Gustavus Adolphus College

I come from a small high school where everyone is involved in everything. I participated in music, theater, leadership, community service, and athletics and had a leadership role in many of these organizations. I also graduated top of my class. One of my most meaningful experiences was serving soup to homeless people in a soup kitchen in Minneapolis. It was very humbling to learn of the struggles they experience and rewarding to serve them.

Before visiting Gustavus, I had my choices narrowed down to two very different schools: Gustavus and U of W-Madison. I visited Gustavus on a scholarship day and, after having a discussion about the differences in education I would get at a public versus Liberal Arts College with two professors whom I had interviewed with, I knew Gustavus was the place for me. The small atmosphere and opportunity for involvement both in the classroom and out was what attracted me the most. I also enjoyed the closed layout of the campus versus walking several blocks to class among high levels of traffic and other pedestrians.

At Gustavus, I am involved in Lucia Choir, Gustie Greeters, Hoffman Center, and Habitat for Humanity. I am also currently serving as a research assistant to a psychology professor. I became involved in each organization either by interviewing for a position or showing interest at the annual involvement fair. I enjoy the diverse experiences I have in each activity, but am especially passionate about my role as a Gustie Greeter because it gives me the opportunity to make a direct, positive difference in the lives of new Gusties. The Greeter role is the one I worked hardest to attain and gain the most reward from.

My favorite academic experience was the J-term course I took my freshman year. It was titled Future Sustainability and explored the different ways we could live in a more environmentally-friendly manner. We read current articles on methods of living more sustainably and took a field trip to an ethanol plant to learn how it was being used as an alternative energy source. I took this course right before the Go Green campaign began, so it was fun to see the technology we had read about and discussed in class being implemented in the real world.

In the Market Place, I like to make my own egg-salad sandwich using a hard-boiled egg from the salad bar, a packet of Miracle Whip, and two slices of wheat bread. It is cheap, easy, and always satisfying!

I frequently talk to my professors outside of the classroom by either visiting them during office hours, working with them on an outside project such as research, or by running into them on campus and having a quick conversation. I think that what you learn from a professor in the classroom is only half of what they can teach you. I take advantage of having easily-accessible and friendly professors within my reach and enjoy getting to know them beyond their role as an educator.

My dream job would be to either conduct research on people with abnormal behaviors and present my findings in articles and at conferences, or to work directly with people suffering from various mental disorders, serving as a therapist to them.

I would advise a prospective Gustie to visit the campus and take advantage of the people and experiences offered to them on their visit. The best way to understand the dynamics of a college campus and the personality of the community is to visit and talk to the people. I would suggest reading the campus newspaper, approaching a friendly student, visiting a class in an area of interest and talking with professors. All of these things help in getting a feel for a school and determining how well of a fit it would be for a particular person.

My favorite Gustavus tradition is Homecoming weekend. I love seeing Gustavus alumni roaming the campus and having class reunions. It is also fun to observe families of current students enjoying the various events going on, such as the concerts, athletic events, and carnival in the Market Place. The atmosphere is always positive and energetic, the people are happy, and the events enjoyable. Homecoming weekend also gives me the chance to get to know my roommate’s parents. I work for Lund Center and am kept busy over the weekend so my parents rarely visit during Homecoming. However, my roommate’s parents always come and take us out to dinner. Taken together, the weekend is a good time.