For senior Grace Ciaravino, Colgate University has been defined by unexpected opportunities. From walking onto a Division I athletics team her first year to becoming its captain, Ciaravino’s time at Colgate has been shaped by discipline and adapting to change.
One of the most meaningful parts of Ciaravino’s Colgate experience has been rowing. After joining the team as a walk-on during her first year, Ciaravino came to see the sport as one of the defining parts of her college career.
“Rowing taught me discipline and consistency, but also what it actually means to be part of a team where everyone relies on each other,” Ciaravino said. “It pushed me to keep going on days when I was exhausted and to stay committed even when it wasn’t easy.”
That commitment eventually led Ciaravino to become captain, a role that carried deep personal meaning. For her, being named captain was not only about leadership but also about the relationship she had built with her team.
“Being named captain later on was really special, and it meant a lot to know my teammates trusted me in that role,” Ciaravino said.
While rowing played a central role in Ciaravino’s growth, her time at Colgate was also shaped by learning how to be more intentional. As a first-year student, Ciaravino felt pressure to get involved in everything, signing up for countless clubs and opportunities because she did not want to miss out. Over time, however, she realized that meaningful involvement often requires focus.
“Doing a little bit of everything meant I wasn’t fully invested in anything,” Ciaravino said. “Now, I’m much more intentional about where I put my time and energy.”
This shift allowed Ciaravino to build stronger relationships and commit more deeply to the communities that mattered most to her. Along with rowing, receiving the Golden Fellowship, participating in Delta Delta Delta and global public health courses and the Manzi Fellowship all shaped her college experience in different ways. Through these spaces, Ciaravino developed a clearer sense of her goals and a deeper understanding of healthcare.
“My global public health courses with Professor Kolarevic, along with my experience through the Manzi Fellowship, really changed how I think about healthcare by pushing me to look beyond individual patient care and consider the larger systems, access issues and social factors that shape health outcomes,” Ciaravino said.
One of Ciaravino’s most important lessons came from the Manzi Fellowship itself. When the application first opened, she chose not to apply because she was hesitant about spending the summer away from home. She soon regretted the decision. Later that semester, during a meeting with James Reed, senior assistant director of career development, she learned that the program was seeking to fill a spot with the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program and that Reed had considered her for the opportunity.
“I was really honored, but it also made me realize that I had almost missed out on something meaningful because I was holding myself back,” Ciaravino said.
After deciding to accept the opportunity, Ciaravino found that the experience changed how she approached uncertainty and risk.
“It taught me that the experiences that feel a little uncomfortable at first are often the ones that help you grow the most,” Ciaravino said. “Since then, I’ve been much more willing to take chances and trust myself, even when something feels uncertain.”
As she prepares to graduate, Ciaravino hopes that underclassmen will allow themselves to take similar chances. Looking back, she recognizes that some of the most formative parts of her college experience came from opportunities she never could have predicted.
“Put yourself out there and give your full effort to the things you’re passionate about,” Ciaravino said.
After graduation, Ciaravino will travel abroad with the rowing team to compete in two races in the U.K. She then plans to spend the rest of the summer traveling and spending time with family before beginning a gap year position at a local hospital. She is also exploring research opportunities at SUNY Upstate Medical University and plans to apply to medical school in the upcoming cycle.
