Directory

Hometown

• Bellbrook, Ohio

What do you love most about UD?

I love the Chaminade Scholars program, all the students within it and all the staff and faculty that make it possible. Through this program I have learned so much about myself and how I am called to play an important role in the world. The program and the people in it have challenged me to become a better person through the intentionality of our conversations and interactions.

Favorite class at UD and why?

My favorite class at UD is Dr. Sandra Yocum's class on prayer (REL 250). This class dives deeply into questions of vocation, prayer and discernment. It goes without saying that college is a time with lots of uncertainty, often accompanied by fear and anxiety about the future. However, this class helped redirect my mindset and truly consider my vocation and my place in the world. In addition, the books we read in this class reminded me how enjoyable reading can be and have reignited a passion for reading.

What clubs/organizations are you involved in at UD?

• Catholic Life and Campus Ministry
• Catholic Intellectual Traditions Student Advisory Council
• Fellow for the Core Program
• Intramural sports

Why did you choose UD?

I chose UD because I knew I wanted to attend a Catholic university. What ended up being the deciding factor for me was the size of the school. I liked that UD was a large enough school to offer me all the benefits of a larger institution like a variety of majors and well-established connections for jobs, internships and research. However, UD was unique in that it was small enough that I felt seen by the professors and students on campus as opposed to some of the larger schools I toured where I felt like just another face in the crowd.

Is there anything else about your UD experience you think prospective students and their families should know?

All the professors and faculty members at UD are very supportive in helping you succeed. If you make the effort to meet with them and allow them to get to know you, they will go above and beyond to help you find opportunities that suit your needs, strengths and passions.

What do you like most about your major?

I love that Spanish opens so many doors and allows me to communicate and connect with many other cultures and people. I have not only found value in the skills and language I have learned but also in the cultural understanding and appreciation I have gained. As far as theology goes, I love studying something that we can never fully master. The more I study theology, the more I realize that we truly have no idea who we are talking about when we talk about God. As St. Thomas Aquinas writes, "Everything I have written seems like straw by comparison with what I have seen and what has been revealed to me". Not only does theology help me to understand the vastness and complexity of God, religion and faith, but it also helps me to better understand the world and my place in it. I have developed such a deeper appreciation and love for the world and the people within it through the courses I have taken in theology. No matter what my path looks like after graduating from UD, I know that my studies in Spanish and theology will help me serve where I am needed.

What piece of your academic journey has you most prepared to begin a career after graduation?

I believe that the Chaminade Scholars program has best prepared me to begin a career after graduation because the content of the program is focused on intentionality in all that we do. Regardless of what career I pursue, I know the knowledge, understanding and appreciation gained in this program will be something I take with me.