Angelina Maffei, Education

Angelina Maffei plans to teach and reach future generations after she graduates from Stockton this May. The Cape May Court House native will earn a degree in Liberal Studies with a Concentration in Elementary Education and a minor in Childhood Studies.

She attributes her grandmother as the person who inspired her passion for the value of education.

"It was the summer leading into fourth grade that I had to read a book for a summer reading assignment. I did not want to read it and saw no value in doing so. My grandmother sat with me as I read the book and showed me how much you can learn between the covers of a book. She gave me the gift of education," she reflected. She also encouraged Maffei to take on more challenging coursework like the Early College Program, a partnership between Middle Township High School and Atlantic Cape Community College. This allowed her to graduate high school with her associate degree.

This unique situation put her two years ahead of most students her age.

"The most amazing thing for me is that I am graduating from Stockton with my bachelor's degree two years after graduating from high school. I attended a summer session leading up to my first fall semester at Stockton, where I met professors from the Stockton education department," Maffei said. "This is where I met my preceptor, who looked at my transcript and said she thinks I could graduate in two years with my credits. I did not believe this at first, but everyone was so helpful in ensuring I was signing up for the correct classes and programs to allow me the opportunity to begin my career as an educator."

The opportunities Maffei had at Stockton are plentiful. In summer 2023, she completed an 80-hour clinical semester.

"This setup allowed me to stay in a continued placement to my final clinical semester, allowing me to get a true feeling of classroom routines from the beginning of the year until May in the same setting, gradually taking on more responsibility," she noted.

Maffei also participated in clubs, including NJEA Preservice, which afforded her the opportunity to attend a Preservice Conference and the NJEA Convention held in November in Atlantic City. 

Staying focused was not always easy, and when Maffei lost her grandmother in the spring 2023 semester she was not sure she could finish. 

"She passed away in the middle of the semester. I had to help plan her funeral and get so much arranged. I stopped doing coursework and did not know how I was going to pass any of my classes. I was two weeks away from the end of the semester, and I had so many different assignments piled up that there was no way that I would be able to finish and pass them," she said. "Through different programs such as Stockton Counseling, Stockton Cares and the fact that Stockton faculty really get to know each student really helped when I was going through this difficult time."

Her professors were understanding and accommodating.

"To help myself continue, I went to a professor, and she encouraged me and believed that I had the work ethic to pass all of the classes I had taken. My boyfriend was the biggest support I had during this time. He sat with me in the library for many hours, encouraged me through each assignment, and was there for me the entire time, Maffei said. “Through all of this, I was able to sustain my 4.0 GPA, which I will be graduating with in May.

“My advice for others is not to be afraid to reach out for support and communicate with others when you are going through something. Grief also takes time, so give yourself the time to process the loss of someone."

What will Maffei miss most about Stockton? The people. "I was on the e-board of Newman Club and was an involved student within my classes. I have built many connections, and I will miss this connection I was able to make at Stockton. Newman Club is the Catholic Youth Ministry club on campus," she said. "This club gave me a community of people who became more of a family. Through this club, I was able to go on two retreats and attend many meetings, fun events and many other gatherings. This club was a safe place to share and talk about my Catholic faith and journey with people around the same age as me, which is sometimes hard to find."

Something that may surprise people: “I have a twin brother. He is two minutes older than me, loves Toy Story and has Down Syndrome. He is such a cool brother, but it does get to be annoying when we have to share one birthday cake and birthday. Another thing that surprises people is that I play the cello and trombone. I began playing the cello in third grade and the trombone in eighth. I continue to do so in the Atlantic Youth Orchestra as well as in the Congress Street Brass Band.”