Why Grinnell?
I went to a small, rural public high school with around 500 students. Although I had a close-knit community, I knew I wanted to find more rigorous classes in college.
I wanted to challenge myself in a different environment. I wanted ample learning opportunities with support from professors and a diverse student body. I wanted a vibrant place where everyone felt welcomed and included — including myself.
The kind and inviting Grinnell students influenced my decision to choose Grinnell. When I visited, I was impressed by Grinnell’s rigorous academics, the support systems, the Mentored Advanced Projects (MAPs), the facilities, and the learning opportunities. Grinnell seemed like a great community for me to be a part of and a place where I could grow as a person.
Connecting Beyond
I was determined to network and connect with as many people as I could, early on. As an admitted student, I met a variety of people through a Grinnell Facebook group chat. I got involved in clubs, built friendships, and made valuable connections.
On campus, I made a point to talk to as many people as possible and engage with the community. I was on the basketball team at Grinnell. I worked as a Grinnell Advocate, bringing awareness of sexual assault and dating violence to the community, and I worked in the dining hall. These roles allowed me to learn about different organizations and explore opportunities that interested me.
First-Year Tutorial
I took a tutorial class called Our Habits, Ourselves. It was taught by Professor Caleb Elfenbein. In the class, we examined how to build good habits and remove bad habits from our lives.
As part of a project, each student picked a habit to work on during the semester: mine was social self-confidence. I talked with various people throughout campus to get myself out of my comfort zone. I made a lot of connections by doing this, as many Grinnellians were very friendly. I documented and analyzed my efforts for my final research paper.
On the Court and in the Gym
I enjoyed being a part of the basketball team. We navigated successes and challenges, built discipline on and off the court, and even discussed finance. Because many of my teammates had similar aspirations, I discussed careers with them to clarify my own aspirations. Their influence rubbed off on me in a positive way.
One time, Grinnell's most famous basketball alumnus (he scored 138 points in one game!), Jack Taylor '15, returned to campus and pranked us with a surprise match. I got pummeled, but it was a fun experience.
Basketball constantly reminded me how there is no "I" in "team." Finding a role that contributes to the team's success is crucial in basketball and beyond.
Internships
I prioritized employment over grad school, so I focused more on internships than research at Grinnell. I completed two internships in finance and accounting, which provided valuable experiences and helped me understand what kind of work most fulfilled me.
Finance for the Good
My first internship was both recommended and fully funded by our career office. It was a microfinance internship in Des Moines, and I got to work for the Iowa Senator for Economic Success. I assisted with loan underwriting and helped Iowa entrepreneurs secure $50,000 to start their businesses. This work was particularly meaningful and showed me how I can make a positive impact within the field.
Finance in New York City
A year later, I transitioned to a corporate role in New York City. I focused on cash management accounting for high-net-worth clients, and the experience was rewarding. I worked a nine-to-five schedule, lived in one of the greatest cities in the world, and met great people to network with!
Forging my Own Path
I always knew I wanted to major in economics, but I wasn't sure what to do with that degree. Throughout the course of my four years, I'm happy to say that my advisers, professors, and I figured that out together.
My statistics adviser is incredibly helpful and challenges me to take classes outside of my major. Thanks to his support, I also explored philosophy and considered a double major. I loved that I could apply the knowledge from my "Philosophy of Life" and "Existentialism" classes to my immediate life.
My economics adviser helps me with both academic and non-academic matters. He and I talk occasionally and catch up on life.
Data Analysis and Social Inquiry Lab (DASIL)
I also participate as a student staff member in our Data Analysis and Social Inquiry Lab (DASIL). Here, I get hands-on experiences with data at the College and work with peers on statistical programming. Helping students in their graduate-level research projects and touching data from across campus helps me professionally, too.
