This week’s campus celebrity is Colin Carlson, who was recently recognized as a Truman Scholar. He was awarded a highly competitive scholarship that pays $30,000 toward graduate studies. He was also recently honored with the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship, awarded to students headed toward careers in engineering, science or mathematics. Colin, who began taking classes at UConn when he was 9, is a 14-year-old student from Coventry, and is only the fourth UConn student to receive the award since the program was established in 1975. We got a chance to talk to Colin about his unique education path, and what he plans to do upon graduating.
HC: What are you studying at UConn and how did you become interested in those fields at such a young age?
CC: I’m a double major in Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, which means I look at nature from both a scientific and social perspective. When I was 9, I took a trip to the Galapagos Islands- that trip changed my entire outlook on life, and it’s when I realized that environmental advocacy is my calling. Places like the Galapagos are amazing for their biodiversity, but it’s becoming more important than ever to protect these fragile ecosystems.
HC: How does it feel to be among top students at a prominent university?
CC: It’s an honor to work with other environmental leaders on campus, both in class and through campus groups like EcoHouse, which I participate in non-residentially; and ECOalition, of which I am the secretary. I’ve learned a lot from my peers, and I’m looking forward to learning from them even more in the future.
HC: What do you plan to do with your degrees and with your future?
CC: My goal is to pursue a J.D. and a Ph.D., and ultimately to work on conservation policies at an environmental NGO. I’m especially interested in working with island communities, because they contain some of the most vulnerable natural and human systems.
HC: Has receiving the Truman scholarship changed your plans at all for continuing your studies?
CC: It hasn’t changed my academic plans, though while working on my application, I did learn about a program called the Climate Institute which works on islands in the Caribbean, and I’m really excited that the process helped me find that program. After graduation, Truman Scholars are able to apply for summer internships in D.C. with organizations like the Climate Institute, so I hope to do that next summer- it’s my dream job!
HC: Do you ever regret beginning your studies at such a young age or could you not imagine having taken this path in your education?
CC: Never in a million years. I can’t imagine what it would have been like to have been schooled without acceleration, and I think that everybody should learn at a pace that is comfortable for them; I’ve found mine by going at this speed. In short, no regrets.
HC: What’s your favorite part about being a UConn student? The hardest part?
CC: My favorite part is all the opportunities I’ve had, especially EcoHouse and all the research I’ve been able to do. I’ve become very involved here and I don’t think I could have gotten a similar experience anywhere else. The hardest part is thinking about graduating! I’m not quite ready to leave yet.