Age: 20
Hometown: Rochester, New York
Year: Junior
Major: Psychology and International Studies focusing on the Middle East and Peace Studies & Conflict Resolution
Dream job: If I could dress up as the Lorax and teach children how important it is to respect the environment and each other, I would. If I could move to Turkey and try to help heal the broken souls of refugees who have experienced the hardships of war, I would. If I told you I had one dream job, I would be lying. I have many, and I don’t know where I’ll end up, but I know I won’t settle for anything less than fighting for something that sets my heart on fire with passion. My goals are to help, to communicate, to educate, and to understand. We will see what I do with that.
Why did you choose U of O?
After growing up in liberal Rochester, New York, I moved to a small island off the coast of South Carolina with my family. Though my 13-year old self hated the new culture I was living in, I loved the feeling of discovering myself in an environment drastically different from the one I knew before. I attended the University of South Carolina my freshman year, didn’t exactly like it, and followed my heart out to Oregon to live amongst people more in-tune with my values and lifestyle. Here at UO, I’m educating myself on issues that matter and learning how to live my life in a way I am proud of.
How/Why do you want to change the world?
There is a lot of sadness out there and I want to eliminate some of it. If I eliminate some of it, I’ve done my part in leaving the world better than I found it. If I’m not working to make the world a more beautiful place, then why am I here? Weren’t we all brought here by someone or something for that reason? I believe we were, and I don’t want to lose sight of that. Ideally, I want to live in a world that lines up with my values and in order to do that, I must live my values and educate myself so I can educate others and spread my message.
Best part of your college experience?
The best part of my college experience is being able to call Oregon home. I have learned just as much from the trees and the mountains in this state as I have from my professors, I swear, and I couldn’t be more grateful that I am able to call this state my current home! I look at life a little differently when I’m here. The clouds are different, the moon is different, the sunset is different, but I’m still the same person under the same sky I was before, and I love that feeling.
What are you proud to have been part of at U of O?
I am very proud that I was given the opportunity to envision and plan a week of events centered around Earth Day this year. We have been celebrating Earth Week on our campus since 1970, the first year Earth Day was celebrated internationally, which is not something most college students can say about the schools they attend. We are very lucky we attend University of Oregon, a school deeply rooted in positive values with a rich, extensive history of student-led environmental and social justice activism. As the current Ducks, we must not forget or undermine that history. We must carry on the legacy that past students created for us!
Goals after college?
After college, I want to get rid of most of the things I own, hop on a plane, arrive in Turkey and from there, travel the world for as long as I can before I settle down and enter “the real world.” I want to have an opportunity to live freely in my 20s, allowing other cultures and global perspectives to teach me more about the person I am and the world I live in than I can learn living in one stable culture and place. I believe this type of experiential learning and self-growth is valuable and important, and I want to obtain it fresh out of college before I decide to settle down and create a career for myself.