SEC, D.R.I.V.E., M.U.S.I.C. and more, what doesn’t she do?
SEC, D.R.I.V.E., M.U.S.I.C. member talks about being Black student leader Photo contributed by Naleen Camara.
Senior Naleen Camara’s time at the University of Rhode Island would have been incomplete without her involvement with student organizations on campus.
Camara, a public relations and writing and rhetoric double major with a business minor, is the vice president of the Student Entertainment Committee (SEC), a member of the Diversifying, Recruiting, Inspiring, Volunteering, Educating (D.R.I.V.E.) club, a member of the Talent Development program, the secretary of the Multicultural Unity Student Involvement Council (M.U.S.I.C.) and has been a resident assistant since her sophomore year.
While she is passionate about everything she is involved in, Camara said her favorite organizations she’s involved in are SEC and M.U.S.I.C.
“I feel like I get a lot from both of those organizations,” Camara said. “I’ve gained so much experience being able to navigate professionalism in a college setting.”
Camara went to her first SEC meeting her freshman year, after being asked to go by her RA. The next week, she joined the executive board for the SEC and has stayed involved with the organization since. Being a part of SEC, an organization Camara said was important and integral to campus, has been something that she has enjoyed during her time at URI.
She said that one of her favorite parts about the SEC has been meeting the celebrities that have performed at URI. She gushed about how sweet rapper JuiceWrld was and how honored she was to meet him before he passed away.
Camara described MU.S.I.C. as one of the best experiences she’s had at URI, despite only getting involved as a junior. She said that being able to interact with like-minded people and those with the same experiences as her is something that has been really unique and integral to her college experience.
“Being a black student leader here is really cool but it also comes with a lot of pressure,” said Camara. “Going to URI, a predominantly white institution, when you’re one of the Black leaders, you’re the only ones that are there to represent. I felt that pressure for a long time, but at the same time, it is so absolutely amazing that I can be a person that can help inspire somebody to reach their full potential.”
Cierra Wornum, a senior journalism major at URI, recalled meeting and befriending Camara during their freshman year. From the first moment she met Camara, Wornum recalls noting that she has an amazing work ethic.
“Naleen is outstanding,” Wornum said. “She does a million projects, has a million things going on and still manages to have a good GPA and balance all the things on her plate. She’s very driven. Naleen won’t do anything unless she really wants to and is truly passionate about everything she does, which is something I admire about her.”
Camara described her URI experience as unforgettable because of the experiences she’s had, friendships she’s made and people she’s met.
“I’ve gained so much experience at URI and made memories that I’ll never forget,” said Camara.