Californian Discovers Where Dreams Are Made In Brooklyn

Natalie Fanthorpe ’24 fulfilled a promise she made herself by attending St. Joseph’s

For Natalie Fanthorpe ’24, enrolling at St. Joseph’s University, New York’s Brooklyn Campus was the fulfillment of a promise she had made herself four years earlier.

“When I was in eighth grade, I came to New York City and fell in love with it,” said Ms. Fanthorpe of Santa Cruz, California. “The yummy food, the sights, the plays and knowing that my Italian ancestors came through Ellis Island and started their lives here was so surreal.”

The child study major remembered the day she left New York on that would-be fateful trip.

“I was so sad to be leaving. It was raining, and I remember looking out of the bus window while ‘Empire State of Mind’ played in my headphones, whispering to myself ‘I’ll be back,’” she said.

Ms. Fanthorpe made good on the promise when it came time to search for colleges four years later — and it didn’t take her long to find the place she wanted to make her home for the next four years.

“St. Joseph’s was the first school we visited — my mom and I both loved how small and cozy the school felt,” she said. “I didn’t just feel like a number on a tour list, I felt like an individual the school wanted to welcome into the community.”

Becoming part of the St. Joseph’s community and moving to New York City helped Ms. Fanthorpe broaden her own horizons.

“The town I’m from is a small beach town. I knew that I wanted to live in Brooklyn and expose myself to a completely different way of life, a completely different culture,” she said. “In Santa Cruz, you might get funny looks if you wear an outlandish outfit or if you’re louder than the people around you. In New York, though, I feel completely free to be myself.”

In the classroom, the University’s strong teacher preparation program also aligned with her aspirations.

“I have always loved working with children. When I was a little girl, I would set up my stuffed animals in a semicircle and read them picture books as if I were their teacher,” Ms. Fanthorpe said.

Although enrolled in the rigorous child study program, she has been able to explore other courses and activities to round out her university experience.

“One of my favorite courses at St. Joseph’s was Buddhism with Dr. (Thomas) Petriano,” Ms. Fanthorpe said. “The class provided me with a lot of inspiration and ideas on how to have a happier life.”

To Ms. Fanthorpe, the most unique attribute of her time at St. Joseph’s is the feeling of security and support she experiences.

“Walking through the campus, I know that there are friends, peers, professors and staff that care for me,” she said.

“I know that my child study professors will always be there to help me become a teacher students can look up to, rely on, and trust.”