鈥淚n college, I have discovered I love working creatively with a team to produce a cohesive project. Considering my of empathy, learner, achiever, developer, and consistency, it is not surprising. Whether it is co-choreographing the Class of 2025鈥檚 Corn skit or producing the 2025 Colton Review Art and Literature Journal with Lauren Shaw, 鈥�26, I love the process of teamwork and creative thinking required to produce these works. Beyond the immense satisfaction I feel upon the completion of one of these major projects, I love the relationships that are developed as a result even more. I always know someone much more deeply at the end of a collaborative and creative process than when we began, and I am immensely grateful to anyone with whom I can share that journey.聽
I knew since high school that I wanted to study English literature and that I would be able to have an interdisciplinary experience as an English major and a dance minor at Meredith. I was also drawn to Meredith for its small class sizes, intimate campus community, and mission of educating women and enabling them to leave college as strong professionals. It felt like Meredith would help me adjust to college, make friends, and thrive academically. I knew Meredith was the right fit for me when I applied for the Honors Program and interviewed for the Full-Ride Merit Scholarship. I was graciously offered the scholarship, and I knew no other college would provide me the same financial support for research, study abroad, and on-campus living.聽
When I took ENG-200, I felt at home within the Meredith English Department. I knew then that the faculty, students, and small class sizes would give me the space to learn as a writer and thinker to discuss various writings, social issues, and other topics.聽
My favorite position I鈥檝e held within a campus organization is the role of associate editor with The Meredith Herald. I joined The Herald as a contributing writer my freshman year, and I quickly became more and more involved with the publication, progressing to copy editor and then arts and entertainment editor. I love working for The Herald because I can explore areas of campus life that I may not otherwise engage with, learning about what students are up to and sharing relevant news and information with the community. Not only has my work for The Herald been immensely fulfilling, but I have also practiced critical skills in organization, leadership, editing, and writing that will serve me well long after my time at Meredith.聽
Writing my honors thesis was a challenge that I am proud to have overcome with the guidance of my advisor. I began researching for my project during the spring semester of my sophomore year, and began the drafting process in the fall of my senior year. As someone who works well with others and with a team, I struggled with the independent work that came from literary research and writing; however, now that my thesis has been published, I am proud of the work and struggle that led to a great finished product. I am extremely grateful to Meredith for the opportunity to conduct undergraduate research and explore Jane Eyre and its Victorian context through a feminist lens. It was great presenting my research on Celebrating Student Achievement Day, too!
The associate director of international programs helped me grow in so many ways during the 2023鈥�24 academic year. I was getting ready to go abroad with an affiliate program, Advanced Studies in England, for the duration of the spring semester. Through countless one-on-one advisory meetings and orientation workshops, she prepared me to thrive in Bath and dive into situations far outside my comfort zone. During our last orientation meeting for students about to embark on affiliate programs in January 2024, she told us that this would be the last time she ever saw us as the people we were in that room. She said that when we returned to campus in August, we would be completely different people鈥攁nd she was so right. The personal growth I experienced while abroad is indescribable. I became more confident, competent, passionate, and brave. I owe all of that growth to the amazing staff at the Meredith Office of International Programs for preparing me to abandon my comfort zone and go strong abroad.聽
My post-graduation plans are to continue teaching dance in the Triangle area and to attend the American Dance Festival鈥檚 (ADF) Summer Dance Intensive in Durham, N.C. My ultimate goal is to enroll in a Master of Fine Arts in Dance program, where I believe my learner and achiever strengths will help me thrive. I received a generous merit scholarship from ADF to participate in their program this summer, and I am so grateful that the Meredith dance faculty awarded me additional funding through the Alyson Colwell-Waber Summer Study Fund. I am passionate about both dance and academic study, so I look forward to continuing to combine these passions in my steps beyond Meredith.鈥�
