Nothing gets me more excited for the weekend than an upcoming “meating.” In my sophomore year, my friends and I started the organization to bring people together and eat great food! Despite being relatively new, the club has been more successful than we could have imagined. After writing lengthy papers and studying for exams all week, getting together with friends to eat burgers, play Spikeball, and catch up with friends is always a lovely change of pace.
Tell us about the mentorship you have received at °IJʿ.
°IJʿ introduced me to a pivotal mentor in my life, my First-Year Seminar (FSEM) instructor, Professor Peter Klepeis. When I entered °IJʿ, I thought I had everything figured out. By my second month of classes, I had made a spreadsheet (color-coded, of course) organizing when I would take all of my classes so I could graduate as a biochemistry major, biology major, and mathematics systems biology minor. I asked him to look over the plan and give any feedback he thought I should know. Boy, did he have comments! He thought it was well done but urged me to be more fluid and open to new experiences and paths in life. It took me time to internalize, accept, and pursue his advice, but I cannot be more thankful in hindsight. The plan I had originally made didn’t account for my study abroad in Cape Town, South Africa. It also didn’t account for the switch from biochemistry to chemistry or taking on a geography major. In the years since this conversation, Professor Klepeis has become one of my most trusted and respected advisers, professors, and friends.
What would you consider your greatest accomplishment as a student at °IJʿ so far?
In my first year, I took with Associate Professor of Chemistry Jason Keith. The course was captivating but also quite challenging. Near the end of the semester, my test grades to date had locked me into a grade, and I had hoped for better. But after the class average on the last regular exam destroyed the normal test average, I crunched the numbers and realized that, if I did really well on the final, I could move up by a half-letter. I had agency. Feeling the pressure, I spent countless hours at the library to avoid letting myself down. After I arrived home, I saw an email in my inbox from my professor. He told me I achieved the highest mark on the final and improved my overall grade to the grade I originally wanted. I was overjoyed. I always look at the email to remind myself of his words, “Way to go. Hard work pays off.”
What is your favorite place on campus and why?
I think the secret to doing well academically at °IJʿ is finding the perfect spot to study. Most students prefer Case-Geyer Library or their residence halls, but my favorite place is the Geography Lounge, located in Ho Science Center. Accessible only to geography majors, the lounge is filled with niche geography decorations like an upside-down map or a map displaying all the places °IJʿ students have traveled across the world. I often find myself studying this map and added a few countries to my travel bucket list after my study abroad. There’s no other place I’d rather settle down to get some work done.
What advice would you give to future °IJʿ students?
I would tell incoming students to be open to new experiences and get engaged on campus. There’s a delicate balance in avoiding overcommitting yourself, but it’s reasonable to be heavily involved in a club sport, a cultural club, a dance group, or Greek life. In your freshman year, be on the lookout for the club fair! Clubs are just one way to find the people who will make your time at °IJʿ extraordinary.
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