Students Reflect on SCCC Experience, Look to the Future

Ephrem+Romao%2C+19%2C+a+liberal+arts+major+from+Shirley+who+is+graduating%2C+talks+about+his+experience+at+Suffolk+while+relaxing+in+the+Babylon+Student+Center+cafeteria+on+March+15%2C+2023.+%28Compass+News%2FJames+Quigley%29

James Quigley

Ephrem Romao, 19, a liberal arts major from Shirley who is graduating, talks about his experience at Suffolk while relaxing in the Babylon Student Center cafeteria on March 15, 2023. (Compass News/James Quigley)

James Quigley, Staff Writer

As the spring semester comes to a close, students are looking forward to what their future holds.

Ephrem Romao, a 19-year-old from Shirley, said he feels “really relieved” to be graduating. “I look forward to moving on.” Romao said one of his favorite parts of Suffolk was being able to meet new people in the cafeteria. The liberal arts major said he was able to take multiple different types of courses. “I will definitely miss taking choir classes,” he said.

Romao plans to continue his college endeavors at Stony Brook University, where he plans to study astrophysics. “My dream job is to work at NASA. I’m really looking forward to going to school in a new environment,” he said.

Alexander Koza, a 19-year-old electrical engineering major from Ronkonkoma who plans to pursue a career in the electrical maintenance of trains in Manhattan, is also graduating this semester. 

“I feel like it’s been a long time coming, yet the time has come very soon,” he said. “I have felt like I have done so much yet very little at the same time.”

Koza has been directing his focus toward his future. “I am feeling very anticipated about what the next chapter has to hold.” 

Yet Koza said he is going to miss his Suffolk. 

“I have had the same classmates for the last two years, whom I am fondly acquainted with. I will also be missing my professors as well; I have developed a great relationship with them.”