It wasn’t love at first sight for Thalia Jimenez ‘18 when she first looked at Framingham State University during her college search.

She applied to 10 different schools and says FSU was her last choice, but she chose to come for financial reasons.

“Now, coming here was the best thing that could have happened,” she says.

Fast forward three years, and Jimenez not only embodies what it means to be a part of the Framingham State “FRAMily,” but spends much of her time instilling FSU’s values in new students and introducing them to the close-knit culture and unique opportunities.

“It’s crazy how one thing can change your perspective on everything,” she said.

Jimenez, now a junior psychology major, minors in neuroscience and is a new student orientation leader, president of the Psychology Club, and a member of the Dance Team and GenerationOne – a campus group that supports first generation college students.

“GenerationOne helps with the transition to college because first generation students might not have that support from someone who has been through the experience at home,” she said.

Jimenez also works part time at the nearby Natick Collection as a sales associate for Urban Outfitters to help pay tuition.

She said it’s the faculty and students at Framingham State who inspire her to take on so much.

“The amount of resources, the students and professors, and the care and dedication they have for the school make me want to be involved more,” she said. “I didn’t realize how many different people from different backgrounds could get together and get things done – different incomes, different stories, but with the same interests and goals. I was a minority from a low-income family living in a wealthy town, so it was hard to fit in. Coming here there were people like me, and a lot of people who aren't like me, but who are just accepting.”

Jimenez said she looks forward to finding a career that combines her interest in cognitive psychology with her passion for working with children, but she’s open to different paths.

“I never would have thought about (working in) higher education, but after being an orientation leader I could see something like that in my future,” she said.