As the first person in her family to have an opportunity to graduate from college, Justene Adolphus knows how lucky she is.

Her mother grew up in Belize with 16 brothers and was only able to attend college for one year. Her father is from St. Vincent in the West Indies. He finished high school but didn't go to college.

"My parents left their home countries for their children," she said. "I want to do well and make them proud. I appreciate all that they've done for me."

Adolphus, 18, attended Notre Dame High School, an all-girl, Catholic school in Manhattan. With only 56 students in her graduating class, the young women were a tight-knit group. Adolphus graduated in the top 10 percent of her class.

A psychology major at Quinnipiac, Adolphus says she envisions herself becoming a psychologist, teacher or guidance counselor.

"I'd like to work with children who feel alone and need someone to talk to," she said. "I love delving into the mind, and also being a helping hand."

Adolphus has been volunteering since she was 8 years old, including instructing disabled children in music and dance. "It was outstanding to see how capable these children were of doing everyday routines," she said.

Over the years Adolphus has worked on a variety of volunteer projects, including wrapping gifts for orphans and preparing meals in a soup kitchen. "I'm not a great cook, but I can put cereal and milk together," she joked.

Along with other members of her church group, Adolphus also shopped for clothes for underprivileged children. "I'd try to get my friends involved. We would try to find nice things, something that a girl might be wishing and hoping for so that she'd look good," she said.

Aside from volunteering and working with children, Adolphus says she also enjoys dancing, reading, writing and speaking French.

She has already found her niche at Quinnipiac. She joined the Community Action Project, the Future Teachers Organization and the Black Student Union.

"My mom always told me I'll be working in a world where I may be a minority," she said. "If someone isn't accepting of me, I can show him or her that we're alike; just my skin color is different."

During her college search, Adolphus also considered Sacred Heart University, Syracuse University, Le Moyne College and the University of Hartford.

"None of them seemed to fit me," she said. "When I came to Quinnipiac, I thought I could make this my home. It was a calm, peaceful environment. I never feel out of place."

Adolphus said she wants to make a difference at Quinnipiac.

"I don't like to sit in the back of the class, I like to sit in the front," she said. "I like to take life and live it."