ABOUT NORAH
- From Erie, PA
- Member of the Class of 2027
- Majoring in anthropology
- Tour Guide
- Studied abroad at the Kent State campus in Florence, Italy
There are so many people at Kent State that are specifically here to help you succeed. You will never be alone.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE AS A STUDENT AT KENT STATE!
I am an Anthropology student with minors in Women's Studies and Sociology. I have lived on campus for two years now. I am involved in HerCampus at Kent State as well as Alpha Lambda Delta Honors Fraternity on campus. I am originally from Erie, Pennsylvania, about 2 hours away. It's the perfect distance to be able to go home for a long weekend every once and a while, but also have some distance between me and my family. I have had really welcoming experience so far at Kent and had a really easy time finding a community of people who I'm comfortable with and make me the best person I can be!
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE KENT STATE?
When I came to campus for Future Flash Day, I got to meet with a couple of anthropology professors, which made it easier for me to visualize what my time at Kent State was going to look like. I also felt very welcomed, as there were multiple professors there just to talk to me.
I was really interested in going to college at a larger university, but not one that was so big that I would feel like a random person on a huge campus. Kent is the perfect medium for me: I don't know everyone on campus, but I will run into my friends on the way to class and professors know my name.
Lastly, I love the look and feel of campus. I love that it's not a concrete jungle and that there are many green spaces throughout campus to relax in during the warm months.
WHEN DID KENT STATE START TO FEEL LIKE HOME?
Kent State started to feel like home to me once I established a good friends group that I could be myself in. Another thing that made me feel at home was when I started to build real relationships with my professors. I love being able to see my professors across campus and having a quick little conversation with them outside of class. I have been asked multiple times by my favorite professors to talk on panels to help younger students.
The best way to find your community is to join a club, talk to people in your classes, talk to professors and be yourself.
WHAT'S A COOL LEARNING EXPERIENCE YOU'VE HAD?
I got the chance to study abroad in Florence, Italy last summer. It was the most magical experience and I also got the chance to experience a new culture and wander around Italy with one of my favorite professors. I took classes about the world of music and the anatomy of the face and facial reconstruction within forensic anthropology.
WHO HAS MADE YOUR COLLEGE EXPERIENCE SPECIAL?
Dr. Linda Spurlock has made my college experience very special. I have taken 4 classes with her so far, one of them being in Italy. She is so passionate about anthropology that it makes me so excited for what is to come in my career. She knows my name and I see her across campus all of the time. It warms my heart to know that she really cares about me.
When I was going on my campus tours in high school, I really appreciated the student guides that I had, so I wanted to become a tour guide and do the same for prospective students.
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY?
Studying abroad in Florence, Italy for a month. I met so many amazing people and had so many once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.
Another memory was spreading a picnic blanket on the student green last April with all of my friends when it finally was warm enough to do so.
IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOURSELF BEFORE STARTING COLLEGE?
It is a really big, new step, and I know that you are scared about what's to come, but all you have to do is your best and be yourself. Trust that you have made the right decision for yourself. If there are any hard times that come up, you'll be able to work through it.
WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS, POST-GRADUATION?
My career goals are to either do research in the field of anthropology or to work in the non-profit sector in community outreach. My program is preparing me for this by teaching me research techniques, but more importantly, how to be a well-rounded person with a diverse background of knowledge. I have also been taught a lot of personal communication skills to talk to more people.