Why Grinnell?
I went to a public high school of 1,700 students in the city of Chicago. I liked my community, knew my teachers, and challenged myself in competitive swim and dive.
When I visited Grinnell, I actually got to see Elizabeth Warren on campus. I woke up to my current student host telling me, "Get up. Elizabeth Warren is here. Do you want to come?" I bolted straight up and went to see Warren speak to the Grinnell community. She and I even chatted about education and took a picture together!
After I returned home, I immediately committed to Grinnell through the Early Decision application round. Although we no longer offer overnight visits with current students, I am glad that I had this particular experience before I committed.
First Year
I was very excited to start college and meet new people.
My Tutorial class was called “The Inequality of Democracy in Modern America” with Professor Danielle Lussier. She challenged my writing and critical thinking skills, and the class provided a strong foundation for my next four years here.
A Little Extra Help
After a concussion in my first year, I became very familiar with the support systems here. I spent time with Academic Advising and Disability Resources to get the medical accommodations I needed, and it was incredibly easy to access that support.
I appreciated how everyone was genuinely invested in my success. My professors and coaches were very understanding and supportive, and the staff in both Academic Advising and Disability Resources did everything they could to help me get back on track. I can say with 100% confidence that I got through it because everyone had my back.
Support From My Advisers
I have a great relationship with my major advisers. I talk to them about everything, from being bummed about a test to very existential questions such as the meaning of life.
Finding Professor Barry Driscoll, my political science adviser, was almost like an “adviser at first sight.” When I took his "Introduction to Political Science" class, his way of teaching just clicked with me. He understands how I approach school, and I understand who he is as a person. He is very invested in my future.
He has also been incredibly kind to me. In my first year, I talked to Barry about homework, homesickness, and how I missed my dog. In response, he asked, “Do you want to see my dog?” That first year, I took his dog out for walks. Spending time with his dog helped me relax and think more positively about my situation.
For my Spanish major, I chose a professor who taught two of my Spanish courses. Professor Nick Phillips understood my approach to learning and knew the appropriate support systems for me. I told him about my desire to study abroad in Spain, and he was very supportive of my plans to spend a semester studying off campus.
Internships
After volunteering for Illinois senator Sara Feigenholtz in my first year, I interned for Senator Feigenholtz again the following year. I attended events and spoke with many constituents as part of my role. The internship made me realize that I wanted to engage more with voters and do constituency work, rather than go straight to law school.
The internship was an obvious choice for me. I wanted to gain experience in American politics and work for the community that I love and grew up in. My political science class on electoral systems amplified my desire to work in American politics even further.
The people I met during my internships were very memorable. I loved my bosses, the work that I did, and the relationships that I built doing constituency work. I appreciated how my senator was connected to the neighborhood; I never felt like she was removed from the community.
Some of my favorite memories from the internship include going to neighborhood block parties. The hosts and guests were happy to see elected officials at their gatherings.
In Spain!
I always knew I wanted to study abroad; off-campus study was a frequent conversation topic with my Spanish major adviser. After all, there are rarely better opportunities to live in and explore another place as freely as you can through off-campus study.
During my seven months in Granada, I learned how to navigate the cultural nuances of Spain and interacted with many different people. I visited national parks in Spain for my classes. I also rode a camel and took surfing classes in Rabat, Morocco. But I certainly missed Grinnell, too.
After witnessing the influence of Isabella and Ferdinand’s reign in Granada, I immediately jumped into a Latin American seminar when I got back to Grinnell. I got to explore the other side of the coin and immediately connected the Spanish readings to my experiences abroad. I had been to all the places we read about!
