Class of 2024: Teresa Grace Djapa

Teresa Grace Djapa is a Criminal Justice and Self-Designed French Studies major from Lanham, Maryland.

When I took my first step on the Hill, I was: A shy little girl.

The me who will ring the Old Main bell on Commencement Day is: Confident and resilient.

Real-world experiences: I interned at Carroll County Youth Service Bureau during the second half of my senior year, and I did a summer semester of study abroad in Dijon, France, my sophomore year. Studying abroad was my favorite as it allowed me to explore parts of the world in ways I never imagined.

My aha moment: An aha moment for me was realizing that you don’t have to be self-conscious, and you just have to do what makes you who you are and stop overthinking, because imposter syndrome is so real.

Footprints I’m leaving on the Hill: I want to be remembered as someone who cares about others and sees the best in people.

Faculty or staff member who most influenced who I have become: Ms. Latonya Banks with ROTC played a major role in helping me shape what type of person I wanted to be, and Dr. Martine Motard-Noar and Dr. Gerard Keubeung helped me push out of my comfort zone and be open to new adventures.

Best class ever: The best class I took was Restorative Justice with Dr. Delmas Wood. This class taught me about forgiveness (personal, societal, systemic) and helped me understand that justice comes in many forms and most of the time it is a process from within.

Tell us a little about your activities, including sports, during your years at McDaniel: During my time at McDaniel, I was a part of the Ultimate Frisbee team my sophomore year. I was a part of Habitat for Humanity, Africa’s Legacy, STEM Club, Phi Sigma Iota, ROTC, and president of InterVarsity.

Took me totally by surprise: I was taken totally by surprise when I realized that it really is all about time management. I mean this in the simplest way possible: It is absolutely possible to have fun, be a student, a worker, a child to a parent, a sibling, etc. … and not lose your mind or lose yourself.

My favorite spot on campus: My favorite spot on campus is at the back of Big Baker, where there is a little bench, and in the evening, from there, one has the most beautiful view of the sunset.

Most mind-boggling idea I learned at McDaniel: The most mind-boggling thing I learned at McDaniel was how limited the justice system in our country is compared to others in various continents in terms of rehabilitation and restoration.

My capstone titles: My French capstone paper is “Why Choose Immigration,” and my Criminal Justice capstone title is “If God Helps, Why Should I?”

What they’re about in plain talk: The French capstone explores immigration in France through Senegal and the U.S., and why people still choose to immigrate. My Criminal Justice capstone explores if belief in a God influences one’s views on public policy toward the poor.

What’s next: After graduation, I will spend the summer traveling and spend time with friends and family before going into active duty in the Army.

How will you stay connected to McDaniel? I will stay connected to McDaniel through the friends that I still have here and the memories I made along the way.

Are you the first in your immediate family to attend college? What has the experience meant to you? Being a first-generation college student has meant being able to defy the odds in terms of society and pushing myself to be better.