SU's Friendly Community Gives David an Open Mind for Tomorrow
SALISBURY, MD---There is a special community at Salisbury University you won’t find anywhere else. When David Liburdi of Binghamton, NY, toured SU for the first time, he was overwhelmed by how warm and friendly the people were.
“From the first moment I stepped foot on campus, I absolutely fell in love,” Liburdi said. “It was not only so beautiful and vibrant, but the student life was vibrant as well. Everyone welcomed me with open arms, and it made me want to come here.”
Now that Liburdi is several years into the social work and psychology majors, he has experienced that welcoming community time and again – from professors who have gotten to know him on a personal level to hands-on learning experiences that have made him a more open-minded person. He said his relationships with the faculty, staff and people at SU have exceeded his expectations, and they have helped connect him to numerous opportunities to succeed in his chosen field.
“You hear so many beautiful things about all of the faculty and people here, and it’s so cool that I can say it’s true,” Liburdi said. “I’ve had so many wonderful experiences with people who genuinely care and want you to achieve great things, which is really inspiring.”
One of Liburdi’s favorite opportunities was an internship with the Hope and Life Outreach (HALO) Ministry homeless shelter, which he was connected to through SU’s Social Work Program. The experience inspired him even more to be a social worker and gave him a greater understanding of the importance of his role in the field. He got to interact with a population he wasn’t familiar with before, which gave him an appreciation for the diversity in the social work profession.
He has been able to experience that diversity on campus as well, through numerous clubs and activities such as the Squawkappella student a cappella group. Thanks to his connections on campus, he has learned more about different cultures and communities, which he thinks is important for his future career in psychology and social work.
When he finishes his undergraduate program, Liburdi plans to apply for the Master of Social Work Program at SU. From there, he hopes to get clinically supervised and eventually become a clinical psychotherapist.
“If I had to pin down what SU has done for me as a student and person, I feel it has made me a much more open-minded person,” Liburdi said. “I’m very grateful for that. You really experience a lot of accepting and warm people here.”
Now, Liburdi gets to give back to the community that welcomed him so much by giving tours to future students. He loves telling them stories about the amazing opportunities he’s had at SU. With each of his experiences here, he has been able to grow as a person, so he can help others learn and grow just as much as he did.
“What makes me the most proud to be an SU student is the people,” Liburdi said. “I’ve made powerful connections in my academic and personal journey at SU. I think that’s the point of college, and SU students really take advantage of that.”
Learn more about opportunities to Make Tomorrow Yours at the SU website.