Courtesy of Moranda Glasper

During her years in grade school, no one would have expected 21-year-old Moranda Glasper to be at the point she is now. As a fourth-year graduating senior at CSUN, she has excelled and done more than be a student.

Growing up as a typical trouble maker, she ditched school, pretended to be sick and became fairly well acquainted with the principal’s office. This changed when she started middle school, when she had a complete turnaround.

Her grade point average skyrocketed to 4.0, she became involved in school and even become the associated student body president.

“Since middle school, it never stopped,” she said about her involvement and enthusiasm in school.

Glasper is no ordinary student at CSUN. Aside from being a communications major, she is a resident advisor, extensively involved on campus and out of 800 applicants, was one of 90 people admitted into the Law Fellow Program at UCLA School of Law.

Her enthusiasm reaches far beyond the campus grounds. Outside of school, Glasper is involved in a variety of other activities. She has attended Zoe Christian Fellowship of Whittier for 15 years and been a part of their dance ministry, ZOE Expressions, for 10 years.

She is also committed to mentoring high school students from the Northpointe Apartments in North Long Beach through the program Elevate Your G.A.M.E, whose goal, according to their website, is to “lift urban teenagers (through mentoring) to a higher level.”

Although she has had success throughout her endeavors, her most difficult time came when she had to learn how to work from where she lived. When she began working as a resident advisor, she did not go into it wanting to make friends or connections with the other resident advisors. Glasper’s goal was solely to be there for her residents and make a difference in their lives as they transition from high school to college.

Soon after beginning her job as a resident advisor, she came to the realization that it was important to integrate the people she worked with into her life. She had to learn to be approachable and likable.

“I didn’t want to be a cold person,” Glasper said. “My people-person skills had a reality check.”

No longer a troubled school girl, this young woman has made her mark at CSUN. Graduating in May 2011, Glasper sees herself as a future student at the UCLA School of Law. Going there open minded and open to learn, she says she is excited for the road ahead.