For Mount Saint Mary College English major Nytalya Frye of Wappingers Falls, N.Y., the future has already begun: She’s dually enrolled at the Mount and the Dyson College of Arts and Science at Pace University, where she’s working on Master’s in Science of Publishing degree.
“I already love to read and during my time here at the Mount, I discovered a love for editing as well,” she explained. Frye is pursuing a degree in Publishing, she said, to become an editor. “I have already started honing my editorial and pedagogical skills here at the Mount’s Writing Center.”
As one might imagine, working on two degrees simultaneously can be tricky. But it’s nothing Frye can’t handle.
“You really have to have discipline and great time-management skills, but it’s also a bit of a relief because this program really gets you a foot-in at Pace,” Frye explained. “Pace wastes no time getting their students into internships…Because of this, you’re better prepared to enter the workforce once you graduate.”
At the Mount, Frye is a familiar face in the Mount’s Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE), which pairs students with faculty mentors to take a deep dive into original topics. Last year, Frye and fellow Mount student Caitlyn Garrigan of Staten Island, N.Y., worked with Rob Wakeman, associate professor of English and co-coordinator of the Knight Summer Connections Program, on a project that examined the relevance and impact of food in literature. She also eared a top placing in the Writing Center’s Creative Writing Contest in the category of Nonfiction/Narrative Journalism with her piece The Deer on the Hill; she was named both a Ralph Scholar and Aquinas Scholar (two of the most prestigious awards one can receive at the Mount); and has appeared on the Mount’s Dean’s List every semester. The list goes on.
It’s easy to look at accomplishments like these and think the person behind them is some kind of superhuman academic. But Frye points out that behind these achievements is a fair bit of stress.
“I have very high standards that I hold myself to and I tend to overwork myself,” she said. “It’s been a consistent struggle of attempting to balance these standards while trying to understand that sometimes, you just need to take time to check in and make sure that you are taking some time to relax.”
Frye is thankful for the professors who helped her to become the successful student she is today, including Wakeman, her SURE mentor; Peter Witkowsky, associate professor of English and chair of the Division of Humanities; Nancy Von Rosk, professor of English; and Marie-Therese Sulit, professor of English and director of the Mount’s Honors Program.
“I owe [them] so much gratitude for all of their efforts in helping me advance not just in school, but helping me with applying to Pace and adapting to the whole process. I wouldn’t be this far without their consistent dedication to their students,” she said. “They have not only helped me discover my passion, but they have helped me through the entirety of taking these steps to be able to excel in my field after I graduate.”
Now that the sun is setting on her undergraduate career, Frye’s taking some time to reflect on what made her education at the Mount special. It’s simple, she said: It’s the people she met along the way.
“I will miss all of the friends and found-family that I have made here at the Mount,” she explained. “Between my wonderful coworkers and bosses at the Writing Center to the friendships I’ve made, their daily company and support will be dearly missed as they were all fundamental parts of my college career and have helped me get to where I am today.”