What drew you to the Zenie Foundation? I was particularly drawn to ZF because of their commitment to investing in the individuals they support, helping them become more financially responsible and aware of how their decisions (college, career-wise, where one may end up living, etc.) affects them long-term, and equipping them with the resources and guidance to do so successfully.
How did you choose your major? I chose to major in Human Rights because I am really passionate about advocacy work, especially when it pertains to human rights. However, I also found it important for me to understand the political framework surrounding these rights, and how the government grants, takes away, and defines them. While most people believe that human rights shouldn’t be political, they inevitably are - in the legislation our government passes or denies, the language we use in them, the decisions our leaders make, etc. I have found that the two majors (Human Rights and Political Science) have often been interchangeable and interconnected.
Tell us about some of your career aspirations. I aspire to be a human rights lawyer. Ideally, I would love to work for an organization like the ACLU, the Innocence Project, or the Equal Justice Initiative. However, as I’m still in the process of discovering what specifically fuels my passion within advocacy on a career level, I am remaining open to and accepting of whichever path I am drawn to.
Tell us something you are excited about! I’m really excited to be the Chapter Chair of my school’s PIRG chapter. PIRG is an advocacy group that works on public interest issues, with campaigns surrounding homelessness, textbook affordability, the environment, and voting. Going to school in a city (and the state’s capital) presents such great opportunities to really connect and engage with the broader communities that live in it, so I’m excited to see the ways that I, alongside my peers and those involved, can make positive change and work on addressing some of the issues that not only Trinity students but the people who work, live, or interact with Hartford face as well.
Do you have a favorite quote? “Aut viam inveniam aut faciam” - “I will either find a way, or I will make one”