BASICS
Name: Kirsten Gillis
Age: 19
Hometown: Wheaton, IL (no, I’m not super conservative!)
GRINNELL LIFE
Year: First-Year!
Major: Intending on Biochemistry with a Neuroscience Concentration.
One Thing You Like About Grinnell: I feel like I’m amongst all friends here, even if I don’t talk to everyone and not everyone likes each other. It’s so wonderful to be around people who think the way I do but also challenge my own beliefs.
One Thing You’d Like to Change about Grinnell: More fruit in the D-Hall please :(
LOVE LIFE
Single or Taken: Taken!
Perfect Date: A nice homemade dinner out in a forest preserve with a lake a bit before the sun sets. It’s romantic and easy to do!
Celebrity Girl Crush: Really it’s a tie between Emma Watson and Natalie Portman—they’re both such beautiful and talented women.
Celebrity Guy Crush: Gotta say Chris Pratt is pretty dang adorable and talented.
Turn Ons: Empathy and the ability to accept others’ ideas. Oh, I guess having dark hair and freckles helps too.
Pet Peeves: People chewing gum loudly. Don’t do it.
FAVORITES
Hobbies: I love playing flute and piano, crocheting, hording scarves, cooking vegan food, playing video games, and writing letters to my friends.
Favorite Color: Light pink, it’s the perfect balance between cute and calm.
Favorite Smell: Spring air just after it’s rained. The combo of the floral aromas and the rain is heavenly.
Favorite Nickname: K Gillz
Favorite Word: Snugly. If you know me, you know it one of the most over-used words in my vocabulary because it perfectly describes anything I adore.
Favorite Song: Blue Ridge Mountains – Fleet Foxes
Favorite Thing About Yourself: I have an interesting brown speck in the middle of the green part of my eye that I always found pretty cute and different.
PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE
Favorite Summer Memory: Going up to northern Michigan with my best friend and having deep talks while exploring the dunes and trails.
Craziest thing you’ve ever done: One time fed a huge manta ray? I am not a daredevil.
What You’re Thinking About Right Now: How wonderful my friends here are!
Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Hopefully having a science-related job and contributing something to society, like owning 500 succulents and cacti.
Dream Job: My dream job is to one day be a neuroscientist, the nervous system is mind-bogglingly complex. Our own brains realize they are complicated–it’s beautiful.
One Place You’ve Always Wanted to Visit: New Zealand. Who wouldn’t want to visit Hobbiton?
WIT & WISDOM
Role Model: Neil DeGrasse Tyson, we gotta badass over here!
Guilty pleasure: Ruffles chips… can’t say I have never finished a whole big bag of them in one sitting.
Favorite Piece of Advice You’ve Ever Received: You can’t please everyone; it just isn’t possible.