Maximus Camaj '27 (SUNY Geneseo/Mat Johnson)
Most of all, history and adolescence education major Maximus Camaj '27 wanted to attend a college with a strong sense of community. He found it at Geneseo.
"I love Geneseo because everybody has each other's backs, regardless of how tough a day can be," says Camaj. "People honestly help me to get through some of my biggest challenges here. It’s a school that really embraces community."
Knowing no one, Camaj put himself out there experienced the warmth and openness of others at the College right away.
"On my first day at Geneseo, I went to Red Jacket dining hall," says Camaj. "I surveyed the room because I hadn't talked to anyone beyond my roommate. I saw this guy and said, 'Hey, I’m Maximus. Can I sit with you?' Connor has become one of my best friends. We are in the wrestling club together, and we both work as resident assistants. He has had my back from day one, quite literally."
Three years later, Camaj still strikes up a conversation and often asks to join students he doesn’t know. No one has ever said 'no.'
"I’m not going to sugarcoat it," says Camaj. "It can be a very scary move to go up to someone randomly, but we should be okay with taking healthy risks."
Camaj has made several close friends at Geneseo who have supported him in challenging and good times. Staff have also encouraged him. For example, when Camaj told Clifton Harcum, director of multicultural affairs, that he wanted to get back into running and going to the gym, Harcum invited him to join him for a run.
"When we finished, Cliff said, 'You wanna go tomorrow?'" says Camaj. "Now I go to the gym and I ran a 5K race. We build each other up here."
These experiences have made Camaj a self-proclaimed "Geneseo hype guy." "I love to talk about it," he says.
Camaj is in his second year as a resident assistant, now in Jones Hall. He enjoys meeting students from various backgrounds during his shifts.
"I tell them, 'If you need someone, come,'" says Camaj. "That’s my biggest thing. I want to be here for people, the way they have been for me."
Read more about student organizations at Geneseo.