Hello! My name is Kat (short for Katelyn) and I’m from Charleston, SC. I’m currently studying Computer Science with a minor in Chinese Studies. I’m involved in many activities on campus, my favorites being a tour guide at the Anne Frank Center and the Women in Computing club. I’m really passionate about highlighting underrepresented voices in S.T.E.M. and research, which is why I hope to pursue a Ph. D. in Human-Centered design technology and engineering to develop innovative research and technology to be more inclusive and accessible across cultures and communities.
My advice for prospective students: Your value is more than just a statistic! Applying to college is stressful, and it can be very easy to get caught up in the numbers of how you measure up to current students. Take a step back and look at how the university supports its students, and what environment you think you would thrive the most in. College is not one size fits all, so make sure you choose what feels right to you!
My advice for current students: Plan one thing each day that excites you. Whether it's getting coffee with a friend, or learning the choreography to a new dance, set aside the time to cultivate your passions and relationships. We spend so much of our time worrying about the uncertainty of the future that sometimes is easy to forget to live in the present.
My favorite thing about the Honors College: I honestly can’t decide between two, so I’ll give you both: the people, and the creative freedom! I love working for honors ambassadors and going to honors college events because I get to meet so many cool people, and students and staff alike are always happy to see you and excited to get to know you. And there’s so much creative freedom in how you choose to spend your time as an honors student because we have access to all of the cool activities of the large university, flexible (ish) schedules from priority registration, and access to honors college ‘cool courses’ that challenge the traditional approaches to learning.
My reason for choosing the SCHC: The biggest reason I chose to come to the SCHC was because of the amount of support they showed throughout the application and decision process (see above ‘advice for prospective students’). When it came down to college decisions, many of the universities that I was so excited to have been admitted to made no effort to reach out, answer questions, or provide support in my college decision. I felt like from the college tour all the way through and after acceptance USC provided the support I was looking for and all of the staff and students felt excited for me and my college decision, even if I hadn’t chosen to attend here.
My favorite things: I love the small moments in life! Just to name a few I love lazy Sundays, flowers blossoming in the spring, playing cards with friends, and meeting new people.
My hobbies: I love to do hands-on projects that let me to be both creative and analytical, like building furniture (the last thing I made as a shelf!) or doing puzzles. I also love all mediums of art (especially photography), baking, and reading!
Something that makes me laugh: Baby animal videos!! Nothing makes my day better than a brief intermission of baby animals learning how to be baby animals.
Skill I’d like to master: Baking! Sometime in my life I would love to go to culinary school and become a real pastry chef. Not only would it taste AMAZING, but then I would probably open a bakery, which has been a dream since I was little.
Something new I’d like to learn: I’d love to learn how to swim (yes I’m a sophomore in college and never learned). I just never learned, but I feel like itd be a very helpful skill.
My motto in life: Throw everything at the wall and see what sticks. It feels kind of appropriate for the whole college experience, as its the best time to just try new things and put yourself out there and then just see what you fall in love with.
Currently reading: I’m currently rereading the Magic Strings of Frankie Presto by Mitch Albom. I read it a MINIMUM of once a year it is an amazing book and I always highly recommend it to my friends.
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