My motivation

The fact that I am and will further become a contributing member to society is a huge motivational factor for me. Futhermore, having had the oppurtunity to get to meet alumni in positions that interest me in the world of finance in New York has been incredibably motivational over the past year. Lastly, my desire to be successful and live an impactful life has always been something that has motivated me.

My latest accomplishments

My latest accomplishment was completing a three week long research trip as part of Kalamazoo College's Study Abroad program in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. It involved an extensive grant writing process, in which the student members spent countless hours preparing the grant application. We were awarded a hefty grant that completely funded the three week trip to Japan. Each of the four students had a sub-topic that related to the main topic of Okinawan Identity. My sub-topic looked at how the presence of U.S. Military bases impacted the economy of Okinawa, and it's economic development. During our time in Okinawa we had the opportunity to meet various professors, activists, students and locals. Throughout the trip I gained valuable new skills, and a deeper understanding/appreciation for things that are going on outside our borders.

Next big goal

My next big goal is to complete a meaningful and valuable senior individualized project. The Senior Individualized Project, or SIP, is a project that has to be completed by all seniors in order to graduate at Kalamazoo College. I've begun working on my SIP, which will be evaluating how well the Dodd-Frank Act mitigates derivative-based risk in our country.

Why is choosing your own path important?

It's important to choose your own path because you will choose something that you'll enjoy, which generally means that it's something that you can put hundreds of hours into and it won't feel like work. I've always been told that when work feels like play, you're doing what you love, and nothing is better than being paid to do what you love.

Favorite place on campus