Posted January 26, 2021 in Alumni Profile
Lawrence School, Class of 2016
Furman University, Class of 2020
Since graduating from Lawrence, what have you been up to?
I recently graduated from Furman University with a B.S. in sustainability science. Back in June, I landed an internship in Atlanta with UPS. I joined their building and systems engineer group, and was also able to shadow their sustainability team. After a summer of learning a lot, I was offered a full-time position with UPS, in Atlanta, as a plant engineer supervisor.
How was your college experience?
I love Furman University! I found it to be quite rigorous, but their small class sizes are perfect for students who learn differently. By working hard, connecting with Academic Support Services, and meeting regularly with my advisor, I did very well.
My experiences just reinforced how important it is to be self-directed and advocate for yourself. If you take what you learn at Lawrence and apply it to other areas of your life, you’ll be surprised how much you can accomplish.
While I've technically graduated, Furman commencement has been rescheduled for 2021 and I look forward to celebrating this milestone.
What did you study and why?
When I began my college journey, I was an economics major. However, I took a sustainability course and immediately fell in love — right away I knew I wanted to pursue sustainability science as my major. This course of study allowed me to identify critical links between the environment, human, and social systems that related closely to the big picture in economics. I focused on real world sustainability challenges such as: food security, energy production, climate change, population growth, human security, health, access to clean water, and more.
How do you spend your free time?
I love to spend time with my family and my college friends. I’ve also been exploring Atlanta (while being mindful of limitations due to the pandemic).
What is your fondest memory of Lawrence?
I have so many Lawrence School memories that will always be a part of me. My experiences in the athletic program were especially important. In 2014 we played two playoff soccer games on the same day and advanced to the Lake Effect Conference Championship for the first time in school history. That same year I was a member of the varsity basketball team. We also made it to the playoffs for the first time in school history. I’ll never forget that feeling of pride!
How would your Lawrence teachers remember you?
I hope they’d remember me as a quiet, focused, and caring individual who set a good example for others in and out of the classroom.
What advice would you give yourself?
If there’s anything this pandemic has taught me, it’s that we have to be adaptable. Last spring I had to adapt to living with my parents again while learning remotely from Cleveland. The transition from college to home wasn’t easy for many students, but I used it as an opportunity to limit distractions and focus on the task at hand. We can all use the challenges we face in life to grow and become more resilient.