It’s a long way from home for 20-year-old Brazilian native and Texas A&M – Commerce sophomore Brunna Covolan.
At the age of three, her father moved the family to the United States from Campinas, Brazil.
“My parents wanted a better opportunity for me and my brother, Brunno,” Covolan said. “So we moved to Westchester County in New York, which was just fifteen minutes from New York City.”
During her middle and high school years, Covolan kept busy playing instruments such as the flute, violin and piano, and also singing in the travel, gospel and competition choir.
“I’ve never had any professional vocal training, but I was inducted in the Tri-M Music Honor Society when I was in the tenth grade,” Covolan said. “We would compete and went to nationals.”
On the weekends, Covolan and her friends would take the train to New York City and go to night clubs or enjoy the downtown scenery.
“Christmas time was so beautiful in New York,” Covolan said. “I loved watching everyone ice skate in Rockefeller Center and the atmosphere is so great.”
A year and a half ago, her father, an engineer, and her mother, a pre-school teacher, moved to Rowlett due to a job transfer. Covolan had to choose a college and heard about A&M – Commerce through word of mouth.
“I came to visit and someone at our church mentioned how she worked at the campus and gave me the link to the Web site,” Covolan said. “I didn’t realize at the time that there was more than one A&M campus.”
One of the first things Covolan noticed when she moved to Texas was the small-town atmosphere that differed from the cultural diversity found in New York.
“I’m biased because I’ve only lived in Commerce [since we’ve moved to Texas], but it’s kind of a small town and there’s not much to do,” Covolan said. “And you can’t really go places and meet new people because you already know everyone.”
Another difference in the school systems is the focus they put on their students.
“I like how the schools in New York had a strong music and arts system,” Covolan said. “And in the south, they focus more on sports.”
During her first year on campus, she joined the Freshmen Leadership program.
“We had to do various things on campus and got paid to be a leader,” Covolan said. “One of the things we participated in was the Veterans Vigil and the display wall.”
At the beginning of her first semester, Covolan was approached by Chi Omega sorority members in hopes of inducting a new member.
“It had never really crossed my mind before, but I decided to go through rush and I met a bunch of girls that I got along with very well,” Covolan said. “I’m glad I did it because I probably would have left the school much sooner [if I hadn’t joined]; it’s one of the things keeping me here.”
After signing her bid, Covolan moved into the sorority house.
“I just didn’t want to commute because I don’t really like to drive,” Covolan said. “I love the social interaction and I get to be friends with everyone in the house.”
In her spare time, the sophomore works at the Methodist church in Commerce.
“I’m the Communication Specialist,” Covolan said. “Anything going on with the church has to come to me and I make sure everyone is notified and everything is ready for board meetings. I also make sure that minutes are posted.
After she completes her undergraduate degree, Covolan plans to attend the University of Austin where she hopes to attain her Masters degree in psychology.
Upon graduation, she plans to be a marriage counselor.
“I know the divorce rates are going up in the United States, and I grew up in a family where there was no divorce,” Covolan said. “I want to keep people in healthy relationships with their spouses.”