Hometown: Clearwater, Nebraska
Major: Agribusiness with Livestock Industries option, Nebraska Beef Industry Scholars and Engler Entrepreneurship Minors
Anticipated Date of Graduation: May 2024
Why did you decide to come to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln?
I went to my first Husker football game when I was 10 years old, and that day, I decided that I would be a Husker myself someday. I ultimately chose UNL because I wanted to be close to home while experiencing a large college campus atmosphere. It also gave me the option to be flexible with what I wanted to study as I wasn't sure at the beginning whether I wanted to be involved in agriculture or not. UNL was one of the only affordable universities for me to attend if I even thought about studying agriculture, and that was definitely my selling point.
What is your favorite thing about the University of Nebraska-Lincoln?
I love so many things about UNL, but my favorites are definitely Husker football games and the Engler program. However, I also love the feel of the campus in general. I love that I can walk anywhere on campus and see a familiar face, but that I can also meet someone new in every single class I take. It's also really nice to be on East Campus because I know for a fact that my teachers care about me, and the class sizes are smaller, making the classes more personal.
What about diversity and inclusion is important to you when you think about your CASNR experience?
Everyone has a different background and story to their lives, and I think it's important to highlight each person's unique individualities and celebrate our differences no matter who we are or where we come from. Every single person should get the opportunity to share their story and to show others what they are best at, whether that's owning and operating your own registered cattle herd, finding your passion for music, or knowing exactly what to say in any conversation!
Exposure to cultural differences is a huge part of college. What activity have you recently participated in that is different from what you are used to in your culture? This could be something you read, listened to, watched, eaten or otherwise taken part in. What did you learn from this activity?
A friend of mine who is a student at the United States Naval Academy stayed with my family and I over spring break, and it was interesting to hear about the differences between being a student at a military academy versus being a student at a "normal" university. Not only is she juggling an intense class schedule as an engineering student, but she is also participating in rigorous workouts and following strict guidelines to prepare to be an officer in the armed forces. Hearing about her experiences made me realize how much I complain about and take for granted when there are people my age making huge sacrifices to protect our country and my own freedom.
What is your favorite class you have taken so far and why?
I took MNGT 451 as a second-semester freshman after being selected to be a Clifton Strengths Coach through the College of Business and loved every second of it. I'm obsessed with personality tests and take every chance I can to have positive interactions with people of all backgrounds, so being coached through my strengths while learning how to coach others was literally one of the best experiences of my life. I met some of my best friends through the class and have gotten multiple opportunities to use the skills I learned to help others, whether that was in coaching sessions I conducted with incoming freshmen or while analyzing my friends' personalities!
What are your plans post-graduation?
I really have no idea what I'll end up doing after graduation happens, but I do know the kind of person I want to be and what I want to be remembered for. I hope that I become a kind individual who is remembered for making every person feel special, and I want to be a great friend and mentor to everyone I come into contact with. I hope to grow in my self-confidence and truly find my worth no matter what. I'm extremely passionate about foster care reform, the beef industry, and mentoring/coaching, so I'd like to try to see if there is any way I could combine my passions into something I could pursue long-term and profit from.
What's life like outside of school?
I spend most of my free time with people, whether that's doing homework in the Engler space in the library on East Campus, driving around with friends on a Saturday night, or staying in with my roommates to watch movies and cook supper together. I love reading, playing piano, watching football and participating in intramural volleyball and softball games!