Gustavus Adolphus College

In high school I was interested in a variety of subjects; however, Becker is small and didn’t offer many opportunities. I enjoyed my science classes and was able to TA for my chemistry teacher. However, science wasn’t my only interest. I also enjoyed art. My art teacher invited me to submit artwork into a high school art show and my senior year I painted my high schools first mural. I received student of the month and quarter for different subjects, and graduated with honors. Then the summer before starting here I traveled to France.

Before I visited Gustavus I thought I would be going to the University of Minnesota. However, when I came to Gustavus for a tour, more or less a few minutes in I knew Gustavus was where I wanted to go to school. Gustavus has such a community feeling that even an outsider can see. Gustavus also offered a great science program and numerous opportunities for me to get involved on and off campus. My visit to Gustavus was the reason I chose to come here. From the very beginning I could picture myself here, which I couldn’t do anywhere else.

Since freshman year I have been a Big Partner, a member of pre-health club, and participated in Relay for Life. I love kids, so BPLP is my favorite extra-curricular activity. My little partner and I have been together for three years now and we have so much fun together. We have made an impact on each other’s lives. Pre-health club has allowed me to explore the health care field and increase my interest in potentially going into medicine. Relay for Life has meant a lot to me because cancer has hit many of my family members.

The J-term class I took my sophomore year, Changing the World, has had a big impact on my life. There was more to this course than just learning about how the world should change. Chris Johnson was our professor, and he allowed me to look inside myself and decide what I want to do with my life and how I, as one single person, can make a difference. This class also gave each of us an opportunity to do service learning. This component meant a lot to me because I feel most myself when I am helping others.

My favorite food in the Caf would have to be the chicken Caesar salad. We never had it at home, so it’s something different than what I grew up with.

I haven’t had the opportunity to interact with many professors outside of the classroom. My advisor and I have e-mailed back and forth because we found out that we went to the same high school, and had the same chemistry teacher. Then last year, when Neal Hagberg came back to campus to give his performance, Chris Johnson invited all of our Changing the World class to dinner at his house.

My dream job is a Pediatrician. I would like to own my own practice and be able to go abroad and help kids in poor nations. I love helping others, so if I was able to help others, interact with kids, and just have fun, I couldn’t ask for a better job. I am realistic and know seeing sick kids can be hard, but knowing that I am doing whatever I can to help them would make it better.

Talk to the people around you and get input to learn what types of schools are out there. Then tour a few different schools and see what different schools have to offer. Then, don’t be afraid to ask questions. I think the biggest thing in the end is to remember to choose the school for you, take input, but don’t choose a school because someone else thinks its right. No matter what school you go to you will get something out of it. By getting involved and interacting with others you decide how much you take from away from it.

My favorite Gustavus tradition is unique. Freshman year my dorm friends and I would get together on the weekends and watch movies, play board games, and do puzzles. Now that we are all Junior’s we have different majors, and have started to go our separate ways, but we still get together every few months to hang out and play games like we did Freshman year. It’s fun to be a kid once in a while, and even better when you get to be one with your friends.