When Sarahjane Call ’19 moved from her hometown of Arlington, TX – home of the Texas Rangers – to Thomas College in Waterville, Maine, she didn’t know what to expect.

What she found here was an amazing group of friends, professional opportunities, the joy that is Aroma Joe’s, and a home away from home.

“I loved the size of the campus and being able to walk around and know just about everyone – there was always a friendly face to say hi to. I loved the tiny town feel; Maine is such a beautiful state, and unlike Texas you could be out of it in about two hours if you needed a getaway,” said Sarahjane.

“I wasn’t actively looking for a certain campus-feel when heading to college, and touring Thomas made me realize it had the perfect atmosphere for me. Again, knowing everyone felt awesome. There were people I went to high school with that I never met, so the fact that my college would have less people, amazed me,” she said.

While at Thomas, Sarahjane has played multiple sports along the way including softball, tennis, and lacrosse. She’s been involved with the criminal justice club – serving as secretary her senior year – and majored in Forensic Psychology and Criminal Justice.

Sarahjane spent this past semester gaining career-related experience at her internship with the Washington Center in Washington, D.C. While there, she took a course called Criminal Procedure, participated in a leadership program, and is interning for the Department of Homeland Security.

“I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. The insight I gained through working with DHS was amazing,” she said. “I was given so many different opportunities through this internship, and had it never been for my Thomas College Advisor (Dr. Tracey Horton), I would’ve never known about this program.”

Sarahjane is also thankful for this internship as it helped her secure a full-time position for after graduation. She’s recently accepted a contracting position with the Office of Partnership and Engagement (OPE) at the Department of Homeland Security.

Sarahjane said her time at Thomas College has helped her grow and become more confident in professional settings.

“Now being a graduate, from Thomas to my internship, I’ve learned how to speak with those who are much higher in the chain of command than myself. It’s an amazing feeling to be able to carry on a conversation with a professional who may be in your field of interest! There are so many different positive outcomes when you just step out of your comfort zone to talk to those who you may see as role models.”

Sarahjane said she feels prepared for this next phase of her life.

“Speaking with professors often, Thomas really teaches a lot about, not only school, but other life skills. It’s really amazing how much you realize you’ve learned when you reflect on it. I remember feeling like I was not doing the right thing sometimes when speaking to people, but you don’t know unless you experience it,” she said. “Another positive that came from Thomas was me becoming a person who strives to learn at every chance I get.  Thomas taught me that there are opportunities to continue learning everywhere.”