Name: Elizabeth Brunelli Major: Applied Technical Studies Class: 2017
Q & A
Why did you choose ACM and your major? I chose my major at ACM to give me a solid foundation for whatever I wanted to pursue
in a four-year degree, as I was undecided at the time. When I got to Penn State, I
found my ACM education to be one of the most valuable things I had done leading up
to that point. It helped me a lot with the prerequisites, and I was able to apply
many of my classes as credits that would have taken up a lot of time in my already
busy schedule. Thanks to ACM, I was able to complete my bachelors degree in three
years instead of four or five.
What advice would you give to students interested in your career path? Stay persistent, and never give up. There will be times when you think, "Oh my gosh,
what did I get myself into? This is too difficult." Believe it or not, you will get
through it. Study hard, try your best to NOT procrastinate, and I promise it will
be worth it. This goes for any major: remember why you chose your field. Your heart
should be in it. Don't do it because someone else told you to, do it because it's
rewarding to you. This will take you far.
What was your overall experience at ACM? My overall experience at ACM was very convoluted as I wasn't sure what I wanted to
do, and so I dabbled in a little bit of everything. From biology to chemistry to math
to English to coding to music, you name it, I probably took at least one class on
it. I wanted to get a taste for what I loved, and ACM let me do that. I'm extremely
thankful for that opportunity, as I wouldn't be where I am today if it hadn't been
for ACM.
Who was your favorite ACM faculty/staff member and why? My favorite faculty member would have to be Melody Gaschler. Melody helped fuel my
love of music and performance, and continues to do so to this day. Melody helped me
to remember that no matter what field I chose, I will always have my passion: music.
I still perform in various concert groups, and Melody still comes to the performances
if she's able. She always made me feel like a star, even when I hit the wrong note.
What is your greatest achievement in your career? My greatest achievement in my career is loving what I do. I wake up each morning not
knowing what the day will bring because my job can take me anywhere on any given day.
One day I could be programming, the next I could be on a startup trip in another state,
or I could be wiring and building or writing a manual. All of these things keep it
interesting, and working with great people while doing them isn't a bad thing either.
I truly love what I do. Happiness is my greatest achievement.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS My experience at ACM was unique because when I attended the Somerset campus, my mom,
Dr. Brunelli, was my professor. She is honestly one of the hardest and best professors
I have ever had, and I'm so thankful that she had a role in my educational journey.
However, having your mom as a professor definitely has its downsides, like when she
knew I didn't study and would tell me I needed to, especially over dinner. Or if I
didn't get the grade she thought I should be getting, I'd hear about it for a day
or two. I think having my mom as a professor really gave me a new respect for all
of my other professors throughout my college career. They all work so hard behind
the scenes and most of them care for their students far beyond the classroom.
