Student Employees Making An Impact

By: Marcela Delgado, Director of Operations & Strategic Affairs

Balancing a rigorous academic load is a challenge in and of itself. Combine that responsibility with a campus job, and you can find yourself struggling to balance professional, scholastic, and social life. The SALT Center is proud to recognize three stellar student employees who have taken on this challenge all while demonstrating tremendous determination, resilience, and compassion.

ETERNITI CLAGGETT

OFFICE AIDE | MAJOR: FAMILY STUDIES AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

Eterniti is interested in being a marriage and family therapist. She says her role at the SALT Center is helping her prepare for her own private practice because of the administrative support and communication skills she is gaining. One of Eterniti’s favorite things to do is give mini-tours to prospective students and share her passion for the university and pride in the SALT Center.

When asked about the hardships brought on by the pandemic, she states that, “Being away from home for the first time was very difficult. It was hard staying positive and keeping momentum, but the SALT Center was a relief from unproductive thoughts.” Eterniti also sought out the University of Arizona’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) and said it has been a huge help for her peace of mind. She is “excited and scared at the same time” to attend in-person classes this fall but is very ready for the change.

Eterniti recently completed a Ronald E. McNair research internship and presented at a conference.

PAULINA MOREARTY

TECH COACH & TUTOR | MAJOR: MATERIAL SCIENCE & ENGINEERING

Paulina utilized our services as a student for the first two years of college and did well enough to be hired on as a tech coach and then a tutor. Paulina reflected on the opportunity, “It was always so satisfying to have those moments where you finally discovered what a student’s learning styles were so that you could help them come up with strategies to become independent learners.”

Another important skill Paulina developed while working at the SALT Center was how to get the point across when teaching difficult concepts. Having refined this ability, Paulina is now much more confident communicating complicated material in any setting, professional or academic.

Paulina is incredibly passionate about engineering and has the goal of obtaining an accelerated master’s degree in the field. Paulina’s advice to other students considering a job at the SALT Center is that it is, “Definitely worth it!”

LELIA RHODES

OFFICE AIDE | MAJOR: MUSIC EDUCATION

Lelia has been a reliable member of the SALT Center team throughout the last year, playing a key role in helping our staff transition back to in-person services. Even though she experienced three deaths in her family during the pandemic, she showed remarkable dedication in supporting our mission and students. Circumstances like these would be challenging for any student employee, but especially for one living far from home and working to pay the bills. Throughout all of this, however, Lelia says that it has been critical for her to be able to say, “I’m not ok,” and to allow herself down time for self-care and relaxation.

Lelia hopes to one day become a high school choir teacher. She is also determined to advance her education and complete a doctoral degree. Lelia smiles while saying, “I’ve always wanted to be Dr. Rhodes, it doesn’t really matter in what, I just want to be a doctor.”