Why did you choose UConn?
At first, UConn was the one school I didn’t want to go to. I didn’t want to go where my high school classmates were going. But as I started looking at what I wanted from a college, UConn checked all the boxes. It was far enough away from home that I could get freedom but close enough to go back on the weekends. I liked the Storrs and Waterbury campuses. There were a lot of ways to get involved. 

What’s your major and why did you choose it?
I’m a double-major in political science and history. I also have a double-minor in anthropology and human rights. During my first year, I bounced among majors in the medical field. I knew I wanted to do activism work, so I switched to political science. By the time I officially became a political science major, I had also taken a couple of history classes because I was interested in learning more about certain topics, so I ended up becoming a double-major. 

What are your plans after graduation?
I’m not closing any doors yet. I’m currently looking at policy analyst, activist, and advocacy jobs. I may consider law school a few years down the line. If I can land a remote job, I’d like to spend some time traveling and do my job from coffee shops around the country. 

What activities were you involved with as a student?
When I was at the Waterbury campus, I was involved in the Ping Pong Club and was vice president of the Rainbow Diversity Club. When I transferred to Storrs, there were so many opportunities to get involved. I joined eight clubs at the Involvement Fair, which I couldn’t maintain, so I narrowed it down to what I was passionate about. I was in the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) during COVID. I also interned at UConn Praxis (formerly UConn PIRG) and participated in their Save the Earth and Hunger and Homelessness campaigns. I then spent a year in UConn Praxis running the Sustainable Skies campaign. I’m also the president of an honors society for first-generation students called Alpha Alpha Alpha. 

Any advice for incoming first-year students?
Never be afraid to apply for a position. If you negotiate against yourself before you do anything, you will always lose. If you apply and have full faith that you will get the position, you will get it. 

What’s one thing every student should do during their time at UConn?
Join a Tier III organization. It can be Undergraduate Student Government (USG), UConn Praxis, UCTV or The Daily Campus. The organizational structure allows for new leadership opportunities, and it allows you to grow throughout your college experience. Push yourself to make connections. Take advantage of resources. 

What’s one thing that will always make you think of UConn?
There is no way that I could see a husky without thinking about UConn.