Maria Lantyer: Applying Classroom Lessons to Real Life

A senior from Brazil majoring in Public Health and Nutrition, Maria Lantyer is continuing to expand her worldview. 

Working closely with her mentor, Professor Jessica Kruger, Maria volunteers every week at a local clinic, where she helps in-take patients. "Everyone comes in with a different story, a different viewpoint."

Maria is invigorated by encountering people from all walks of life, and she is interested in bringing the lessons she has learned at UB to the larger world. "In class, you are studying for the test or writing the paper for the deadline. And that’s school, but that’s not real life. Real life is applying what you’ve learned to situations. And that’s what we do at the clinic."

While explaining what motivated her to approach Professor Kruger about seeking experiences outside the classroom, she said her family raised her with the saying: "The ‘No’ is guaranteed. The ‘no’ is always there. So you have to search for the ‘Yes’ and go for the ‘Yes.’ It is kind of scary to talk to professors and professionals, but you should do it. It doesn’t matter if it’s with research, volunteering, or internships, I think it’s very important to seek out experience."