Year One
Freshman year introduced me to Drury's strong culture of student involvement and leadership in and out of the classroom. These experiences laid the foundation for my future studies and involvement.
HNRS Reading Seminar: Dystopias
Fall 2017
This book club was my first honors course and my introduction to honors curriculum. The main goals of the class were to make connections from the readings to our own lives, concisely articulate ideas and actively participate in group discussion. I enjoyed the flexibility the course gave me to work at my own pace. Given that we met once a month to discuss our novels, I had plenty of time to let my ideas and opinions fully form.
HNRS 205: Social Justice
Spring 2018
This was my favorite class of the semester for multiple reasons. Emphasis on student discussion allowed me to listen to those with differing viewpoints and reevaluate my opinions when necessary. I was pushed academically through the difficult readings, including The Idea of Justice by Amartya Sen. The course ended with a group project applying what we had learned about social justice and leadership to make a difference in our communities. My group measured the amount of waste produced daily by Drury's cafeteria over the span of a week. We paired this with an awareness campaign about the negative consequences of food waste on the environment. I enjoyed working with other Honors' students and made friends I still have today!
HNRS CORE 201: Human Rights
Summer 2018
In this online course, I learned about the origins of contemporary human rights, their application and the current work of advocates. I also conducted personal research on the human rights implications of climate change on coastal communities in Colombia. Along with my paper, I wrote a protest song called Scenes from a Coastal City using what I learned through my research. I enjoyed this class because I was able to work at my own pace and apply what I was learning to my personal interests. It also gave me a new appreciation for the privileges I have that are not currently available to others, such as consistent access to clean water and fairly predictable weather patterns.
Scenes from a Coastal City
Spanish Major
Fall 2017 - Spring 2018
This year marked my return to formal Spanish classes since my 2015-2016 exchange year in Cùcuta, Colombia. I was ready to begin relearning grammar, and did so in SPAN 201. As an exchange student, I received practical language skills, but did not learn the rules and reasoning behind the applications. This year has equalized my grammar and practical language skills.
Environmental Biology Major
Fall 2017 - Spring 2018
Drury's environmental biology major was a major draw when I was deciding on my university, as I had been interested in conservation and sustainability for many years. This year I glimpsed the caliber of classes I would be taking for my degree. Though I had only taken introductory courses at this point, they pushed me further than most classes I have taken in the past. They gave me opportunities to form study skills which I had not needed to cultivate in high school. I took molecular biology, general chemistry, calculus and genetics.
Fall 2017 - Spring 2018
I made music a priority in my academics and personal life this year. I was a member of Jazz Ensemble II and Chorale during the fall. JEII performed at multiple Drury events, while Chorale performed Verdi's Othello with the Springfield Regional Opera. In the spring I was a member of Drury's new women's chamber group. We were part of the SRO chorus for Mozart's The Magic Flute. Along with these more traditional ensembles, I became very involved with DUkes, Drury's ukulele club. DUkes has been one of the best parts of my Drury experience because of the genuine positivity and acceptance the group radiates. Having this community at the beginning of my undergraduate career helped me make friends and feel part of campus community.
Music
Leadership and Extracurriculars
Fall 2017 - Spring 2018
I was impressed by the number of opportunities Drury offers all of its students, including freshmen. It was so easy to get involved that I ended up in a number of organizations. Along with my music, I was actively involved with Allies (treasurer), Panthers for Prevention, the Honors Student Association, and the Drury Neighborhood Association. Getting involved connected me with some impressive personalities and many opportunities to serve both Drury and the larger community through event planning and awareness campaigns. High school and university students across Springfield also participated in the city wide March for Our Lives Walkout protesting gun violence.
