Sarina Stasi
Name: Sarina Stasi
Hometown: Pine Bush, N.Y.
Year in School: Senior
Major: Business Management
It was a chance event. Sarina Stasi and her mom threw a dart at the map and decided to stop in the Grand Strand in the middle of a long road trip from New York to Florida. While in the area, the duo visited the Coastal Carolina campus. At that point, Sarina “immediately fell in love.”
That road trip was several years ago. Now a senior, Sarina will graduate in a week from the university she randomly discovered while veering off Interstate 95 with her mom. Hailing from a small town in New York called Pine Bush, Sarina says that the “everybody knows everybody” atmosphere of where she grew up is similar to the environment at CCU.
It didn’t take long for Sarina to take advantage of the friendly confines of her campus. Before she knew it, she was growing as a person.
“Coastal brought me out of my shell. Before, I was super shy and more hesitant to come out and talk to people I didn’t know,” Sarina explains. “By doing so many presentations and coming into contact with so many different people of different walks of life, it has really made me more apt to put myself out there.”
Calling herself ambitious, Sarina has worked hard to make the most out of her time at Coastal. The effort put forth by Sarina has been equalized by the return from Coastal.
“Every experience I have had at Coastal has just blown my mind away,” Sarina says. “I really have had such an amazing experience here and sometimes it is just unreal to believe.”
As someone who has always loved fashion, thanks to Coastal, Sarina has an “unreal” experience ahead of her once she graduates. For Sarina’s capstone project, she studied the women’s haircare industry. During her research she analyzed two major companies, Nordstrom and Macy’s. By next month, Sarina will be working for the latter.
Macy’s recently offered Sarina a merchandise assistant position at its flagship store in New York City. Viewing it as a major step in her journey to becoming a fashion buyer, she is thankful for the opportunity. As already established above, she is also thankful for her time at Coastal. Before she leaves for the Big Apple, we hope Sarina savors her remaining time at CCU and has an “unreal” commencement day.
Q&A with Sarina
How did you hear about Coastal?: I happened upon Coastal on a road trip to Florida with my mom. We decided it was the perfect "halfway" point to stop, and so we drove through the campus. I immediately fell in love.
Why did you come to Coastal?: I came to Coastal as sort of a personal adventure. I feel like for me, enrolling in Coastal and embarking on a new journey so far from home was something that I needed to do to really figure out what I wanted to accomplish with the rest of my life.
Favorite professor: I'd definitely say Professor David Fink or Professor David Doerring. They both have so much enthusiasm in their lectures and really engage with their students.
Favorite class: As crazy as it sounds, I think my capstone class with Professor Fink has been the best class I have taken. I learned so much, and we were given the ability to analyze industries that really interested us.
Favorite aspect of Coastal?: I am torn between the amazing people I have met and the campus itself. I never get tired of walking through our campus because it is just so pretty.
Favorite aspect of living in the Conway/Myrtle Beach area?: The weather for sure! I love those "fall months" because back at home in New York it often goes straight from summer to awful blizzards.
Clubs/Intramurals/other extracurricular activities involved in?: I am in Phi Sigma Pi National Honor Fraternity and Student Executive Leaders.
Plans after graduation?: I recently accepted a merchandise assistant position with Macy's at its flagship store in NYC! This position will put me on track to eventually become a Fashion Buyer.
What are your hobbies?: I love hiking especially during the fall. Also visiting fashion exhibits in NYC is one of my favorite things to do. Traveling is something I like to do frequently and hope to do more especially internationally, after graduation.
Do you have any hidden talents?: I am a super "techy" person. I can put together an entire desktop computer by myself. I also installed a new thermostat in my house without my mom even knowing.