity on campus.

The scholarship will allow me to focus in on finishing off my senior year strong and lessen the stress I feel during the year associated with the debt of college. I have found a passion in business and feel I can help so many people in this field. I can work with people around the world and have so many amazing, global experiences in this field. This great gift will allow me to focus on my education. My sister and I are the first generation in our family to graduate from college. It is such a proud accomplishment and truly humbling for us and to be able to focus on that rather than the cost of achieving this goal.

That is a brief history about myself and how I will use your donation for good. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your kindness and I want you all to know that I am so grateful for your generosity. Your compassion and kindness are helping to shape my life and allow me to fulfill my dreams. I am so grateful for people like you who give back to help me chase my dreams. I am eternally grateful for your donation and the idea that there are people out there like you who care about kids who are going for what they want to achieve. I will work hard so one day I will be able give back to a student in need. I would love to pay it forward and know I am able to relieve the stress a young adult is feeling in order for them to achieve their dreams.

I am truly thankful for your donation to the Blue White Scholarship and know you are helping me to achieve my goals of working in corporate finance and one day receiving my MBA. I can’t tell you how greatly your donation will aid in paying my tuition. I’ve always dreamed of going to college and with your help I am able to truly enjoy my college experience with less anxiety surrounding it. Thank you again for giving my family and I this gift and know your donation has given me peace of mind.