Major, Year
I’m a sophomore Anthropology major, soon to be double major in History
When you were five years old, what did you want to be when you grew up?
When I was five years old, I’m pretty sure I wanted to be a chef. My mom had just started letting me help her in the kitchen, and I remember how cool I thought it was to bake five dozen cookies and decorate them all with my mom. Since then, my mom has taught me how to make countless dishes and desserts. I still love cooking, but I absolutely abhor the idea of all of that cleaning and washing that many dishes every day. (Praise be to the inventor of the dishwasher).
And now what do you want to be when you grow up?
Now, I want to be an archaeologist. Growing up, my favorite subject in school was always history. My dad helped fuel my interest with books and documentaries. He also introduced me to movies like Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Mummy that certainly didn’t douse my growing interest in the past. I like the idea of making connections between the past and today, and the stories of past peoples is always extremely fascinating to me. So much myth surrounds the past still, and I am very much looking forward to spending my life helping to uncover it.
What or who inspires you?
It probably sounds completely cliche, but my parents truly inspire me. They have both lead such interesting lives. My parents are the most hard-working and intelligent people I know. They have always supported my decisions, like doing theatre for seven years and applying to VCU. Their interest in what I’m doing at school and their unrelenting joy at seeing me happy is enough to inspire me to always keep working towards my goals, even when life wants to get in my way. Though we’ve had a few ups and downs, as any family does, I know how much they love me and I am very thankful to have my mom and dad in my corner.
What three words would you use to describe yourself?
A big-hearted, bookish, pluviophile. That’s a perfect way to sum me up. Anyone who knows me also knows three things: I love books and rain, and I cry at pretty much anything that is even remotely emotional or sentimental.
What does a perfect Saturday look like to you?
I’m a pretty easy person to please, and honestly my perfect Saturday would just involve relaxing and enjoying my favorite things. It would be rainy. My perfect any day would be rainy, but I love rainy Saturdays. I never feel bad about sleeping in and just dozing with my cat until my stomach is grumbling enough that I need to get up and venture for food. If it was a perfect Saturday, I would wake up to French Toast and fresh sweet tea. I’d watch cartoons until lunch and then go shopping for books. I’d spend the hours until dinner reading and watching it rain. I’d get dinner, probably pasta, with my friends and we’d laugh until our stomachs hurt. I would end the night with a hot bubble bath, a new book, and Ella Fitzgerald, and then I would fall asleep to the rain sprinkling on the roof. It may sound boring, but it would be perfect to me.
Are you a part of any VCU organizations or clubs?
I’m the newly appointed Treasurer of VAST, or the Virtual Archaeology Scanning Team, here at VCU. This club involves working with virtual and 3D-printed artifacts, as well as visiting archaeological sites, museums, and conferences in the area.
Why VCU?
I grew up in a fairly small, somewhat conservative town and I knew I wanted college to be an eye-opener for me. Being in Richmond, the diversity and culture that surrounds VCU really appealed to me. I’ve lived in Richmond for almost two years now, and there is still so much I have yet to explore. I’ve met amazing people and made such great friends. My favorite days are when I spend the afternoon at Belle Isle with my favorite people or going on an impromptu visit to the VMFA. VCU is more than I ever dreamed it would be.
And finally, tea or coffee?
Tea. No question. One thousand percent tea. I’ve been drinking my mom’s sweet tea for as long as I can remember, and I have never found a single beverage to rival its awesomeness.