This week’s Campus Celebrity is another Editor’s Pick, Caryce Tirop ’17. Caryce anonmously nominates Campus Celebs and Cuties, is always cheerful, kind and respectful. She brightens my day when I see her and HC Amherst readers need to be introduced to her.
Tell me about where are you from.
I am from the outskirts of Eldoret, a town in Western Kenya. My home is pretty rural hence less noise, slow-paced life, beautiful scenery and a close-knit community. Kenya is generally beautiful and everybody should visit!
How does the weather at Amherst compare to the weather back home?
Amherst is definitely colder than my hometown. (I used to walk around with a blanket in October of my First year!) Eldoret is pretty warm throughout the year which is not surprising considering the fact that the equator passes right in the middle of my country! All about that tropical climate.
Why did you choose to attend Amherst?
The director of KenSAP, the program which helped me with my college applications, told me from the moment he met me that Amherst was the place for me. I was not really persuaded until I met Sarah Daly ’12, who really convinced me to apply to Amherst. I checked it out and the small size, location and DQ got me! I applied ED and there was no turning back! So far…no regrets!
What are you interested in both academically and leisurely?
My academic interests are French and History (specifically African History), which are my current majors. I also take a lot of Black Studies and English Courses. During my free time, I love reading, listening to music and singing, watching the Big Bang Theory, cooking, and attempting to dance. I also just love talking. Hopefully, I make necessary noise most of the time!
What are you passionate about the most?
I am really passionate about my family and friends. I believe that having meaningful relationships are important. I also really love the Gospel and spreading God’s love through various ministries and every day interactions.
What are your plans for the rest of your time at Amherst and beyond?
I plan to be more involved with ACSU (African and Caribbean Students Union) in the coming year. It has become an important part of my Amherst Life. I am also going to be the RC of Newport next year and I am excited for that experience. I hope to have meaningful and fun times in these two capacities. Beyond Amherst, I hope to go to law school and either work in the education sector in Kenya or peace and conflict resolution in the UN or AU (African Union). I would also love to take time off between undergrad and grad school to do research on various religions in the world particularly in the African Diaspora.
If you could make one change to the world, playful or serious, what would it be?
A playful change would be make everyone multilingual! A more serious change would be to alleviate the poor conditions of people with special needs particularly in Kenya so that they can get access to resources that will allow them to live a better life. I think that they are one minority group that has been ignored for too long.
What’s something you’ve always wanted to say but never got the chance to say it?
You should always strive to learn something from every interaction you have.