Interests
As a college junior, my days are filled with classes and student organization activities and my nights consist of completing homework and attending professional events. I currently serve as the Director of Human Resources for the International Business Association and was the former Temple Student Government Beat Reporter for The Temple News. In my spare time I enjoy being active, reading, and attempting to play the guitar. I also love to travel when I have the opportunity.
Sports were an important part of my childhood and high school years. Growing up, I remember going to the local soccer field with my brother and my Dad to hone my soccer skills and visiting the batting cages on Sunday afternoons. I started playing soccer when I was 7 years old and picked up softball, cheerleading, karate, and gymnastics before I reached my teenage years. Although cheerleading, karate, and gymnastics proved not to be my forte, I learned important life lessons through playing sports. I learned how to be a productive member of a team and the value of hard work and dedication. In high school I was a three-sport varsity athlete with participation in volleyball, swimming, and soccer. My greatest accomplishments include playing in the Pennsylvania Class AA Volleyball state finals in 2008 and serving as the captain for both my volleyball and swimming teams.
I believe there is no better way to begin my day than enjoying a fresh cup of coffee while reading the morning news. As a young girl, I remember sitting with my Dad as he watched the news every night. My Dad instilled in me the importance of being an educated world citizen and participating in the political process. Although I no longer watch the nightly news with my Dad, as I do not live at home, I have turned to the online news to stay informed. I enjoy reading articles published on ForeignPolicy.com and watching TED Talks; I also check CNN.com more times during the day than I probably should. Below is a recent TED talk that I found particularly interesting.
James Flynn: Why our IQ levels are higher than our grandparents’
In addition to my interest in sports and reading, I also have a love for music. I will never forget the first time I heard John Mayer play from my older brother’s stereo, because it was love at first listen. John Mayer and Dave Matthews Band are two of my favorite artists, but I also enjoy listening to OneRepublic, Coldplay, The Lumineers, Mat Kearney, and many more. One of the activities I love most in life is attending concerts. To me, not many things can compare to laying on the lawn of the Susquehanna Bank Center on a cool summer night enjoying one of my favorite bands. I also picked up playing the guitar at age 13, but my guitar playing ability is really nothing to note.
Lastly, when I have the opportunity and resources, I enjoy traveling. During the 2013 summer, I studied abroad in Rome, Italy for 6-weeks. While abroad, I enrolled in Ancient Roman Art History and Introduction to Risk Management; however, I felt that my greatest learning occurred outside the classroom. I gained first-hand experience immersing myself in the Italian culture and navigating the day-to-day life in a country that speaks a foreign language. While abroad, I also backpacked with my older brother for two weeks. My brother and I visited Munich, Germany; Zurich, Switzerland; Amsterdam, Netherlands; and Barcelona, Spain. My trip further developed my world view and deepened my understanding of foreign nations and citizens. I also traveled to several cities in Peru during a two-week trip in high school. I hope to one day have a job that allows me to travel around the world.