Junior film major makes University ‘her oyster’
From film to art, to Dormify ambassador, Junior Dani Pyne finds herself on the Rhode to Success. Photo contributed by: Dani Pyne
Dani Pyne came to the University of Rhode Island from her hometown in Cape Cod, MA at the beginning of her freshman year in 2019 and even through a pandemic, she made the University her oyster.
Pyne, a junior majoring in film and minoring in art, said she became interested in graphic design in middle school, which inspired her to take four years of graphic design classes in high school before coming to college.
“I feel like I’ve been learning so much in other areas too, so that’s been really great,” Pyne said. “Getting, like, a good combination of being able to pursue what I love and my passions and also, like, you know, meeting new people and learning new things.”
Pyne said she found her way to the University after getting multiple scholarship opportunities based on her academic achievements in high school.
“[I] came and toured and I went and saw, you know, the Fine Arts Building and I think, I don’t know, it really fell into place when I had to make my decision,” Pyne said. “I don’t really think that there was any other option. It seemed like URI was the one and I’m really happy that I did come here.”
She said she feels as though this is her first full school year at URI because of the restrictions the COVID-19 pandemic has had on her time here so far.
In addition to working as a Prime Student and Dormify Ambassador, Pyne is the founder and current president of the Community Wellness Leaders, a club she established in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. She established the club to support and embrace student physical and mental health and wellness through community and social activities. So far this semester, they have hosted events such as sunset yoga and a field day on the Quadrangle.
Post-graduation, Pyne said that her dream job would be to work as a full-time content creator, which she has already experienced a bit in her jobs with Prime Student and Dormify.
“Just to really be able to dive into my dreams and have that flexibility and schedule to, you know, explore my passions and give that 100 percent effort,” Pyne said. “It’s my dream to go to Europe, so those are probably the main things I’m focusing on is having a career and having time to myself and being able to travel and experience the world out there.”
On top of her commitments at URI, Pyne has her own small business “dani. THE BRAND” where she sells homemade chunky knit pillows and blankets on Etsy. She said that she originally learned how to knit at around age seven when her grandmother taught her and decided to take up the hobby again during the pandemic.
“I would love to have a store someday and kind of incorporate, like, a lot of my favorite things,” Pyne said. “So, like, have artwork, the home decor that I love, [and] like wellness, you know, wellness products and stuff, all in kind of one area.”
Pyne said that the best technique she has for balancing all of her commitments is by staying organized and putting 100 percent effort into everything she does.
This organization and commitment can be seen by her friends and peers too. Pyne’s friend Rafael Fermin is also a junior and is a part of URI’s PharmD program. He said that he and Pyne met through a mutual friend and joined the Community Wellness Leaders as the treasurer shortly after. He currently works as the secretary.
“She’s good at juggling multiple things at a time,” Fermin said. “She puts a lot on herself but then she’s able to handle it. She’s good at time management.”
Fermin also said he thinks that Pyne’s ability to have a successful small business at such a young age is inspirational.
Pyne said that success to her is all about setting goals and achieving them.
“I feel like that might sound a little bit simple, but I don’t think success has to be looked at in ways of monetary value, or status or career-based,” Pyne said. “I really think it’s about setting a goal that fulfills your heart, your passions and your dreams and achieving that for you and nobody else.”