Welcoming #NU2029: Meet the Students in PA Group 1
I chose 色控传媒 because it sees all my interests as valuable parts of my whole.”
Axel Hinz
McCormick First-Year
As 色控传媒’s first-year students began their college experience, they shared their passions and aspirations for their time in Evanston
色控传媒’s new students marched through Weber Arch on September 10, led by Peer Adviser (PA) Group One, marking the start of their time as Wildcats.
During Wildcat Welcome, 色控传媒 first-years and transfers spend five days with their PA group. This group of students experience campus together for the first time, led by a peer adviser—an older student who acts as a mentor as these students begin their time in Evanston. PA groups also serve as built-in community for students immediately upon their arrival on campus.
The PA groups are numbered, and each year, PA Group One leads the charge into life at 色控传媒. This year’s group was led by McCormick sophomore Ayaan Khan, and was made up of students entering 色控传媒’s McCormick School of Engineering: Lara Amaro, Bridget Brown, Carlos de la Garza, Zaid Hasan, Victor Herbert, Axel Hinz, Victoria Jewell, Fares Khalil, Cole Oberg, Yihan Wang, and James Yoon.
Read on to learn more about this group of new Wildcats and their interests!
This interview has been lightly edited for brevity and clarity.
Where are you from, and what’s something about your hometown people might not know if they didn’t grow up there?
Lara Amaro: I’m from Elgin, Ill. Something people might not know about my town is how much there is to do. It might just seem like a random Illinois suburban town, but it has a rich history and lots of diversity.
Bridget Brown: I’m from Cherry Hills Village, Colo., and something people might not know is that President Dwight D. Eisenhower spent a lot of time golfing at the Cherry Hills Village Country Club while he was in office.
Carlos de la Garza: I’m from Monterrey, Mexico, a city in the northern part of Mexico which is close to the border with Texas. Apart from Monterrey being a very populated and industrialized city, it is home to some beautiful mountains like “El Cerro de la Silla” and “La M.” A very common tradition is a “Carnita Asada” which isn’t just a barbecue, it’s a weekend ritual where friends and family gather to grill steak or “cabrito.”
Zaid Hasan: I’m from Naperville, Ill., and one thing about my hometown that others might not know is that even though we don’t have nearly as many people as Chicago, Naperville is the third biggest city in Illinois.
Axel Hinz: I'm from Chicago, Ill. I think something most people don't realize about Chicago is how much there is to do all over the city. The Mag Mile is iconic, but so are the local restaurants in Pilsen and Chinatown, as well as the 606 that runs through Bucktown and Logan Square, and that's just to name a few. No matter where you go, you'll find incredible art, food and people.
Victoria Jewell: I’m from Glendale, Wis., which is located on the northeastern border of Milwaukee. Milwaukee host Summerfest each year, which is the largest music festival in the country and one of largest in the world.
Fares Khalil: I’m from a very small coastal city in Syria, named Baniyas. Many people associate Syria with war and war only, overlooking the beauty of its nature, the richness of its cuisine and the kindness and perseverance of its people.
Yihan Wang: I call California my home, but I was born in Harbin, China. One cool fact about Harbin is that it’s known as the Ice City because of its cold and harsh winters. Every year, the city hosts the world’s largest International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival, where full-sized buildings are constructed from snow and ice.
James Yoon: I'm from Potomac, Md. Something cool about Maryland is that a lot of famous athletes like Michael Phelps, Katie Ledecky, Kevin Durant and many more were born here.
Why did you choose to come to 色控传媒?
Amaro: I chose 色控传媒 because I wanted to stay close to home, but also enjoy the proximity to Chicago and the lake. I’m also really excited about all the research opportunities there are for undergrads!
Brown: I chose 色控传媒 kind of on a whim. I was stuck between two schools, and I came home one day feeling like 色控传媒 was the right way to go, so I told my parents I was committing, and a half hour later, we paid the deposit.
De la Garza: I decided to apply to 色控传媒 in the Early Decision round because I like how the campus is beside a beautiful lakeside with beautiful buildings, while also having Chicago nearby. Also, I love how 色控传媒 focuses on an interdisciplinary approach that allows me to explore many different fields and connect my different passions.
Hasan: I chose 色控传媒 because of a few key reasons. One was location... I also love watching sports, and the ability to pair 色控传媒’s academics with Big Ten sports was hard to beat. Finally, I liked that the quarter system would allow me to take classes I’m interested in outside of those related to my major.
