Allie Lane Makes Connections on the Job and in Class at Castleton University
Allie Lane doesn’t know just yet the exact direction her career will take her once she graduates, but she has a good sense of how to get there, wherever “there” may turn out to be.
“I’ve learned that being independent is key to being successful,” said Allie, a junior Health Promotion major from St. Albans. “Everyone has a place in this world – even if we don’t know it in the moment. My purpose is to help others. I know enough about myself to know that I will be successful in anything I do. That’s why I don’t stress about it too much and take it day by day.”
For now, Allie is pulling double duty as she takes it day by day. She is a full-time student in the morning and works full-time as a custodian in Woodruff Hall into the night - and always with a smile. She wakes up around 8 and goes to class, stops home for a quick lunch, and returns to campus for work from 3-11.
Sleep, class, work, repeat.
The days may be long, but Allie can always rely on three things to get her through - hard work, purpose, and self-confidence.
“It’s a good feeling to be independent. It’s tough sometimes, but it makes the days go by and I feel productive. I know I’ll be successful down the road, making money and paying off debt,” Allie said.
In actuality, she’s already pretty successful.
Allie is well-known to faculty and staff on campus and is regarded as an excellent student. She’s made the Dean’s List and is a member of the Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society.
Recently, she organized a softball tournament fundraiser that made the news and raised more than $2,000 “to help bring awareness to the opioid crisis and that there is help available.”
The proceeds from that tournament will go to Jenna’s Promise, a community center for those recovering from drug addiction. This is an issue that hits close to home for Allie, as her sister passed away recently after battling opioid addiction.
As many Castleton students find, there’s a real sense of family on the Castleton campus. Allie has made many connections, both in her academic work and on the job. She smiles as she talks about professors, such as Associate Professor Andrew Weinberg, and the many connections she has made with staff while working in Woodruff.
The most impactful of those connections is with her supervisor, Mark Fedolfi.
"He’s a very important person in my life. There’s a lot of people who have sculpted me into who I am. He’s the biggest that helped me here at Castleton.” Allie said. “He’s making me a well-rounded person. I’m very appreciative of him.”
The feeling is mutual. Mark said he has seen Allie grow from a “typically shy freshman” into a mature and confident student and worker.
“Everything is falling into place for her. She's a nice girl and sincere. She's not putting on a show for anybody.” Mark said. “You see her developing all the time, and I like to think I helped a little bit. She shows her appreciation every day for this place.”
While she has to forego some student activities to maintain her competing schedules, Allie knows it provides some excellent educational opportunities and life skills.
“I’ve learned a lot and met many people. I’m very grateful for this job. Woodruff is my second home now,” Allie said.
Hard work. Purpose. Self-confidence. She may not know exactly where life is heading, but these three things will take her far.