Five Questions with Melinda (Ciampa) Ferreira ’00

For Melinda (Ciampa) Ferreira ’00, there is nothing like surfing in September and October in New England. “The water is still warm, the crowds are less, and the waves are usually the best this time of year,” says the New Hampshire resident, who took her first surfing lesson nearly two decades ago.  

And when autumn turns to winter, Ferreira doesn’t let the drop in temperature deter her from the activity that, she says, “changed her life.”

In the GBH documentary, Winter Surfing: New England’s Best Kept Secret, Ferreira is one of several surfers featured who embrace the region's coldest months by riding waves. 

“When you go out into the water, and you’re looking out to the horizon, the sun is rising. To be able to see that come up from your board, in zero degree temperatures or less, is…to me a very spiritual experience and, I think, an indescribable feeling,” Ferreira says in the documentary. 

Surfing for Ferreira has been healing in a number of ways, both physically and emotionally. A psychology major with a minor in communication at Stonehill, Ferreira always had an interest in becoming a doctor to help "others heal." She spent 15 years working in pharmaceuticals, medical devices and robotic surgical technology before an injury led her down a path to acupuncture. Inspired by her own experience, she returned to school to become a doctor of acupuncture. In addition to owning her own practice, she is on staff at MassGeneral Brigham Cancer Center at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital.

In five questions, Ferreira talks about the moment she caught her first wave, how her psychology major has informed her surfing, and a study abroad experience that made a lasting impact.

How did you first become interested in surfing? 

Before moving to the seacoast of New Hampshire at the age of 29, I didn't realize that people surfed in New England. And I certainly didn't realize people surfed all year long, including throughout the winter and in freezing temperatures. I was mesmerized when I saw people surfing at our local breaks. It seemed like such a graceful, beautiful thing to do—like they were dancing on water. My husband, Chris ’01, and I signed up for lessons the very first spring we lived up here. We took two lessons, bought a couple boards and wetsuits and have never looked back. 

What has surfing taught you?

Surfing has allowed me to be present in a way that I had never known before. From the moment I popped up on my first wave, I knew I wanted to surf for the rest of my life. With that, I found myself transforming in ways that were extremely healing. For instance, I had been in the habit of over drinking, and often waking up hungover or not feeling well. I discovered that my favorite time of day to surf was at first light, just before sunrise. I quickly realized that I would much rather be out in the ocean to experience that gorgeous feeling of being alive than be in bed. Surfing has truly changed my life, for the better, in countless ways. 

You were a psychology major at Stonehill. How has that been useful to you in your life, career or surfing? 

I believe having a basic understanding of the human condition, how the human mind works, is very important as we make our way through life. Psychology was a great foundation. Understanding that the mind is a tool we have that can either liberate us, or imprison us, is such a vital part of controlling our thoughts and being compassionate to ourselves and others. This has certainly helped me in my life, working with others, and taking care of patients. In surfing, having a basic understanding of ego has kept me in check. I always say to anyone who asks about surfing, "Lest we think we are in charge, we are not. Mother Nature is." Knowing my limits and being OK with them has allowed me to stay safe and enjoy one of the greatest gifts in my life. 

Can you share a Stonehill experience as a student that has had a lasting impact? 

I spent the first semester of my senior year studying abroad in Ireland. It remains one of the best decisions I've ever made. I've been back over a dozen times and have become an Irish Citizen (I hold dual citizenship in the U.S. and Ireland). There were nine of us from Stonehill that semester in Dublin, including my roommate Leslie (Blanchard) Negri '00, who remains one of my dearest friends in life. It was an unforgettable experience. 

Also, at Stonehill, I was mentored in and out of the classroom by some of the kindest and most open-minded adults I'd ever met. It was really my first experience with ever truly being encouraged to think openly and critically. All of these things are integral to making your way in the world. I couldn't have made a better choice; it helped shape my life in a beautiful way. 

Stonehill’s motto is Lux et Spes or Light and Hope. How does this relate to surfing? 

Light and Hope is about as beautiful as it gets, and it defines how I hope to continue to approach life—with optimism, with hope, with an open heart and mind. I'm an eternal optimist, but I'm a realist as well. I've experienced loss and sadness and tragedy in my life, but they've allowed the beautiful moments, often nameless, quiet moments, to truly shine in my life. Oftentimes when I'm out in the water, I have this overwhelming sense of being so deeply connected to the ocean, to myself, to others who I've lost, to life itself. Surfing unfailingly lifts me and fills me with a sense of light and hope. 

Photos by: Jonathan Kohanski