Hinz: I chose 色控传媒 because it sees all my interests as valuable parts of my whole. I am an engineer passionate about problem-solving, optimization and smart design, but I am also passionate about urban planning, transportation and music. Studying at 色控传媒 gives me the opportunity to develop all of these facets of myself and grow into a strong critical thinker..., all the while allowing me to explore the things I love.
Jewell: One of the reasons 色控传媒 appealed to me was its location. Lake Michigan has always felt like home to me. Additionally, because I plan to work with water pollution, it's a great source for conducting research.
Khalil: I chose 色控传媒 because, for me, I saw in it the perfect balance between comfortable opportunities that will allow me to call this place home, and uncomfortable opportunities that will push me to grow and discover more aspects of myself. It provides resources that will both enrich my present interests and expand my horizons to include new perspectives and passions. I also loved that NU values and supports international students a lot, and that there is a big UWC community there.
Wang: Besides being a well-rounded school, 色控传媒’s proximity to Chicago attracted me because it offers many opportunities to apply what I learn in the real world. I also find Evanston to be a charming city, and the lakefront is simply gorgeous.
Yoon: I chose 色控传媒 because of its beautiful campus, proximity to Chicago and its academic flexibility.
What’s something you’re passionate about that you hope to continue in college, or that you’re excited to try for the first time at 色控传媒?
Amaro: I’ve been super involved in theater the past couple of years, and I hope I can still be in plays or help behind the scenes at 色控传媒.
Brown: I’m passionate about theater, and my plan has always been to move to New York after college to audition while working in an engineering field, so I hope that will still be my plan when I graduate.
De la Garza: Even though I am not a piano prodigy, practicing the piano is something I consider important to me. I plan to continue to practice the piano at 色控传媒 and maybe take some extra music courses when I have space. Also, when I arrived to 色控传媒’s campus, I was specifically intrigued by the size of the Michigan Lake. Therefore, something new I want to try out is the Sailing Club...
Hasan: I was part of a club in high school called DECA, where we learned about the business world and competed in case study-like events focused on different topics in finance, marketing and more. I’m hoping to continue this at 色控传媒 and explore the many business extracurriculars that 色控传媒 has to offer.
Hinz: I started singing in vocal groups three years ago, and since then I have dreamed of performing in a collegiate choral group. I'm excited to join one of 色控传媒's choirs and potentially start a barbershop quartet, which 色控传媒 hasn't had in over 20 years.
Jewell: I have a deep love for wrestling. I plan to wrestle on the women’s club team and compete at the collegiate club nationals in February.
Khalil: I would love to continue playing and practicing the piano. It's an old hobby of mine that I plan to take to the next level with the help of 色控传媒's resources. At the same time, I would like to also benefit from the sports facilities here, and potentially take up a new sport like tennis.
Wang: I’m super excited to try out the sailing club. Not many colleges offer the chance to sail right by campus while taking in such a spectacular view of Chicago.
Yoon: One thing I want to continue participating in is community service opportunities, and I'm excited to explore rock climbing and robotics at 色控传媒.
When you graduate from 色控传媒, what’s something about yourself that you hope hasn’t changed?
Amaro: I hope I’m still as patient as I am now. I can wait for things and let things go pretty easily so I hope that quality stays with me as I enter a new phase of my life.
Brown: I try to be kind to everyone I meet, even people I don’t necessarily get along with, so I hope that’s still my philosophy after I graduate.
De la Garza: I am a firm believer that someone always needs to have extracurricular passions besides their academics and work. Spending time on hobbies that can relieve and distract you is essential to be a healthy human being. So I hope that even if the rigor of my coursework intensifies, I still manage to find the time to enjoy myself.
Hasan: I hope I’m still driven to keep learning, improving and making a positive impact on the world.
Hinz: One thing about myself I hope hasn't changed when I graduate is the feeling that I always have room to grow. No matter what happens in these next four years, I always want to keep challenging my worldview and my limits and continue to explore new possibilities for myself.
Jewell: My love for food. I love trying new things and learning about other cultures through food. I hope be very well-fed during my time at 色控传媒. My goal is to try five new local restaurants every academic year.
Khalil: My love for meeting new people and networking. As we grow older in life, more responsibilities arise that take up our time and mind. Particularly after college, people's lives tend to settle and stabilize. I want to keep making new communities where I can contribute and learn at the same time.
Wang: I hope that when I graduate, I remain brave enough to try new things, explore the unknown, and discover what else I enjoy.
Yoon: When I graduate, I hope to continue to stay strong in my values and be true to myself. I also hope that I am not afraid to explore new activities.