On the RISE

Sophomore Rachel Casimir is tying together different academic disciplines and co-curricular activities to build a strong foundation for law school. Her interest in a diversity of ideas and learning has its roots in her hometown experiences.

Where’s home?

I grew up in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, and it absolutely influenced me as a person. I was just a short walk away from Philadelphia, so I had an urban experience without actually having to live in the city. Any and all adventures that wanted to explore were simply a walk or a bus ride away. Also, the motto Upper Darby is “The World in One Place” is most definitely accurate. Growing up and attending public school, I was exposed to so many cultures and lifestyles. I didn’t realize how lucky I was at the time, to live in such a diverse area. I think it’s safe to say that my love for learning about others’ cultures stems from that.

What is your major or area of study, and what about it interests you?

I’m a marketing management major with a double minor in finance and political science. The finance minor goes hand in hand with the marketing management major. The political science minor seems out of place at first glance, but it’s going to serve as a base for law school when I study corporate transactional law. I became interested in the field because of my dad, who owned a business when I was younger. At first, I was interested in what it would take to run a business, but then I saw that it intersected with my love for law.

You are an enthusiastic participant in the RISE program. Please tell us about your experience.

Not only am I an enthusiastic participant and member of the second cohort, I also happen to be a RISE ambassador. Initially, I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to enroll in all three parts of the program, but I’m glad that I did. I thought I knew everything there was to being a leader and a team member, but the program really helped open my eyes to the fact that I was lacking some of the soft skills and theoretical framework that came with teamwork and leadership.

The RISE program is a three-course program that combines for a full unit. I went through the first quarter-unit course, which focused on finding my strengths and areas of improvement as an individual. It also gave me some insight about how I function as a leader and a team member. During the second course I saw how my strengths worked alongside the differing strengths of my peers. In that course, we covered some modules on conflict-resolution and constructive feedback, which I actively use inside and outside of class to this day. As for the last half-unit course, you take all the skills you learned in the previous courses and apply them in a semester-long project with a real community partner. Then, you give a presentation of your deliverables at the annual RISE Summit, which happens at the end of each semester. It’s going to be a bit of a full circle moment when my team presents our findings this April, especially since attending the RISE Summit is what solidified my desire to see the program through to the end.

Are you also pursuing the Elevate badges, and if so, what are your thoughts about Elevate, and how have you benefited from that experience?

Yes, I am actively pursuing the Elevate badges. It’s such a reassuring program to have in place, and it gives students something of a safety net after graduation. At first, I was worried that it would be too much work to log every single event that I did, but the logs are actually quite short and easy. From time to time, I actually feel encouraged to go out to more events because of the badges available for attending.

What activities are you involved in?

I’m the vice president of the Black Student Union, the treasurer of the Pre-Law Society, a RISE ambassador, an orientation coordinator, and an active member of the American Sign Language Club, Amrhein Investment Club, and First Generation Student Union. I know that it sounds like quite a bit to manage, but I make it work. Google Calendar is my best friend.

What’s next after you graduate?

Preferably, law school. I haven’t yet decided on a school, but that decision is coming up fast. I’ll likely be going somewhere closer to home. It would be nice to enjoy my mom’s cooking on a regular basis again.

What have you discovered about yourself since you’ve been at Moravian?

I’ve found that I like being alone much more than I thought. Back in high school, I enjoyed constantly being around others during lunch, after school, doing my homework, and more. Ever since getting to college, however, I’ve learned that I value my alone time whenever I get the opportunity.

Share something about yourself that may surprise people.

I actually almost chose to go to college for horticulture. I’ve been obsessed with cultivating plants since middle school, and I practically lived in the greenhouse at my high school. However, when I had to choose between horticulture and marketing management, I chose marketing management. I made that decision two months before I graduated high school.

What is your favorite thing to do when you’re not studying?

My absolute favorite pastime is watching true crime documentaries or law enforcement dramas. The very first time I watched Law and Order, I was hooked. Since then, I’ve also been interested in criminal justice, whether it be real or scripted.

What one well-known person (living or not) would you like to have dinner with and why?

I would love to have dinner with Pyotr Tchaikovsky. He’s my absolute favorite composer from the Romantic period. I have some pretty limited knowledge of music theory, so I wouldn’t understand a lot of the conversation, but it wouldn’t even matter. Just to hear him talk about some of his thought processes while composing would be invaluable to me.

I can never resist______.

A midday nap. I don’t know what to say, there’s just something about my bed that calls to me between my morning and afternoon classes.

What is your favorite book?

I have so many books that I call my favorites, but my absolute favorite has to be Allegedly by Tiffany D. Jackson. I genuinely couldn’t put it down the first time I read it—the suspense was just too gripping. I wasn’t expecting the twist at the end, so I couldn’t put it down the second time I read it, either. I was stuck analyzing every little detail that I thought was inconsequential during my first read through.

Who inspires you?

My parents. They uprooted their lives and immigrated to the United States to create a life here for my siblings and me. Throughout any and all hardships, they’ve always kept their heads up and had faith and encouraged me to do the same. Every decision I make is with the intention of making them proud.