What is your major and minor? What other academic programs were you a part of?
Biology and sociology double major.
What are some of the jobs you held while at McDaniel?
During my time at McDaniel, I was a peer mentor, a one-on-one tutor, a member of the First Year Advisory Board, and a member of Dr. Staab’s 2018 summer research team.
What organizations were you a part of at McDaniel? What positions did you hold?
I’m a member of Alpha Lambda Delta, Alpha Kappa Delta, and the historian on the Executive Board of Beta Beta Beta for the 2018-2019 academic year. I’m on the Student Leadership Board for the Progressive Student Union and an active member of the Compost Club.
Did you enjoy your time at McDaniel? How?
I enjoyed the small school atmosphere that allowed me to build relationships with my professors and the rest of the faculty, staff, and students. I loved being involved in both official college business and being able to speak out against issues that reflected student concerns.
Who is/was your best mentor?
Dr. Staab is my most influential mentor. She helped me rediscover my love for biology, taught me life lessons, listened to me vent when I needed to, and was overall an approachable person with whom I had so many important discussions during my time here.
What is your best memory at McDaniel?
It’s hard to pick just one memory, but it’s incredible to look back on who I was my freshman year, who my friends were, and what I wanted from my college experience, and compare that to now and see how I’ve evolved in so many ways, for the better. I’m very grateful for the opportunities I found that facilitated this evolution.
What are some of the challenges you encountered and how did you overcome them?
McDaniel has a more conservative climate than I had originally expected from a liberal arts school, so at first it was difficult to find friends without compromising what I believed in. Eventually, through more campus involvement, I was able to find friends whose company I enjoyed. Campus involvement was a common theme in how I overcame my many challenges. One big challenge I faced was sophomore year as a whole. I felt bored and stagnant throughout that year and was only able to fix that feeling by getting involved. I tried a bunch of things and didn’t stick with all of them, but I have no regrets about the clubs and organizations I joined, if only for a brief time.
What are your plans for after graduation?
I plan to go home and have a fun summer in Ocean City while I search for jobs. Next fall, I plan to move anywhere a new opportunity takes me so I can explore new parts of the country (or the world) I’ve never been before. Once I find what I want to do, I’ll apply to graduate school, if necessary, and maybe pursue a Ph.D.
What would you tell yourself as a first-year at McDaniel?
Don’t isolate yourself in one group of friends, get involved on campus in ways that inspire you, and say “yes” to the opportunities that are presented to you.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with the McDaniel community?
When I see what the underclassmen are doing in terms of involvement and taking action, I have no doubt that they will leave the school in better shape than they found it, and I know they’ll do great things in the future.
