Rocco Bartolini, a junior majoring in pre-pharmacy and minoring in Italian, is a Steps to Leaps ambassador and is no stranger to the Steps to Leaps pillars of networking, impact, leadership, grit/persistence, and well-being, all a part of his daily routine at Purdue.
Bartolini has been part of the Steps to Leaps Ambassadors Student Organization for the past few years. This opportunity has led him to explore other clubs and organizations available at Purdue. He was in the Pre-Pharmacy Club, which was great for networking and talking with people his age and involved in the Student Life Student Advisory Board overseen by Beth McCuskey, vice provost for Student Life. Bartolini has also been on many panels, but he has stuck with Steps to Leaps because it is a great club that has really developed over the past couple of years.
Another way that Bartolini has built his network is to get his name and face out there. He says it is important to show up consistently. Showing up is half the battle in networking. He says he has indulged in making connections with others and has learned how to reach out to others. Bartolini advises that if you want something, you must grab it! Don’t be nervous, just rip the band-aid off. Who knows? It could lead to your next job or interview.
Bartolini tries to focus on giving back to the Greater Lafayette community to create an impact. A native of Chicago, Bartolini says he has learned that exploring the local community is a different way to see life. West Lafayette is an entirely different pace than Chicago, Rocco says, and he has found that slower is a little better. Community activities that Rocco has participated in include cleaning up the Wabash River, cleaning homes around the Greater Lafayette area with Outreach, participating in study groups with peers and supporting local businesses. Bartolini says he approaches making an impact with faith. By using this method to find ways to make an impact, you will know your involvement is going towards the right cause and your practices are going to mean something. He recommends joining organizations that focus on giving back to the community. He cautions that some people may not want help, however, and that’s ok.
Being a member of Steps to Leaps Ambassadors has helped Bartolini branch out and develop his leadership skills. For example, he says to raise your hand in class and learn how to speak for yourself. He has also led a group on a topic and in clubs, he has learned to work his way up the ladder of an organization. Leadership, Bartolini believes, is something that everyone has inside of them. It is important to have confidence and know how to display your leadership skills. One tip is to know your crowd and how to communicate what you are trying to convey properly.
Bartolini says that challenging yourself to push through hard times will help build grit and persistence, something he had to learn at Purdue. High school, Bartolini recalls, came easy for him - but at Purdue, he had to learn how to hone his study skills. He relates that it was a learning curve for him, but he persisted and has come through stronger. Bartolini recommends students ask for help during these tough times. Even the strongest people need help. For example, if you need a break or need time to catch up on a homework assignment, ask for help and communicate with those around you. You can’t expect yourself to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. Developing your grit is not going to happen overnight and is something that you must develop over time. Bartolini says it took him a long time to get where he is today and the work he has put towards it has helped him reap great rewards.
Bartolini admits that he does get stressed out sometimes. To help focus on his well-being, he runs to clear his mind. He loves to listen to music while he is running as it is a great outlet for him. He also loves finding the various pianos around campus where he can sit down to play and decompress after class. He says the best way to chill out is just to play a few notes. This has greatly helped his mental health and to disassociate himself from schoolwork by enjoying a peaceful time.
When asked if he had any advice for other students, Bartolini advises that students say “yes” to everything. You may hear that a lot, but it is important to get in those uncomfortable situations to learn your likes and dislikes. He relates he learned how to be an extrovert in an uncomfortable situation and it helped him to find his path in life. He recommends joining a lot of clubs and organizations that align with your interests to help you become a well-rounded student. Lastly, find a friend. A big school can be scary sometimes, but once you find a friend, you will find another and another. After a while, the school won’t seem so big anymore.
If you want to add Rocco to your network, connect with Rocco on LinkedIn.