What did you do this past summer?
This summer I was a painter and fabricator at Redbox Workshop, Ltd. in Chicago. Redbox Workshop makes high-quality museum and commercial exhibits intended for public use. I helped fabricate a new exhibit for American Girl at Water Tower Place.
Please comment on the pursuit of your major and minor, as well as any other academic interests.
Above all else, I’m here at the University of Chicago to get an education. I believe that I can get an education through any major here; different majors mean learning in different contexts, but the quality of education across the majors here is the same: superb. I’m pursuing a degree in economics because I get to apply theory to real life situations every class, instead of just thinking about it.
Please tell us about a significant or memorable experience you have had during your time at UChicago.
One day after reading and discussing Marx’s Capital Volume I for my social science core class, I had what I call a UChicago moment. I usually get 2-3 of these moments per quarter. These moments make all of the work here worth it. It’s hard to describe, but it’s like you can feel your perspective changing in a moment. I went to Bartlett to get dinner after reading Marx and I saw the grills and cooking appliances (the “capital”) using the staff, not the staff using the machinery. I could see life from Marx’s perspective; I could see capital consuming labor like a vampire. It was amazing.
What activities do you participate in outside of the classroom? Are there any that are new from last year?
I tutor a student at the Lab School, and I frequently attend guest lectures and concerts on campus. I’m also an avid runner, and I love exploring the neighborhood and downtown with friends.
As a scholarship recipient, to what extent are you grateful for the support you received? What are your thoughts on how you might one day give back to the University of Chicago?
Frankly, I could not afford to be a student at the University of Chicago without the generous financial aid package I received. My mom passed from liver cancer in September 2011, and my dad has three part-time jobs. It is only through the generous support of the University, my outside scholarships, my dad, and donors like you that make my education possible. Thank you.
