One impactful moment that has stayed with Jolina happened in the first semester of her freshman year. She recalls, “After I failed my first chemistry exam, I had a conversation with my professor in his office. I asked him what I needed to do. He told me, ‘The ones who are disciplined are the ones who make it, so you have to stay disciplined.’ That’s one of the main things I’ve learned: if I can manage my time and stay disciplined and focused on my priorities, I’ll be fine. I passed that class with an A. That’s one of the things I value most about Salem: you can have one-on-one connections with your professors that you wouldn’t have at a large university.”

Jolina also credits her advisor, Dr. Dunn, with inspiring her to dream big, stay disciplined, and focus on her future: “She’s pushed me to take courses that I didn’t necessarily need to take, but that she knew would benefit me. Through that, I’ve been able to connect with faculty members who were able to help guide me in my next steps.”

“When it comes to being a leader, being at Salem has taught me that you don’t have to have a big role like being the captain of a team to hold leadership. Even by just offering words of encouragement, you’re being a leader.” 

As Jolina looks forward to graduation in spring, she is excited about what her future holds. She plans to pursue a career in medicine, and with guidance from Mr. Svete, Director of The Lucy Rose Center for Global Leadership and Career Innovation at Salem, Jolina secured an internship with a non-profit healthcare clinic in Winston-Salem. During her internship, Jolina triaged patients and worked alongside an orthopedic surgeon, a physical therapist, and a cardiologist. “I was able to get a lot of hands-on experience with patients as well as learn a lot about the physicians in that healthcare setting,” she says.

From playing in the snow with her teammates to celebrating Salem College’s annual Fall Fest and growing academically and professionally, Jolina has made the most of every moment she’s spent at Salem. Along the way, she’s built lasting relationships, gained confidence in her abilities, and discovered a sense of purpose that will guide her beyond graduation. For Jolina, Salem has become more than a place to earn a degree; it’s a place where her family’s history and her own future have come together.