Finding Her Voice
Toni Russell
Sophomore
Accounting
Toni Russell loves listening to gospel music. It brings her enjoyment and inspiration. In fact, becoming part of a choir, herself, was always something she had longed to do but never had the opportunity.
That all changed when, as a freshman at USF, she boldly decided to join the university’s gospel choir. “I was so nervous at first that I didn’t sing at all. I didn’t think I could!”
In time, however, Russell found her voice — and was pleased with what she heard.
“I was so surprised to discover that I’m actually good at harmonizing,” she says. “I’ve absolutely fallen in love with being part of the choir.”
Participating in the gospel choir is not the only way Russell is discovering her “voice” at USF.
She finds that intriguing classes such as Introduction to Ethics and exposure to new disciplines including cultural and biological anthropology are opening her mind to new ways of thinking.
She feels empowered by USF professors who “truly value your ideas and opinions.”
And she has discovered that on-campus work experience with Tutoring and Learning Services is not only providing her with practical career skills, but she finds personal satisfaction from connecting fellow students to tutoring and academic services when they’re faced with a challenging course or assignment.
From the small, central Florida town of Ocoee, Russell is the first in her family of 10 brothers and sisters to attend a university and live on campus.
Russell’s love for mathematics in high school led her to major in accounting. As a freshman, she was one of the first residents of the Bulls Business Community in Maple Hall: a floor dedicated to business majors where students with similar interests enjoy all the benefits of a traditional on-campus lifestyle, plus extra perks such as seminars, opportunities to network with business leaders and on-site academic advising.
“It’s like one big study group,” says Russell. “Living on the same floor as other business majors is so beneficial.”
It’s also yet another way that Russell is discovering who she is, what’s important to her, and in what direction she would like to take her life — her true, “inner” voice.
-- Mary Beth Erskine, University Communications & Marketing