ISABELLA LESANTE: Following Her Vision into Optometry

ISABELLA LESANTE: Following Her Vision into Optometry

At Wilkes, Isabella "Bella" Lesante will "turn passion into purpose, and purpose into impact." Lesante, a transfer student, is following her vision to help others.

For over 20 years, Lesante, from Sugarloaf, Pennsylvania, has been involved with Community Services for Sight, a local, non-profit organization whose mission is to help prevent blindness, provide support and raise awareness for people who are blind, visually impaired or otherwise disabled.

In the summer, Lesante volunteers at the day camps for people of all ages: Camp Sight and Camp Sight Junior. These programs are designed to give participants guidance on basic daily living and improve their life skills such as cooking, cleaning, performing household tasks, practicing personal hygiene, recreation activities, socialization, communication and self-advocacy.

"Every time I'm with them, I realize how much I take my sight for granted. These people can function, socialize and do all things I can do," says Lesante. "It's very fulfilling to know that my contribution to the program, agency and everything else has an impact on their life."

Inspired, Lesante is pursuing neuroscience and the pre-optometry program at Wilkes. She chose Wilkes for its positive reputation and from knowing successful professionals who graduated from the University. It was also close to home and familiar. Even though she didn't know anyone at the time of her transfer, she felt welcomed and included in the campus community from day one.

"When I toured campus, I just felt very much at home. I feel like I really fit in here," she says.

Looking back to her first day at Wilkes, she realizes that it was the best decision for her - both academically and socially. Despite the typical hardships of transferring schools (meeting new friends, learning new curriculums, navigating a new campus, etc.), Lesante has immersed herself into the Wilkes experience by finding friends, leaning on her mentors for support and becoming involved by following her passions and interests.

Outside of classes, Lesante keeps busy and has made an intentional effort to get involved and meet new people. She is a Green Bandana Project member, a work study in the Office of Events and Engagement, one of the captains on the dance team, a biology tutor and participates in research with Jess Anderson, associate professor of psychology, where she is studying the effects of Tylenol on the neurodevelopment of rats.

She also found a mentor in Bridget Giunta '05, executive director of events and engagement, and dance team advisor. Lesante, who has been dancing for the past 17 years, met Giunta the first day of dance team auditions.

"Ever since I met Bridget on the dance team and began working with her, I felt like I fit in even more," says Lesante, who was moved by Giunta's generosity and positive encouragement. "I can go to her with questions about anything and she was super helpful to me in my second semester, facilitating meaningful introductions to many other people. I feel like I wouldn't have that opportunity without her."

Part of Lesante's success at Wilkes was nurturing her motivation and leaning on her mentor's advice. Giunta encourages her to continue putting herself out there, make time to talk to her professors after class and understand that potential opportunities can be anywhere, even in the small interactions on campus and beyond.

Lesante, now a dance team captain, helps to run practice, manages choreography, promotes the team on social media, collaborates with Student Government and the Programming Board for funding and more.

As for Giunta, she knew Lesante was special the first moment she spotted her at the dance team tryouts last September.

"Over the past year, I've had the good fortune of getting to know her as both a member of the dance team and a work study student in the Office of Events and Engagement," says Giunta, grateful that their paths crossed. "She brightens any room she enters and has a way of engaging with people that immediately makes them feel welcome."

For any new student, especially transfer students, Lesante's advice is to always ask for help when you need it, even at the risk of feeling embarrassed and hopeless. "Everyone here wants to help," she says. "It's such a supportive community and you don't have to be with certain people or have a certain major. Ever since being here, I have had a different drive."

Lesante has welcomed so many others while simultaneously being welcomed herself at Wilkes over the past year. Leading with her compassionate drive, she balances it all the best she can, and is genuinely looking forward to becoming an optometrist one day. Once she graduates from Wilkes, her next step is to apply for a four-year optometry school in Philadelphia or Boston and specialize in low vision so she can continue making an impact and working with visually impaired individuals.