Get to know me
My name is Marina Messura, and I am currently an undergraduate student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. At UNC, I am double majoring in political science and global studies, with a minor in Russian. My global studies major is concentrated in international politics and Russia & Eastern Europe. I hope to someday pursue a career in foreign relations and diplomacy work.
In addition to being a full-time student at UNC, I am also own a small business called Made by Mar. I crochet and sell a variety of products, such as coasters, bandanas, flower bouquets, and stuffed animals, and I also sell handmade jewelry.
I am also currently a Assistant Copy Editor at The Daily Tar Heel, a student-led newspaper and Orange County’s only print newspaper. At The DTH, I proofread, copyedit and fact-check stories, as well as place stories and write display text for print papers.
More about me
My hobbies and interests
In addition to crocheting and knitting, I consider myself to be a huge bookworm. I love to read, specifically fantasy and science fiction novels, and have been an avid reader for my entire life. My favorite author is V. E. Schwab, and I could rave about her beautiful writing and story-building for eons. I also trained in ballet for thirteen years, and while I no longer train at the pre-professional level anymore, I continue to love and enjoy dancing. I also enjoy listening to music; some of my favorite artists include The Kooks, Arctic Monkeys, Shane Koyczan, and Franz Ferdinand.
Skills and abilities
- Conversationally fluent in Russian
- CSS and HTML coding
- WordPress and web design
- Adobe Premiere Pro, Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop
- Microsoft Suite
- AP Style
- Small business management (finances, social media, planning, inventory, etc.)
Other fun facts
- I am a huge animal lover. I have had three dogs, four hamsters, and two guinea pigs, and absolutely cannot wait to have more pets some day.
- While I love the humanities and arts and absolutely love to write and create, I also love science. I fell in love with chemistry in high school, became a CNA when I was 18, and still love to learn and study anatomy, neuroscience, and chemistry.
- Sushi may be one of the biggest passions in my life. If I could afford to, I would eat sushi for every meal of every day. I even worked at a sushi restaurant for a year before moving to college.
- In addition to crocheting for my small business, I also crochet for a club at UNC called Handmade by Heels. Through this club, I donate crocheted projects to the UNC Hospitals. In the 2022-2023 school year, I attained over 60 hours of volunteer work in donation projects.
- I am also involved in UNC’s Figure Skating Club! Although I am nowhere near as great a skater as many of the members, I enjoy the sport and always look forward to going to the rink.
