Eric Mercado
Graduation Year: 2009
Majors: Computer Art
Hometown: Levittown, NY
CAREER GOAL:
A position in the field of advertising.
WHY ONEONTA:
Eric initially chose Oneonta because his sister, who was already attending Oneonta, told him great things about the college, the students, and the faculty. His interest in becoming a graphic designer fit well with Oneonta’s Art program, and the Art faculty that he met were sensational.
MOST INFLUENTIAL CLASS:
Eric chooses Advanced Graphic Publication Design as the course that influenced him the most. “This course helped me decide what I wanted to do after college. I knew that I liked art and wanted to find an art-oriented job, but this class showed me how to become a graphic designer.”
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES:
Eric is a brother of the Chi Phi fraternity, and he served as the Vice President of the Inter Greek Council. He worked as a Resident Advisor in MacDuff Hall for five semesters. He gained valuable career-related experience in the Marketing Club, where he served on the executive board and as Vice President of Computer Services.
What was your most memorable experience at Oneonta?
My most memorable moment was the first week of my freshman year. I moved into Littell Hall and was amazed at how friendly all the other students on my floor were. Living in a First Year Experience Building definitely helps make the transition from high school to college a lot easier. There are just so many students in the same situation as you at the same time. Even if you’re not very outgoing, you can just walk up to someone, say hi, and find a friend.
What three words summarize your experience at Oneonta?
Amazing, knowledgeable, inexplicable (unless you have experienced it yourself).
What advice do you have for high school students considering Oneonta?
Make sure you spend your first semester focusing on your school work. Once you have a bad semester early in your college career, it’s hard to get your GPA up to where you want it. You will have plenty of time to do the things you want to do, but get your work done first.
