By Richard Burnett

Whether she’s leading a finger-painting activity for children or helping guests arrange resort experiences, Chiara Ferrante is thriving in her first job after graduating from Beacon College. Less than a week after commencement, she began work as a recreation attendant at a Hilton resort in Orlando.

Given the range of responsibilities she handles, the job title only tells part of the story. She is part entertainer, event planner, activity coordinator, instructor and artist, helping create memorable experiences for resort guests. Fittingly, she works on a team known as the “Fun Department” at the Hilton Grand Vacations Club Tuscany Village, near Disney World and Universal Orlando.

By all accounts, Ferrante is in her element there. It showcases her talents and skills, many of which were honed at Beacon, where the magna cum laude graduate was an orientation leader, club organizer, and award-winning artist. She’s already been named Team Member of the Month twice.

For Ferrante, success on the job depends heavily on teamwork.

“One of the biggest things I learned at Beacon, from my courses and activities on campus, was collaboration,” Ferrante said. “That is the main thing many employers look for: your ability to work with others. And at Hilton, from the start, you know you are on a team, with everyone sharing the same goal and purpose. You’re not in this job alone. You support each other.”

A Journey Marked by Challenges and Growth

It has been a long journey for the 26-year-old Massachusetts native — from her frustrating teen years to her budding new career. Though a good student in high school, she often experienced social anxiety.

Despite that, after graduation her strong academic record and artistic talent earned her admission to the renowned Savannah College of Art and Design.

But it did not go well there.

Ferrante found herself lost in the college’s focus on independence and self-guidance: “You had to figure out your own schedule and the subjects you’d take,” she recalled. “I just couldn’t do well with that. Their approach left me confused. I couldn’t wrap my head around the process.”

Her family quickly intervened, realizing this was not normal first-year jitters. Mental health counseling followed. Chiara was diagnosed with ADHD, which can affect executive functioning skills such as decision-making, organization and multitasking. She later was also diagnosed with autism.

The experience was difficult for Chiara and her family, said her mother, Lori Mandeville, who Chiara describes as her champion through it all.

“She had gone off to art college with great expectations,” Mandeville said. “And there, our 4.2 GPA, National Honor Society daughter hit a wall. It took about two years to put Chiara back together and rebuild her self-esteem. But we eventually got there.”

Finding Herself Again

A turning point in Ferrante’s journey came at Beacon, where a network of faculty and staff helped her rebuild her confidence and strengthen her academic and professional skills. Among those who supported her were Dr. Oksana Hagerty, dean of the Robey Center for Student Success; learning specialist Derrick “Rick” Bugg; and Dustin Boise, professor of studio arts.

“It wasn’t easy,” Mandeville said. “We had a few stops and starts along the way, but we knew Beacon was the right place for Chiara, even when she went through some tough times.”

Bugg recalled Chiara’s memorable transformation from a student whose self-confidence was shattered to a poised young woman who believed in herself and her talent.

“To see the change was just amazing,” he said. “Once she started realizing the talent she really had, and that her artistry was indeed great, she couldn’t deny it anymore. Everyone saw it. We all watched her turn into a positive force of nature.”

“For the longest time, she was her own worst critic,” said Dustin Boise, who taught Ferrante in five studio arts courses. “Things were never good enough for her. At one point, she even took a hiatus for a year, but when she returned, she was stronger than ever. She definitely blossomed here.”

Ferrante credits the Beacon community, especially her professors, with helping her rediscover her confidence and potential.

“I mean the professors there give 110 percent in helping you understand what they’re trying to teach you,” she said. “In every subject, they all cared so much about the subject matter. They’d take whatever time it took for you to understand. It was such a blessing.”