Stephany Peipert

How did you choose your degree program?

The reason I chose sociology is a bit cheesy, but I definitely know I had an "ah-ha" moment and that makes the reason I chose to study it all that much better. My public high school offered a half-term sociology course, taught by my favorite teacher. Within the learning we watched the 2004 movie Hotel Rwanda, you know, the one with Don Cheadle, that so beautifully portrays a social issue that I had known nothing about but was so moved by. After watching that movie and learning so much in that course, I decided I wanted to study sociology further because it is my civic responsibility to become a better person than the one I was born into a set society to be. I didn't know if I had the means to fully change society, but I knew sociology could give me the means to become a better person and at the very least impact the few to many people I came in contact with in my adult life. That is all to say that I made the absolute best decision to study sociology at Mason.

How did your academic experiences in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences impact you?

In general, I took very few courses, we're talking two to four, outside of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, not only because of my degree, but because of the very socially interested human I am. So many of the courses in CHSS had such a large impact on my beliefs, views, and attitudes in an entirely positive manner. Without the CHSS courses I took at Mason I wouldn't be as nearly as informed as I know myself to be today. Of the courses that CHSS offers that I took, I thoroughly enjoyed every one of them. I learned so much from the professors that taught me how to be a better person and to always ask questions about my perceived reality.

What accomplishment(s) during your time at Mason are you most proud of?

I am most proud of the simple things I accomplished at Mason. I studied very hard for four and a half years. I delved deep into sociology. I finished two minors alongside my major. I participated in the Nonprofit Fellows Program and completed an amazing internship. I was a research assistant for an amazing professor who always appreciated me, my work, and my thought. I am proud of every accomplishment of mine equally because to me, they all mean that I succeeded in ways that I wanted to.

Are there faculty or staff members who made a difference during your Mason career? Please give an example of this impact if possible.

I want to be cheesy and say that every professor of mine made a huge difference during my time at Mason, because they most certainly did. So, if any of my professors are reading this, thank you so much for your time and encouragement. I am so glad you taught me and I am most appreciative of your valuable teachings. From Professor Elizangela Storelli I learned how to concisely articulate myself because she does such an amazing job of it herself. From Professor Samuel Frye I learned how to confidently state my opinion because he made me feel like mine matters all the time. From Professor Daniel Afzal I learned how to abstractly think of a world outside my own in his globalization course. From Professor Tyler Myroniuk I learned that my potential is endless and nothing should discourage me from asking questions or seeking answers. It wasn't just one faculty or staff member that made a difference during my time at Mason, it was each and every one of them that taught me. To all of you, I thank you.

What advice would you give to any incoming first years?

To any first years, I want to remind you that you have the rest of your life ahead of you. Don't let the pressure of society make you feel like you can't achieve what you want within the normalized time. You do not have to be perfect, you just have to be the best person to and for yourself. Be true to yourself and your beliefs and take your time! There is no rush to become the best version of yourself. No one but you should be dictating who you become! Don't let the pressure of succeeding get in the way of the value of your experiences. You are capable and so valuable!

What are your current career plans following graduation? What are your long-term career goals?

This question daunts me, like so many of my peers, but I would like to say that right now I may not know my long-term career goals. I don't have a job description or position in mind that I am working toward. I am simply trying to put myself in positions that will allow me to directly positively impact anyone's life. I currently want to be involved in nonprofit organizations because of the immense value their service and sheer existence holds. I want to be a valued cog in a more progressive machine than the capitalistic one we live in today. As Karl Marx would have it, I should be able to contribute what I choose is valuable because I want to be in full control of my own labor.