Name: Michelle Russell
Hometown: Haymarket, VA
Year: Sophomore, 2016
Major: Public Relations, with a business minor
Relationship status: In a Relationship
In what ways are you involved on campus?
Member of Zeta Tau Alpha. Member of Where is the Line? (A club that helps and makes the community aware about rape or sexual abused/assaulted victims). We put together boxes for women and children, so that when they leave the hospital they don’t walk out in paper scrubs. The boxes are filled with clothes, shampoo, toothbrush/paste, and toys for the children. And I also just got appointed as the Social Media Admin for StartUp VCU, an entrepreneurship club.
What is your favorite memory at VCU?
One of my favorite memories at VCU was my freshman year, when I got the opportunity to choreograph for Greek Week Lipsync. It was an all-around awesome experience where I got to meet new people and do something I love. I really loved doing this because I have never really choreographed anything this big ever, so getting to be a leader was scary but rewarding. In the end we won first place, and I couldn’t tell you how happy I was with my teammates and myself. This experience taught me to be more confident in myself and helped me grow as a person.
Favorite place at VCU?
Belle Isle and Maymont. I love being outdoors especially during the fall and summer. Both of these places are gorgeous and it’s a nice breath of fresh air from being right in the city all the time. Belle Isle at sunset is my absolute favorite, so beautiful!
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
Dancing, I used to dance for 12 years and miss it so much. I dance around my room, in the shower, and in the car. haha Whenever I get a chance. I like to spend time with friends and my boyfriend. I enjoy watching movies on Netflix. If I have a lot of spare time, which is super rare, I love drawing. Just sketching though nothing to intense. I also really like to shop and bake goodies!
What is your dream job?
Being an event planner or wedding planner, specifically. I love colors, design, food, themes and meshing everything together. Plus, I love watching wedding and design shows on TLC, pretty much obsessed. I think it would be the best job in the world. You also get to see people on one of the most special days of their life, and that’s amazing to know you helped make their day perfect (:
If you met your 13 year old self again, what would you tell her?
If I met my 13 year old self I would say… Just be yourself. We all go through those “awkward” years, and this was one of those for me. At this time I was trying to be popular and being someone I’m not. It happens to everyone at some point in our lives, we are all human and it’s just natural. I wish I could tell myself to not be scared because you’re not exactly like the prettiest girl at school. One of my favorite quotes is from Taylor Swift, “If you’re different from everyone else; don’t change.” I just like it because it’s a simple quote with a good meaning that everyone needs to embrace.
Is there one person in the world that inspires you the most?
My grandma inspires me the most. She is one of the strongest people I know. She is 89 years old has awesome fashion sense, is a breast cancer survivor, walks about 3 miles a day, and is still a part of clubs in her community. Everyone that knows her always has good things to say, she is very talkative and a joy to be around. I miss visiting her as much as I used to, but all I know is that when I’m older I want to be as strong as her because she doesn’t let the bad things in life weigh her down. She keeps moving forward and I admire that about her.
Which celebrity would play you in a movie about your life?
Sandra Bullock. Exactly how she acted in Miss Congeniality. One of my favorite movies ever! She’s so cute, dorky and hilarious. As the title states, she wins Miss Congeniality, and I’m super friendly too! And she’s exactly like how I am on an everyday basis, she even snorts when she laughs like I do sometimes.
If you could visit anyplace in the world, where would you go?
I would definitely visit Australia. I’ve always had the urge to go there. It looks beautiful and is filled with unique wildlife, and I’m a huge animal fanatic. One thing I need to do if I ever got the chance to go there, is to scuba dive in the Great Barrier Reef! It would be a once in a lifetime experience.