Hometown: Burien, WA
Major/Minor: Communication Studies and Journalism
Favorite/Most challenging class (and a brief explanation why): Four Gospels and One Jesus with Professor Holmes was an incredible class. It challenged me to read the gospels in a different way than I was used to and to grapple with questions I hadn’t before.
Favorite memory of SPU: Being the head coxswain for the SPU Rowing Team. I walked on as a freshman and became the varsity eight coxswain. After three years, we earned a team bid to the NCAA championships. But even more exciting than a chance at a national championship title is the dedication that I’ve developed and the incredible friendships I’ve made with my teammates. You can’t go through life alone any more than you can cross the finish line at a regatta alone.
Biggest life lesson learned during college: Patience is necessary for learning. Information comes at students fast and unrelentingly. I often get into a competitive mindset, trying to see how much I can retain and how high of scores I can earn on tests. Everything is centered on speed and efficiency. While this mindset makes me successful on paper, it undermines the true purpose of my education. Learning cannot be a hasty experience because lessons become mundane, impersonal facts. Mastery seems to be achieved in the form of a paper presented to college graduates. But true mastery of any subject cannot come from rushing through classes. When that happens, the important bits are forgotten soon after the final exam. Instead, learning takes patience and dedication. Knowledge isn’t always helpful in and of itself. Wisdom and the application of knowledge comes from taking a step back and remembering the goal. An education is a means to a greater end which can only be achieved through patience and steadfast commitment.
Plans after graduation: Working as a technical writer.