The connections that Daniella Freedman made her sophomore year "made campus feel a lot more like home," she said. (John West/Trinity Communications)
Trinity in Four Acts: Daniella Freedman
Sophomore year is when things start to click, and the unknowns become the familiar. Classes feel more purposeful, friendships run deeper, routines develop and campus becomes home. As our four Trinity students return, the series picks back up to follow their next chapter focused on exploring new opportunities, choosing majors and finding momentum. Through stories, photos, videos and social updates, we’ll capture the energy as they lean in, step up — and hit their stride.
Finding Her Stride: Spring Semester
As sophomore year comes to an end, Daniella Freedman has settled into a steady stride that feels more about direction, with a healthy dose of intention. While the year felt “generally calm overall,” sophomore fall, she admits, wasn’t without adjustments.
“People tend to talk about how legendary the first year of college is, and my spring semester last year was one of the best times of my life,” she explains. “Coming back this fall, it wasn’t like anything changed for the worse, it was more of a self-realization that I’m actually going to school here and need to start thinking about internships and job interests.”
Her spring course load reflected her growing sense of direction: two English and two journalism courses counting toward her major and minor. She also left room for curiosity with Meet the Beatles and the 1960s. “I’m more of an ‘80s and ‘90s music person,” she laughs, “but it was really interesting.”
Outside the classroom, commitments have become more intentional. Freedman continued to write for “The Chronicle’s” Recess section, managed social media for “The Lemur Magazine” and contributed to “The Muse.” As an English Department Ambassador, she also stepped into a more outward-facing role with tabling events, talking with prospective students and advocating for the English department.
“I added a lot of clubs last semester, so I’m trying to focus and commit to them fully,” she says.
That intentionality extended to her sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta. This semester, she made a conscious effort to be more present, committing to attend every Sisterhood event after realizing how easily she drifted away while caught up in work during the fall. Her friendship circle also began to shift. Her small, stable group of friends expanded when one member introduced them to his larger circle.
“Now, we're very much intertwined and have this huge group chat,” she says. “While I'm not seeing every single one of them every day. I have many people that I can talk with or just have fun with, and it’s made campus feel a lot more like home.”
"What I love about this school is that people don't feel like they need to sacrifice having fun. Everyone has such strong academic backgrounds, but we can still make time to unwind."
That sense of ease and connection carried into one of her core memories for the semester: Sledding until 2 a.m. when a snowstorm turned West Campus into a late-night playground. “What I love about this school is that people don't feel like they need to sacrifice having fun. Everyone has such strong academic backgrounds, but we can still make time to unwind.”
Still, sophomore spring came with pressure. “It’s the internship semester, and it felt like I was constantly applying and interviewing.” Freedman will spend her summer on Martha’s Vineyard as an intern with the Vineyard Gazette before another shift arrives in the form of a fall study abroad in Sweden.
The decision came late, after Freedman considered options like St. Andrews and Oxford. “I heard so much about the workloads and how you don’t really have time on the weekends to travel. I want to study abroad, but I also want to have time to explore abroad.” The program offers an eclectic mix of photography, textiles and creative courses far outside her usual track. “I’m excited to take a break from my major and study things I normally wouldn’t.”
Sophomore year for Freedman has been about grounding, but also expansion with a widening social world, a clearer academic focus, a growing sense of ownership. And as she looks ahead, there’s an awareness of time moving faster than expected. “Sophomore year marks the halfway point, and it went by way too quickly.”
Finding Their Stride: Fall Semester
September 22, 2025
“When I’m home, I’m missing school, and when I’m at school, I’m missing home. But I also know it’s a privilege to feel that pull in both directions — not everyone can say the same.”
While Daniella Freedman is happy to be back on campus, it wasn’t easy to leave her family, including her dogs Bibble and Loki. “When I’m home, I’m missing school, and when I’m at school, I’m missing home,” she admits. “But I also know it’s a privilege to feel that pull in both directions — not everyone can say the same.”
Still focused on an English major, Freedman will be busy with five course credits this fall. Two English courses and a long-form journalism course, with Genetics and Evolution and her final semester of Latin rounding out the schedule. “I’m in Intermediate Latin now, which is very different from elementary. We’re done with all the grammar rules and can focus on full translations. It’s harder, but I can finally apply everything I’ve learned.”
She also feels “pretty much set” on the path she has planned for the year: knocking some basic requirements off the list so she can really focus on English and journalism.
While her Latin class might get harder, life on campus feels a little easier. Freedman admits there are still things she’s figuring out, but she’s continuing to build her confidence both when navigating campus and making time for friends. “Even if I’m not seeing friends every day, it’s easier now to reach out and say, ‘Hey, want to grab breakfast?’” she says. “I realized that I have more friends than I think, I just have to make an effort.”
Still working toward her goal of becoming the Duke Blue Devil mascot, Freedman also plans to join a few student clubs this year while continuing with Kappa Alpha Theta. She admits that when she first came to Duke, she brought a specific view of what Greek life entailed and never pictured herself as someone who would rush a sorority. “During the process, I found myself having the most genuine conversations with the girls, and it just felt different,” she shares. “I didn’t have to put on a mask or try to be someone I’m not.”
Freedman spent most of her summer as a camp counselor in New York. “I had the same group of girls as the year before, so it was like picking up where we left off, which was nice. But next year, I’m going to try for internships and maybe some traveling depending on how much money I have saved.”
What does Freedman predict for her sophomore year? “Definitely more work, but also more tools to manage it in a healthy way.”
