By EMILY PAOLICELLI
Co-Executive Editor
Sam Zimmerman has been writing for as long as she can remember.
Zimmerman is an English major at The College of Saint Rose, and is graduating at the end of this semester. Growing up in Kerhonksen, N.Y., Zimmerman recalled learning to read and write with her mother when she was a young child, and how her love for the English language took off from there.
“I remember in elementary school, I was in kindergarten or first grade, and I used to fill up journals upon journals of little stories that I would make up, and draw pictures for them, just to, like, show my teacher,” said Zimmerman. “And, just from then, I was always hooked on writing.”
Originally, Zimmerman said she had planned to pursue music as a career. But, during a meeting with her high school guidance counselor, she chose a different path.
“I knew I wouldn’t be happy doing music for the rest of my life in a non-hobby sort of way, so I just said English, and here I am,” said Zimmerman.
The Albany area was a driving force for Zimmerman to attend Saint Rose. Zimmerman said she had committed to the college without having even toured the campus.
“I knew that I always wanted to live in a city,” said Zimmerman. “When I was younger it always was New York City, for me, that I envisioned myself in. But as I got older I realized that was less realistic, and now I’m in a city closer to home, and it’s really accepting here.”
Zimmerman spoke about the nature of the Albany community.
“The more you walk around the more you get to know places, the more you get to know people, and kind of build a community here, and that’s really nice,” said Zimmerman.
In addition to the Albany community, Zimmerman has built her own community of students and professors alike on the Saint Rose campus and within the English program.
“I think this program has definitely helped me become a better writer, definitely due to the help of my professors, and especially due to Daniel Nester,” said Zimmerman. “He’s been my mentor since my sophomore year, and he’s kind of helped me get into the world of, like, literary stuff, and writing, editing, and publishing.” Zimmerman is completing her internship at the Pine Hills Review, Nester’s literary journal.
“It’s been a wondrous thing to witness Sam’s growth as a person and as a writer over the years,” wrote Nester in an email. “Sam has shown such a fierce advocacy for others, from our workshops to others on campus. Sam cares. I totally admire Sam’s dedication as a writer and to the craft–I look forward to reading Sam’s words as it makes its way into the world.”
Zimmerman has held many leadership roles in her time on campus. She has been both vice president and president of English Club, is part of Sigma Tau Delta and the National Society of Leadership and Success, and has been a resident assistant for three years.
“I actually met my best friend through being an RA,” said Zimmerman.
Gabby Martinez, who Zimmerman described as her best friend, was an RA alongside Zimmerman.
“If there’s anything you need to know about what type of person Sam is, to sum it up in one word, is powerful,” wrote Martinez in an email.” She is a driving force in whatever she puts her mind to. The power that she has is absolutely amazing to witness.”
Zimmerman mentioned that she felt very supported by the Residence Life team at Saint Rose, but it seems that the feeling flows both ways.
“Some of my best memories of Saint Rose come from spending time with Sam with some shenanigans. The biggest impact that Sam has made is a very personal one that most do not know, and she was there every step of the way,” wrote Martinez. “I could not ask for a better best friend in the world.”
In addition to her leadership roles on campus, Zimmerman also recently won the senior writing award for the class of 2021.
“I was honestly surprised to get the email from Rone Shavers saying that I won the award,” said Zimmerman. Her submission, she said, was about her experiences in college with abusive relationships.
“I’ve been writing a lot about that and raising awareness to domestic violence, sexual assault, and…consent, and stuff like that, especially for college-age students who don’t necessarily know those boundaries yet,” said Zimmerman.
After graduating from Saint Rose, Zimmerman is set to attend SUNY New Paltz for her master of arts in English with a focus in creative writing. New Paltz, Zimmerman said, was originally her second choice for her undergraduate degree, but she did not get in.
“I’ve always wanted to go to SUNY New Paltz,” said Zimmerman. “I toured there my senior year of high school and I fell in love with the campus and the community.” Since Zimmerman grew up in the area, she remembered driving through the campus as a child.
“I felt like my heart always belonged there,” said Zimmerman.
After she is finished at New Paltz, Zimmerman has long-term goals of getting her doctorate and becoming an English professor at a small college where she can build a mentor relationship with her students.
“A lot of that has to do with professors that I’ve experienced, and seeing how they teach and how they live their life,” said Zimmerman. “I haven’t met a bad English professor here.”
While Zimmerman’s goals stretch far into the future, those close to her appear to have no reservations about these dreams of hers.
“I am very proud of Sam and how far she has come, although not much of a surprise with just how fierce she is,” said Martinez. “I know she will go far and do so many great things because that’s Sam.”
