It was OSU for her from the second grade

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Where did you grow up?
In Los Gatos, California. It’s a fairly small town about 40 miles southwest of San Francisco. It’s actually really similar to Corvallis, minus the large university in the middle.

Why OSU?
I decided to come to OSU when I was in second grade. I took a trip up to Oregon with my best friend to visit her grandparents. We stayed in Bend for a few days, but drove through Corvallis on our way to the coast and decided to stop. Both my friend’s mom and grandmother attended OSU, so it was an opportunity for her grandmother to show us around her alma mater. We went to a gymnastics meet, got matching OSU sweatshirts and snapped a photo of us in front of the Memorial Union. From that point on, we both decided we were going to OSU when the time to go to college rolled around. When my serious college search began, I couldn’t get OSU out of my head. I had to come back and see if I still loved it. And I did.

How close are you to graduating, and what do you plan to do after that?
June 2017! The next step for me is nursing school. I want to be a nurse practitioner, hopefully working in pediatrics.

What has been your favorite class at OSU, and what did you learn in it?
The anatomy & physiology series by far. It’s hard for me to express how much I learned in this class, because I don’t think I’ve ever learned more in any other class. Topics range from muscles and bones to every system in the body and how they work together to keep us healthy. I’m actually still involved with the A&P series two years later. I volunteer in lab every term as an undergraduate teaching intern to help facilitate student learning and help students build connections to the material that will help them succeed.

What’s the most important thing you’ve learned outside the classroom?
Simply to connect with people. Professors, peers, alumni, members of the community, it doesn’t matter. Be kind and express interest in others. Be a bright spot in someone’s day.

What’s your favorite place to hang out on campus?
Definitely the MU Lounge. The couches are super comfortable for studying, napping or just taking a break during a busy day. Most days, there will be someone who comes to play the piano and just sitting in that beautiful room with the music is just perfect.

What kind of support do you get from scholarships?
Being an out-of-state student, the scholarship support I get from OSU is one of the main reasons why attending OSU was even a possibility for me. The Provost’s Scholarship makes the cost of my education so much more manageable for my family. The yearly requirements to keep my scholarship have also kept me on track to ensure I stay on the four-year graduation plan. The stress reduction from having such a wonderful scholarship is great for both my parents and myself, and makes my experience at OSU much more positive.

Of all the things you could choose to get involved in on campus, why the Student Alumni Ambassadors?
SAA has been one of my favorite campus involvements for sure. I chose to join SAA to be a part of something that was both professional and geared toward the university. I’ve had the opportunity to attend and volunteer at alumni events like State of the University and President’s Circle, as well as events for students like Senior Send-Off.

What would surprise alumni from 10 or 20 or more years ago about what it’s like to be an OSU student today?
I think alumni would be surprised to see how much technology is involved in education. From grades, lectures and many of my textbooks, computers and tablets are necessary for every student. I think alumni would be surprised at how much support is available for students on campus. There are seven cultural centers, Counseling and Psychological Services and so many opportunities for help with schoolwork. OSU really focuses on students as people who are here to become the best version of themselves, and not just young adults sitting in lectures.

For more information on getting involved with the SAA, visit osualum.com/saainterest.