Building Community
Sophomore Aurora Pavin is the epitome of a well-rounded college student. When she was six years old, her parents made the decision to leave Vicenza, Italy where she was born, to come to the United States. Now, 13 years later, she has taken advantage of those opportunities and is busy juggling her ambitious schedule at Jessup. With a heart for service and a commanding yet approachable presence, Pavin quickly became a leader within Jessup’s campus community.
As a sophomore nursing student, Pavin is entering the clinical portion of her education where she is busy gaining experience with hands-on patient care, honing her skills taking vital signs, administering medications, performing assessments or assisting with daily living activities with her patients.
Following in the footsteps of her mother who is a nurse, Pavin was particularly drawn to the field during Covid. “My brother was just four years old at the time, so I took care of him while my mom spent long hours at the hospital,” she said. “It brought out that nurturing side of me, making me realize I want to serve and help people wherever I can.”
That attitude also led her to become a member of Jessup’s women’s junior varsity basketball team, despite the fact she ran track in high school and never had the opportunity to play on a basketball team. “When I learned Jessup needed more players on the JV team, I wanted to help out,” she said. “I saw it as an opportunity to be in good shape and it was a way to help with ministry since I participate in children’s outreach activities during the summer. Basketball is popular among the kids, so I thought I could learn some skills to help them.”
If she isn’t pouring over anatomy textbooks or on the basketball court, Pavin can usually be found in another capacity that extends far beyond the classroom and the court. As president of the Black Student Union (BSU), she’s worked tirelessly to create a safe space where Black students can find support and community through various fellowship opportunities on campus. In addition, the BSU hosts various all-inclusive events in celebration of Black history and culture.
Under her leadership this past year, the BSU organized events like paint nights, meet and greets, movie showings, open mic nights, Black History Month, activities and numerous group hangout sessions.“This is a great community of students and so many can benefit from this club,” she said. She also produces a monthly newsletter keeping members and officers up to date. “Being the president of BSU has helped me grow as a leader by giving me an opportunity to work on my organizational skills,” Pavin said. “Event planning, delegation of tasks, and leading meetings has been an important part of this process.”
Another aspect of her service has been serving on the DRU Task Force. “It’s important to create spaces for open discussions,” she said. “We’ve found that is more important, and sometimes more effective, than filing a complaint.”
Despite her many commitments, Pavin is intentional about keeping her faith at the center of her life. “Jessup has provided opportunities to learn more about my calling. From participating in service days, chapel or my Bible classes, my faith has become grounded and stronger. I’ve especially benefited from my Hermeneutics class because when we read the Bible, God speaks to each of us differently, so it’s important to discern what He is telling you.”
Pavin’s story is one of faith and purpose. She is more than a nursing student, a basketball player or a club president. She’s a young adult committed to making the world a little brighter, one step at a time.
