A Globetrotting Spider

Daniel Polonia, '26

• Leadership Studies and Rhetoric & Communication Studies double major from Baldwin, NY
• Recipient of the Elizabeth Rae Hodkinson Scholarship

What inspired your choice in majors?

I did the Richmond Endeavor living-learning program and my first-year seminar with Dr. Scott Johnson focused on the narratives of identity and relationships. I also took Media, Culture, and Identity with Dr. Ravynn Stringfield. I liked being able to openly discuss how we formulate identity, and I got to apply what I was learning to some of my favorite television shows. In the spring of my first year, I took Leadership Studies classes taught by Dr. Thad Williamson and Dr. Bo Yun Park that explored the intersections of leadership with the humanities and social sciences. I fell in love with the way we focused on historical inequities, how they’ve affected the present, and what can be done to create change moving forward. My studies have helped me realize my passion for helping others and connecting them with resources to better their lives. After UR, I’d like to pursue a career in human resources or public relations. I’m also interested in educational administration, whether that’s being a high school principal or the dean of a college one day.

What has been the most meaningful part of your Spider experience?

Last fall, I spent the semester in Nepal, Jordan, and Chile doing a comparative study of human rights through the Vermont-based School for International Training’s International Honors Program. I was one of 17 college students from around the country who participated. In Nepal, we examined issues related to migration, the caste system, and women’s rights. In Jordan, we talked extensively about the Israel-Palestine conflict as well as the impacts of Orientalism, and in Chile, we studied the effects of authoritarianism on citizens. By going to places where human rights concerns are at the forefront, I saw leadership being built from the bottom up to address these issues. It was very heavy mentally and emotionally at times, but we also had fun times, like visiting a monkey temple in Nepal, floating in the Dead Sea, and having empanadas in Chile. It was a deeply impactful experience that I will always remember. On campus, I participate in many meaningful activities such as being a wellness peer educator, resident assistant, rhetoric teaching assistant, and more.

Why is receiving scholarship support important to you?

I’m very grateful to be a scholarship recipient because I may not have been able to attend UR otherwise. Here, I’ve been able to form so many meaningful connections. This community has helped me become not only a better person, but more dedicated to the work I do. I am so grateful to every person I have met. I am proud to be a Spider because I would never have been able to form such an amazing community or have so many opportunities elsewhere. Thank you for supporting student scholarships!