Major
Chemistry
Minor
Studio Art
Which activities did you participate in at Whittier?
I was a member of the women's lacrosse team
What first attracted you to Whittier?
The College's small size, location, and the women's lacrosse program were factors that initially attracted me to Whittier.
Why did you choose to study art?
I chose to study art because I had experience in drawing but less so in other mediums and wanted to develop my skills. I also wanted to balance my science course load with a subject that let me explore my creative side.
Describe your experience at Whittier College. What was your favorite class?
My experience at Whittier College was amazing. I actually picked my naturopathic medicine program based on the fact that it has a similar learning environment to Whittier's environment. There is an emphasis on small class sizes and consequently more individual attention and accountability. This setting made it possible to get to know my professors and classmates on a level that transcended the classroom and contributed to my personal development. One of my favorite classes at Whittier was an environmental ethics course taught by Professor Michelle Switzer. This was the first class that I took that made me question certain beliefs on how I was supposed to live my life. It was an eye opening and extremely humbling experience. The class offered alternatives for how to live consciously, specifically in regards to our environment, that had never even occurred to me.
What was your first job after Whittier? What are you currently up to? How has your Whittier education benefited you professionally?
My first job after Whittier was with an acupuncturist in Santa Monica, CA. I ran the practice's front office for two years. I'm now in my first semester of naturopathic medical school in British Columbia, Canada. My Whittier education has served me well both professionally and in my decision to attend naturopathic medical school. At Whittier I was able to explore chemistry, art, and the occasional overlap between the two. From my interdisciplinary education, I am well trained to think logically but also creatively about how to solve problems and make important observations. Naturopathic medicine is often described as both a science and an art, requiring a hybrid of logical and creative thinking to offer the most natural solutions possible for multifaceted disease presentations.
What advice would you give to future art alumni when they graduate?
Keep creating things! Keep your skills tuned and they will open interesting doors for you or, at the very least, start some interesting conversations.
How are you still engaged in the arts if your professional job is not directly related?
I practice art everyday by maintaining a creative outlook on my life. Studying art forces you to think abstractly and creatively to come up with a unique perspective and style. I like to think I have been able to maintain this approach in deciding what kind of style I want for my life and the perspective I will take for conducting my professional life.
