NBHS Grad Finds Good Fit at UConn
By Kathryn M. Roy | New Britain School District at May 17, 2024 | 8:00 am | Print
Ariana Molokwu, another accomplished member of New Britain High School’s class of 2010, has become a productive, successful student at the University of Connecticut. Just as she did at NBHS, Molokwu has a jam-packed schedule full of classes, club meetings and activities. Molokwu is another “New Britain Success Story,” continuing to rack up accomplishments in college.
Molokwu got her start with academic success in New Britain. She said all of the “popular” kids were the ones taking AP classes, making Honor Roll and being part of National Honor Societies.
“My generation made it cool to want to do something with your life; to achieve academic success,” she said. “Younger grades looked up to us as the example.”
Molokwu said despite normal teenage struggles, she developed close relationships with her classmates. She participated in many clubs and activities, including National Honor Society, Science National Honor Society, Society of Young Scholars, Gifted and Talented for Math and Science, Amnesty International, Student Government and Class Council, Powder Puff Flag Football, Orchestra and school musicals. In addition, Molokwu was a Girl Scout and took dance lessons all throughout school, and served as a volunteer student teacher at her dance school, the YWCA School of Dance.
Molokwu remembers her favorite classes as AP Biology and Orchestra. Her favorite teacher was Honors Physics teacher Naomi Sigall.
“She made her classroom a ‘physics family’ and showed us that regardless of the various stresses in life, we have to approach every day ready to laugh and with a smile,” Molokwu said.
Molokwu said she was prepared academically for college because of her time at NBHS, although she believes you can never fully be ready for the college experience before you go through it. A double-major in psychology and communications with a minor in music, Molokwu is hoping to go to graduate school, work in the music industry and eventually go into child and adolescent counseling.
At UConn, Molokwu hasn’t lightened her schedule at all. She serves as vice president of Programming and Communications for the Student Alumni Association and operations manager of UConn’s record label, Husky Records. She is also a member of the Student Union Board of Governors Concert Committee, the Jorgenson Student Programming Advisory Board and Psi Chi, the national Psychology Honors Society. She does it all while juggling a part-time job at a dining hall on campus.
Aside from academics, Molokwu attributes the university experience of teaching her much more.
“What differs from high school to college is that you have to remember to live, too,” she said. “You have to remember to eat, and take are of yourself, to do laundry and hang out with friends. It’s also about learning how to deal and live with people on a much more personal level. It’s all about keeping the balance as well as keeping your sanity.”
