Postel has an unbelievable penchant for planning events

The Tisch Library is the last place you'd expect to find senior Caroline Postel -- not because she shies away from things academic (in fact, she's a math major), but because the library requires quiet.

And quiet is something that Postel, who goes by Carrie, is most definitely not.

"She's creative, organized -- and fantastically loud," said Postel's housemate, senior Nina Schwartz.

"Her personality and enthusiasm for everything she does is nothing short of infectious," friend and sophomore Anita Sinha added.

In Postel's case, "everything she does" is an awful lot. During her four years at Tufts, Postel has used the characteristics cited by Schwartz and Sinha to establish a vibrant presence.

"Carrie makes me look bad," said her sister Amanda, a Tufts freshman. "We go to family events and people ask her what she is doing, and she just has lists and lists of things to say!"

Postel is now the executive co-chair of Tufts Programming Board (PBoard), the umbrella organization under which all class councils, entertainment and concert boards, lecture and film series, and the Tufts University Spirit Coalition function.

As a freshman, Postel served as vice president of academic programming for the Freshman Class Council and coordinated a hypnotist show.

During her time on the Sophomore Class Council, she helped to organize an a cappella concert.

In her current capacity as co-chair of PBoard, Postel has planned events like the Nighttime Quad Reception and the campus winter carnival, A Tid Bit Nippy. Postel also served as vice president of the Tufts Culture Festival 2004, which took place at the campus center on April 3 and featured performances and food from on-campus culture groups.

"I have never met a person who is so good at combining efficiency with personality," said sophomore and Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senator David Baumwoll, who served as president of the Culture Festival. "I don't know whether to shake her hand or kiss her."

Through organizing such events for the Tufts community, Postel realized her love for coordinating events. "I love doing project-oriented things," she said. "Making lists and checking things off makes me feel so good."

Postel's varied PBoard responsibilities have prepared her well for pursuing her career goal: "My dream is to plan the Grammys," she said.

Though math and the Grammy Awards may not seem immediately compatible, Postel said that her major remains useful in her future plans of becoming an event coordinator. "The way my mind works, I'm really good at solving problems," she said. "When planning events, things that you did not expect to happen will happen, and I'm really good at dealing with different variables."

In order to fulfill her dream, Postel is trying to find a job as corporate event planner. She has already talked to the vice president of corporate relations at Viacom, which organizes the Grammys and other musical events. "[A job at] Viacom would be incredible!" Postel said.

Math and event planning aren't Postel's only passions. Postel, who grew up in Mamaroneck, New York, a small part of Westchester that's close to trendy New York City, has always had an affinity for fashion. "Some people use music, but Carrie expresses herself through her clothes," sister Amanda said.

Postel's friends agree with her. "When it comes to fashion, Carrie is queen of it all," sophomore Cho-Yau Ling said. "Her style is beautiful and elegant, but simple. And when anyone takes a look at her color coordinated closet, beware: you'll realize you have a professional at your hands."

In addition to being a fashionable PBoard co-chair and mathematician, Postel works with Leadership Series, which operates through the Office of Student Activities. She organized the Emerging Leaders Conference through Leadership Series, and plans to organize other leadership oriented events in the future.

Although the Grammys would be the perfect event for her, combining fashion, leadership, problem-solving and event- planning, Postel has also been looking for more realistic places to begin her career. She is currently considering a position with the 92nd Y in New York City, a non-profit organization which often invites famous people to speak to New York's youth.

Postel's friends, however, have no doubt that she will eventually achieve her lofty goals. "Carrie is amazing," freshman Lisa Berger said. "She is one of the most dynamic people I have ever met. She does so much and yet it truly seems like she enjoys everything she does. Her energy is contagious."

"After I spend a day with Carrie, I find myself using her flailing hand motions and interspersing 'otay' in my speech," said Sinha of her friend's distinctively enthusiastic communication style. "You wonder where she gets her endless energy from, and soon realize it's because she has such passion for what she does."

"Carrie is going to be an amazing event planner," Schwartz added. "The world has got to know about her, because they certainly can't ignore her - and that's very lucky for them."