Interview with Caroline (Cali) Salafia
IntervieweeInterview with
Caroline Salafia
InterviewerInterviewed by
Erica Dewey
Date4 November 2024
Mediumborn digital audio file
DimensionsDuration: 28 Minutes, 27 Seconds
ClassificationsInformation Artifacts
Credit LineCommunity History Project Collection
Description(a) Audio file of interview with Caroline Salafia. She was interviewed by Erica Dewey on 4 November 2024 over Zoom. (b) Photograph of Caroline Salafia provided by interviewee. (c) Video file of interview with Caroline Salafia.
Caroline (Cali) Salafia was interviewed as part of the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History's Community History Project discussing moments of change in her life.
Cali described change in the context of development, including change in daily activities, but also going off to college or getting a job. She described getting diagnosed with an autoimmune disease during her time as an undergraduate student as her significant moment of change. Her diagnosis influenced her academic and career trajectory as she became more interested in chronic illness research.
In her current position as a Ph.D. student at the University of Connecticut, she mentioned that her chronic illness keeps her “grounded” and drives her to help others and be more grateful in her daily life. She also mentioned how the diagnosis positively impacted her daily routine because she became more “intentional” with her time. For instance, she prioritized her health, including better fitness and diet choices, and focused on higher-quality relationships.
Outside of her autoimmune disease and researching chronic illnesses, Cali explained her motivation for pursuing her Ph.D., including her love for learning, research methods, and ambition to lead her own research lab. She emphasized that “education is power” and is most excited about discovering new information about women’s health.
Ultimately, the biggest lesson Cali learned from her moment of change was that things will get better, so when negative experiences occur, you have to remind yourself that it is not necessarily how you are always going to feel.
Caroline (Cali) Salafia was interviewed as part of the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History's Community History Project discussing moments of change in her life.
Cali described change in the context of development, including change in daily activities, but also going off to college or getting a job. She described getting diagnosed with an autoimmune disease during her time as an undergraduate student as her significant moment of change. Her diagnosis influenced her academic and career trajectory as she became more interested in chronic illness research.
In her current position as a Ph.D. student at the University of Connecticut, she mentioned that her chronic illness keeps her “grounded” and drives her to help others and be more grateful in her daily life. She also mentioned how the diagnosis positively impacted her daily routine because she became more “intentional” with her time. For instance, she prioritized her health, including better fitness and diet choices, and focused on higher-quality relationships.
Outside of her autoimmune disease and researching chronic illnesses, Cali explained her motivation for pursuing her Ph.D., including her love for learning, research methods, and ambition to lead her own research lab. She emphasized that “education is power” and is most excited about discovering new information about women’s health.
Ultimately, the biggest lesson Cali learned from her moment of change was that things will get better, so when negative experiences occur, you have to remind yourself that it is not necessarily how you are always going to feel.
Object number2024.79.5a-c
NotesSubject Note: The Connecticut Museum of Culture and History’s Community History Project (CHP) is a public-facing initiative, focused on contemporary collecting, gathering items of the recent past as well as from events happening today. This program developed community historians to identify, document, and preserve their experiences as residents of Connecticut, and to share these experiences during a series of community presentations. The project focused on the theme "Redefining Moments of Change." Conneticans share stories of people or events who have changed their lives or how they have sparked change in the lives of others.Cataloging Note: Digitization and access to this collection is supported by a Congressionally Directed grant through the U.S. Department of Education.
Subject Terms
- Cromwell
- Oral history
- Interviews
- Oral narratives
- Diseases
- Diseases
- Autoimmune diseases
- Students
- Women
- College students
- Research
- Cancer patients
- Treatment and prognosis
- Motivation
- Gratitude
- Health
- Women's health
- Breast Cancer
- Education
- White people
- University of Connecticut
- Interviews and Oral Histories
- Born Digital Audio
- Born Digital Videos
- Community History Project U.S. Department of Education grant
- Redefining Moments of Change Collection
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