Gabriella Shetreet:

This is a place completely steeped in nature and the wonders of the world just completely around you.

It’s very peaceful here and there’s still a lot of people from different walks of life that you’re going to meet and it’s a place that feels like home.

Hi, my name is Gabiella Shetreet. I am a fourth year here at UMaine.

I’m from York, Maine, so southern Maine, and I am a dual major in English and art history.

I also have an interest in film and Spanish, so hoping to do a double minor.

Well, I don’t know, we’ll see.

I am a resident assistant in Penobscot Hall for the Honors Complex.

I’m the Vice President of Hillel.

I am an intern at the Lord Hall Gallery

and also an intern at the Writing Center.

I’m a volunteer at the Child Development Center on campus.

Oh, I’m part of the Honors College.

So I had a bit of an unconventional college start, we should say.

I left after the first year, which I was very sad about.

I actually cried for a while.

And I tried going to another school.

I ended up going abroad and traveling on my own, and then I came back here with full support of every department I’m a part of.

And coming back to UMaine with fresh eyes after a year was probably the best decision of my life, yet it’s been so amazing.

I just really was able to take charge of my experience here.

So Honors, this whole opportunity to go abroad to Bulgaria was presented to me right when I came back.

And I was kind of like, wow, all right, I’ll be here for a semester and then go across the pond again.

And that was incredible.

Publication opportunities opened up for me.

I just kind of got that confidence to submit my writing.

And, funnily enough, soon enough, I was published.

When I left UMaine, I went to school in a city, and there wasn’t much nature around.

And if there was, it felt like I was in a little dog park.

UMaine’s campus is something really special.

It’s easy to take things for granted.

And walking through campus, it’s not only a beautiful view, but it reminds me of all the good times I’ve had here.

I can walk past every building and have a good memory associated with it.

I think, absolutely, UMaine has given me so many connections and pathways of different networks I can go down in terms of life after graduation.

It’s a place that feels like home.

I always think about that sign when you drive in, welcome home, you know.

It’s somewhere you feel at peace.

My friend and I were just sitting on a bench, and the Kiwibot’s like driving, or, you know, rolling past us.

And all of a sudden, it literally turns itself all the way around, stares right at us, and does its little, like, side-eye expression, and then starts flashing the heart eyes at us.

And then it goes away.

Super funny.

They’ll just stop and start, and then go in little circles and get all confused.