Quinci Howard, a junior undergrad student at the University of Iowa, is involved in many activities on campus. She is president of her sorority, Pi Beta Phi, is a pre-med student and she is even studying abroad this upcoming winter. She talks about balancing her life with school, work and her extra curricular activities.
HC: Why did you decide to join Greek life?
Q: I am from California and I did not know anyone from here. I thought that the recruitment processes would be a great way for me to meet people. The recruitment processes ended up being an awesome experience and it was a great way to meet so many awesome girls.
HC: What made you want to be on exec for Pi Beta Phi?
Q:I wanted to make a difference in our chapter and the Greek community. I always thought it would be a really interesting experience to be on exec and when I was slated as president at first I was really surprised, but excited to make a difference in my chapter.
HC: What other activities are you involved in on campus?
Along side my schoolwork and sorority obligations I also am a tutor a few times a week for previous classes I’ve taken. I love tutoring. It is a great way for me to help others and refresh myself on previous classes and material I’ve taken in the past.
HC: How do you balance school, being on exec, tutoring and a social life?
Q: It’s a lot of time management and prioritizing school over everything else. As much fun as it is to go out and hang out with my friends, I always know that my education comes first. Grades are very important to me, so as hard as it may be to say no to hanging with my friends at times, I know that it is the best decision.
HC: Can you tell us about your study abroad program you’re doing this Winter break?
Q: I am going to India for a Winterim study abroad program. I’ll be stationed in the hospital there for three weeks. While I am there I will be doing hospital and home visits for at least 12 hours a day. The hospital that I am stationed at is a free hospital for people that cannot afford health care. I’m also taking a class there that is evaluated on patient examination. The class talks about diseases in third world countries and compares medical care of third world countries to the medical care here in the United States.
HC: Why do you want to study abroad in India?
Q: Being a pre-med student, I am looking for more ways to get involved in the medical field and I am also interested in expanding my knowledge of medicine. I am hoping to learn a lot from other countries and take it back and share my experiences with people here in America.