Name: Miriam “Mimi” Hammer
Major: Studio Fine Arts and English
Class Year: 2014
What activities do you do on and off campus?
I am the President of the English Honors Society (Sigma Tau Delta), co-literary head of the Union College Campus Literary Magazine (The Idol), a staff writer for the Concordiensis and an active member of the sorority Sigma Delta Tau
Are you involved in any clubs or teams on campus?
I am a peer tutor at the Union College Writing Center. I have been trained in grammar proficiency and the process approach to teaching writing and I tutor peers during one-on-one meetings on various stages of the writing process, whether it be building a thesis, working on organization and development, helping with the integration of sources or checking for grammar and punctuation. Not only has working at the writing center improved my own sense of writing and the English language, but also it is so rewarding to see a student’s confidence and writing ability improve after our sessions. I really love what I do.
What are some of your favorite things about Union?
There is so much that I love about this school, but above all else, my favorite thing about Union is the people. I have met the some of the kindest, funniest, and most compassionate people during these last four years, and I cannot wait to watch the many relationships I have made here continue to grow after graduation. I also love the sense of community and pride that resonates at Union, and of course, the beauty of the physical campus itself.
What are you most excited about for spring term and next year after graduation?
I cannot wait for spring term weather! After the heavy winter we had this past year, the sunshine and warmth will be a welcome change. I am also excited for the best day of the year here at Union: Lobsterfest.
I am fortunate to have been selected to be a Minerva Fellow for the 2014-2015 year, so shortly after graduation I will be traveling to Siem Reap, Cambodia to live and work for ten months. I will be teaching at a non-profit organization called The Global Child, which takes children out of urban poverty and provides them with an education. I cannot wait to be immersed in a new culture, give my love and guidance to a new community, and let them change me for the better.