And when it comes to work, Freedman cautions first-year students to avoid repeating her mistake of turning her dorm room into her primary work spot. “Once your room becomes your study space, the stress and the workload starts to intrude on everything else like sleeping, relaxing, hanging out with friends,” she warns. “Instead of being a safe place to recharge, it turns into an extension of your work, and you quickly lose that sense of separation and rest.”
Her advice is simple. “Get out of your room and study somewhere else — which I'm definitely doing better with this year.”
While Daniella (sitting) is happy to be back on campus, it wasn’t easy to leave her family. (Photo courtesy of Daniella Freedman)
Good friends don’t let distance get in the way. These Dukies road-tripped to New York to see Daniella (second from left) before the crew took off for a few days in Martha’s Vineyard. (Photo courtesy of Daniella Freedman)
Daniella, her best friend, and a fellow counselor cleaned up for camp’s end-of-session dance. A tradition that feels like a “fake prom,” but comes with real summer-camp vibes. (Photo courtesy of Daniella Freedman)
Beginnings and Discoveries: Spring Semester
May 19, 2025
“I’m proud of the mindset I had this year — even if I didn't accomplish everything I set out to.”
Looking back, Daniella Freedman’s first year at Duke feels like a blur — despite how slowly it unfolded in real time. “In the fall, everything was a new experience for me,” she explains. “There were quick turnarounds and adjustments, but as I met people, established my habits and got into the academic swing of things, life became more stable in the spring.”
One adjustment came when registering for spring classes. Dealing with pneumonia and trying to snag courses early in the morning, her pre-planned schedule didn’t work out, forcing her to choose classes on the fly. In hindsight, Freedman knows it worked out for the best. “I think my original schedule would have been too stressful because I tried to pack a lot of things into spring. But no matter what classes I have, everything in the first year fulfills a requirement.”
Still an English major, leaning more toward journalism, she continued her healthy, holistic approach to her classes. She confides that shifting her focus from chasing the highest grade to understanding the coursework sparked a deeper curiosity. “I find myself wanting to learn more about a subject rather than just what I need for the test.”
Speaking of tests, what grade would the now rising sophomore give herself for her first year at Duke? “A solid 98 because while there’s always room for improvement, I’m proud of the mindset I had this year — even if I didn't accomplish everything I set out to.”
Outside of academics, Freedman’s favorite part of Duke life has been the school spirit surrounding March Madness and men’s basketball in general. “I tried to go to as many games as possible and think I ended up at six or seven games, which I’m pretty happy about.”
And Duke still holds that sense of comfortable curiosity, where she feels like she’s known everyone on campus her whole life yet is constantly meeting new people. She rushed Kappa Alpha Theta and has built a stable group of friends, including her roommate. “She’s definitely my best friend here, and we’re rooming again next year.”
Despite the first-year blur, Freedman holds two favorite memories. In the fall, it was the Duke-UNC football game, where fans rushed the field after the game. “When I decided to apply for early decision to Duke, it was when Duke rushed the field after defeating Clemson,” she shares. “This fall felt like a full-circle moment, very cinematic.”
The second was the snowstorm immediately after winter break when students congregated outside to throw snowballs and make snow angels. “That wholesomeness is another thing I really appreciate about this school,” Freedman shares. “We can be serious students focused on our majors, but we can also let loose and enjoy simple things, like throwing snowballs.”
As she prepares for another summer as a camp counselor, Freedman is emphatic when asked what advice she has for the incoming Class of 2029: Let go of expectations.
“When I was preparing for Duke, everyone told me I was going to have this very stressful experience navigating classes, making friends and just settling in. While part of me understandably expected that stress, I decided to come here with an open mind and not assume the worst — and honestly, that made my whole experience feel a lot more manageable.”
And how is she faring with her quest to become the Duke Blue Devil?
“I’m definitely still working on it.”
Daniella, her roommate and her dogs Loki and Bibble (in pillow form)
Outside of academics, Daniella’s (left) favorite part of Duke life has been the school spirit surrounding men’s basketball.
Daniella (blue wig) and her crew getting ready for Duke basketball.
Daniella (third from left) and her friends on campus celebrating Holi, the Hindu Festival of Colors.
Duke still holds that sense of comfortable curiosity, where Daniella feels like she’s known everyone on campus her whole life yet is constantly meeting new people.
Daniella (second from left) and her Kappa Alpha Theta sisters.
Beginnings and Discoveries: Fall Semester
December 17, 2024
“I watched a video of an alumna who had been the Blue Devil, and she made me see college as less of a scary part of growing up and more of a place where I can still explore parts of being a kid while maturing as a person.”
Daniella Freedman readily admits she wasn’t excited about the whole college process. Between the campus visits and researching options, it felt more like a burden made more difficult by not finding schools that met all her expectations.
“Then we visited Duke, and it was the first time that my parents and I both felt like this was the place where I could really grow,” she shares. “Not too big that I can’t run into a familiar face, but not too small that I can’t meet new people. That’s something I wasn't seeing at the other liberal arts schools I looked at.”
For her first semester, the English major is focused on taking “the most random classes possible,” including a seminar on German supernatural characters and a half-credit course analyzing Taylor Swift songs. And she set a goal to not worry as much about achieving perfect grades and, instead, focus more on the learning experiences.
“During my campus visit, I watched a video of an alumna who had been the Blue Devil, and she had this childlike excitement when describing it.” Freedman shares. “She made me see college as less of a scary part of growing up and more of a place where I can still explore parts of being a kid while maturing as a person.”
Along with coursework, Freedman is working on finding the student clubs that are a good fit and creating a solid group of friends.
“And I want to find a way to be the Blue Devil, so I’m putting that out there.”
