PHILOSOPHY
Humans are fundamentally good.
I grew up in Wisconsin: where neighbors shovel each other's sidewalk in the winter and runners wave to each other on the street. "Midwest Nice" is ingrained in my personality. I might be young and naïve, but I believe that humans are good at the core. My future could take me anywhere, but the only thing that I am completely certain about is that I want to help people. I want to make people happier. I want to contribute to others' success. I want to have an impact on other people's lives.
Natural beauty is worth appreciating.
I majored in Environmental Studies because I want to Save the Earth. I used to picture myself working in the grand landscapes of America and preserving them for future generations. I've cherished the time I've spent in National Parks and the backwoods, but I've come to realize that taking care of the natural spaces and especially the waterways in our own backyards is just as important. I probably won't be working to Save the Earth on the grand scale that I once imagined, but will always be working to appreciate and preserve the nature I am surrounded by everyday.
Ambition, hustle and luck make dreams come true.
I've always been a dreamer and a competitor. I attribute both of these characteristics to how my parents raised me and the opportunities they gave me. Even my six-foot build, which makes me a good rower, I have them to thank for. At the same time, getting to where I am today wasn't a cake walk. Rowing makes you constantly ask yourself "how badly do I want this?": To win a seat race, to earn a spot in a boat, to win a national championship. I spend extra hours on the erg , I work hard to get my school work done early so I can go to bed at 9:20 every night, I socialize mainly through workouts with my team, but I don't mind. My hard work has put Wisconsin in the top 10 rowing programs in the country and has earned me a spot in the U23 quad that got to compete at the World Rowing Championships in The Netherlands. I am so lucky to have the privilege to work this hard to achieve my dreams. I know that because of my experiences thus far, I am equipped to handle any challenge that life throws at me.