What is your hometown?
Bozeman, Montana
What is your major(s)/minor(s)?
Studio Art major (emphasis in graphic design)
At this point in your life, what is important/meaningful to you?
I think that my relationships with people and my community are the most valuable thing I have. I love being an RA and serving on house board because it allows me to connect with people and make a positive impact on the world around me.
What most intrigues and excites you about the Aotearoa/New Zealand study abroad?
I think I’m most excited by the opportunity to get to experiment with storytelling in a way I haven’t before as well as the opportunity to get to learn things about the world from a different perspective.
What is the most meaningful idea you’ve discovered or learned about Aotearoa/New Zealand so far?
I think for me the most meaningful thing we’ve talked about was the way New Zealand has gone about their conservation efforts because that is something I care deeply about. Rather than just cutting off all human influences to the area and letting nature do its thing the Māori live in tandem with the land, protecting and maintaining it while it provides for them. I think this is such a great way to look at conservation.
For me, the Aotearoa/New Zealand abroad is an opportunity to … gain multimedia skills, build new friendships, and learn about the world around me.