Student Profile
Vitals:
Name: Francesca DiPietro
Graduation Year: 2009
Hometown: Hartsdale, N.Y.
Major: Economics
Weekend Activity: Reading, Yoga, Tapdancing
Francesca DiPietro is a junior at Manhattanville majoring in Economics with a double minor in Sociology and Women’s Studies. She transferred to Manhattanville from a larger University in the autumn of 2006 after suffering brain damage from a concussion. “When I was evaluated in the hospital after my concussion, the doctors told me that I would probably never be able to go back to school and that I needed to think about a different career path,” Francesca said. “Part of this was because I had scored lower on the Cognitive Impact Test (a scientific measure of neuro-cognitive ability) than the average healthy person. I had always been very studious and previously maintained a 4.0 G.P.A, but after the accident I couldn’t remember how to read or do math.” Francesca couldn’t imagine not graduating from college, so she started re-teaching herself basic skills by using grammar school workbooks. “It was a crazy experience,” she said. “I went from getting A’s in Calculus to struggling with simple addition.”
However her determination to relearn lost skills, combined with help at a rehabilitation center allowed her to make a huge improvement. A year after her concussion, she scored high enough on the Cognitive Impact Test to convince her doctors to allow her to apply to Manhattanville as a transfer student on a trial basis part time. “I didn’t want to go back to my previous school because it was too impersonal, especially in contrast to Manhattanville which has provided me with the personalized attention that I need, and in a more nurturing environment.” Francesca received all A’s in her first semester of classes, and is now enrolled full time and maintaining a 4.0 G.P.A.
Although some people would have been overwhelmed with the work involved in overcoming her injury, Francesca kept a positive attitude by doing community service while she was going through rehabilitation. As she puts it, “I wanted to help others as I was helping myself, which is what definitely kept me going.” Francesca kept her dedication to community service when she enrolled at Manhattanville and currently volunteers about 50-60 hours a semester with the Duchesne Center.
Francesca is currently considering career options after graduation. Through Manhattanville’s partnership with MasterCard, she was able to intern for their accounting department over the summer. “I had no experience with accounting, so I was nervous at first,” she said. “However my supervisors were very understanding and I learned a lot and enjoyed the experience.” Francesca is also thinking of pursuing a line of work in the government sector, since that has also been one of her long standing interests.
“If you are passionate about accomplishing something, never let someone tell you that it is impossible,” she said. “Anything is possible if you put your mind to it.”