Where are you from? I’m from Carol Stream which is a southwest suburb in Illinois. It’s about a 1.5 hour commute all together every day of the week for me!
How are you liking UIC so far? So far I think overall it’s been a really good experience. I’ve really learned how to be self reliant and learn to know who to talk to and how to talk to them. I’ve also been working on time management and through different experiences I’ve changed drastically. A few teachers here have had me learn on my own and I’ve been learning how to get past new obstacles.
What year are you and what is your major? What are your plans after college? Well, I transferred from College of DuPage with an associates of arts degree when I was a junior last spring. Currently I’m majoring in Anthropology and a minor in Theater with a focus in costume construction. Technically, I’m a senior right now and I’m hoping to graduate next spring seeing how things go and what’s available to me. After college, I want to apply immediately to grad school. I’m still figuring out where I want to go but I’m thinking UIC has good potential. I’m also still figuring out my exact focus but it will definitely be based on a social or cultural point of study.
How did you come about choosing your major and minor? It’s a long process (laughs). I started through all kinds of ideas. I have always enjoyed history and the feeling of traveling and going places. The whole idea impacted me. Now I’m confused because I like too many things. I paint and draw so that drew me to the art side. I truly found something that was made for me. I have always loved aspects of science and theater is the exploration of all emotions and incites of the society. How people came to who they are truly fascinates me and I think I’m in the right field because it’s crazy as I am!
What exactly would be your dream job in the future? Well, I have two dreams that kind of connect. One dream is to maybe have my own show on Discovery channel or a science/travel channel. I’d love to go to random areas and basically give a whole presentation to people who haven’t gotten their degree in Anthropology so I could broaden their horizons and bridge gaps through books. I’m also interested in being a professor but how I get to that point, I’m open to it. Anthropology is inter-woven into everything because it’s about people and it’s about what we do. I’d love to explain that stuff to a great amount of people and I truly think I’d enjoy teaching the 100 level classes. It correlates to every person. To give that connection and to see it spark a light into someone would be enjoyable. My challenge would be to get to explain everything. I would intertwine the theater aspect in by helping make each class an experience. I would want each person to leave feeling like they experienced something that truly impacted them and gave them a little point of inspiration. I’ve also thought about getting a job in a business, then going to get my masters. I’m open to a lot of things and can’t wait to see what unfolds.
So I’ve heard that you have participated in the Disney College Program, can you tell us about that? Yes, I went over to Disney for a semester, and I worked anywhere from 40-50 hours a week with their entertainment group. I was still considered a full time student and getting college credit for it. I had courses through College of DuPage and then the Disney College that were connected through a professor at College of DuPage. She helped me analyze my living, earning, and learning experience. I am still employed there actually and it’s really taught me how to better appreciate people from all over the world from all ages and sicknesses. It has given me a new and better appreciation which then gave me a driving force into focusing on the sociocultural aspect of Anthropology. It led me to look in to the unique differences. I interacted in a close scenario and I was able to give these people a magical experience.