Campus activities: Chairwoman of Public Affairs Week; member of student government elections commission and Model United Nations
Career goal: Work somewhere like Grameen Bank (gives small loans to poor people around the world) or CARE (humanitarian organization fighting global poverty)
What is your favorite thing about Missouri State?
I felt comfortable here right off. I love the community atmosphere and being a part of a place I know well. You meet people from all over, and your friend base becomes like a smaller community within the larger school community.
What do you think of your classes?
The education you get here is so amazing — I can’t wait to apply it in the real world. The instructors are really willing to work with students. They help you look for opportunities to try new things.
What is the best thing about being at a major university?
Because there are so many different programs, you can test the waters in a lot of areas. When I was in high school, I thought I wanted to be a chemistry major so I looked at schools with a narrow science focus. My mom said I should think about a college with more choices. It’s a good thing I did, because I changed my mind a few times. I started here as a mathematics major with an economics minor. Next, I was going to double major in both. Then I switched to an economics major with a math minor. When I was in high school I never would have considered being an economics major, but now I love it.
What kind of things do you do outside the classroom to add to your education?
I have an internship with the Chamber of Commerce this the summer. I am also in groups like the Model United Nations — we go to competitions each year in Chicago and St. Louis, and host a conference on campus for high school students.
Is Missouri State a good value?
Definitely — that’s a big part of why I came here. I got a good scholarship. I was looking at other schools, and either they were not giving me good financial aid or they did not have the programs I wanted. I got both here!
What do you do for fun in Springfield?
I go to a lot of Springfield Cardinals and Missouri State Bears baseball games. I also like to go to the movies and to downtown to hang out at the coffeehouses.
Is it easy to get involved on campus?
There are a lot of opportunities for people looking for something to join. I am in so many groups, sometimes it feels like I am running meeting to meeting! Living in Blair-Shannon House freshman year first helped me break out of my shell. I used to be more shy and the activities in the residence hall helped me become more social. It’s a good thing because it allowed me to grow.
