Julia Naze of Casco, Wisconsin knew that Holy Family College was the right college for her immediately after touring it. “The first time I visited, everyone made me feel like I was right at home, and that was something that my mom and I both really enjoyed.” Julia liked the idea of small class sizes and the opportunity to get to know her professors better than she would at a larger institution. The size of the Holy Family College campus felt like a good fit right from the start.

To say that Julia is a busy student is an understatement. She has made the most of the experiences that are available to her on campus and in the community. Julia plays on the Holy Family College women’s basketball, soccer, and softball teams. “One thing that college has taught me was that I am really good at handling stress and time management. Playing sports in college takes more time than it did in high school, and there is a lot of traveling,” she said. “I have had to learn how to manage my time because I would have practice or work.”

To help pay for her expenses, Julia works about 45 hours per week in both on- and off-campus positions. Her on-campus job is in the financial aid office, where she has learned about and gained an appreciation for the behind-the-scenes work that goes into providing financial aid to students.

Julia also serves as a WAICU Wisconsin Grant Student Ambassador. In that role, she has helped organize an on-campus event to raise awareness of student financial aid and has traveled to Madison to meet with her elected officials. Advocating for student financial aid is important to Julia because she would not be able to attend college without assistance. Despite working full time and saving money, she knew she would not be able to finance her education on her own. When she received her financial aid offer from Holy Family College, which included scholarships and a Wisconsin Grant, her goal of earning a degree was within reach.

Julia is majoring in psychology and minoring in social work and family services. After graduation, she plans to continue her education at Holy Family College to earn her graduate degree in social work. She would like to one day have a career as a social worker in a hospital or school.

“My degree is going to mean everything to me,” said Julia. “I will be one of the first people in my family to have earned a college degree. The road to getting where I am today was not easy, however getting my degree will make all the work I’ve done worth it.”