Meet Melissa

Where are you from?

Fairfield, CT

What made you want to come to Notre Dame?

I didn’t feel like other schools nearby fit me, so when I came here and saw the community and people, I found what I wanted to be surrounded by for my next four years.

What activities are you involved in?

I’m on the spirit and competition cheerleading teams. The spirit team cheers for football and basketball on the sidelines, while competition is much more intense. We practice every day and we’re such a family. I love it.

What is your favorite class?

My favorite class is definitely Spanish with Ms. Morales. There are only nine of us so the class is very focused on the students. We get a lot of time with the teacher.

What has been your most memorable experience at Notre Dame?

The experience with my cheer team has been really impactful. We’ve created a family and have grown together by competing. Also at every game we do this one cheer called “the what.” Whenever we do it, everyone gets up and joins in. The freshmen learn it and it will become an ND tradition I hope.

What do you love most about Notre Dame?

I love the community feeling. At my last school, I felt like I was just a number and didn’t have anyone to support me. At Notre Dame, I have people that like seeing me and I like seeing them. We all help one another here.

What has been your favorite service project?

My freshman year, we hosted a grammar school for a Thanksgiving Feast. We ate together, played games and then made crafts to send to a nursing home. It was a good day working to spread some joy to two different generations.