ABOUT Julia
University of Wyoming, Senior
I love my college because…
Laramie is a breath of fresh air–actually, more like a gust of harsh wind–there’s plenty to do but it’s far from the hustle and bustle of a bigger university in a bigger city. Laramie is a close-knit, supportive community that truly bleeds brown and gold. I drove up to Laramie in the late spring of my junior year in high school. It was love at first sight; I just knew. I had applied, been accepted, and confirmed my enrollment before Homecoming of senior year. The University of Wyoming goes above and beyond for its students. I have never had a second thought about my decision to be in Laramie. And, the wind is totally worth it.
I really hate…
little noises in a quiet library like a tapping pen or a gum smacker; or people who wear sunglasses inside (especially in class, not fooling anyone); new pens running out of ink; and a sink full of dirty dishes.
I double major in…
Business Administration and Business Management, with a Pre-Law minor. The next step is law school; I’m in the middle of applications right now. After law school comes criminal law work, prosecution and defense – I’ve been told the best have done both. I had the opportunity to work in a women’s prison this past summer, which was life changing, and the resulting work will be published this coming June. I could not be more ready for the next chapter of my life.
My hometown is awesome because…
Fort Collins, CO has changed a lot over the last decade, or so. Every time I drive home, it seems as though there is some new building or new business to check out. I love that while it’s expanding greatly, I can still come home to my family’s auction house, get a potato burrito from Big City, and drive up and down College Ave.
At school, you can find me…
as a Teaching Assistant for the Math Department; I lead discussions, labs, and exam reviews for two sections of students in the second semester of business calculus. I am a supervisor for the recreational sports (intramural and club sports) department of Campus Recreation at the newly-renovated Half Acre Gym. And, I am a member of five honorary organizations on campus, three of which I actively volunteer with, attend speeches and other events, and network.
The coolest class I’ve taken so far is…
Negotiations and Conflict Resolution, by far. Beyond being incredibly useful for life beyond the books, the professor was incredibly well-prepared and genuinely cared that each of us succeeded after school. But I’m not done yet. I’m hoping to take a class on serial killers my last semester this spring, and I’m so looking forward to it.
My ideal first date would be…
I’m all about comfort, chemistry, and good food. I’d prefer extravagance on random days later on in the relationship than in the beginning. First dates should be about staying up all night talking and sharing plates. And, if there’s a photo booth anywhere nearby…that’s a must.
My favorite late night study snack is…
Depends on my mood…Cheez Itz, sugar snap peas, or Twix bars.
If I had 24 hours left to live, I would…
take my baby sisters (3 and 5) and the rest of my family to the park, or every park in the area, until the little girls had so much fun that they couldn’t play anymore. I’ll admit that when I was sixteen and I was my mom’s youngest, I didn’t understand why she’d have more kids… and now, I couldn’t imagine my life without my sisters. I saw another side of my mom when she was pregnant and I got opportunities to share the beginning months of motherhood with my mom in a way that no one I know has. If, for any reason, I wasn’t able to experience my first months as a mother with my mom around, I would remember back to when she was experiencing life with a newborn. They love me without fault and I love them more. There’s nothing better than watching a baby turn into a tiny human developing his or her own personality. I want to be a better woman for my baby sisters to look up to and I will be there for anything those two need, day or night.
If I could change one thing about the world, it would be…
abuse. There is evil in the world but how someone could look at an innocent child and harm them absolutely repulses me to my core. Abuse is so much more than just physical bruises and our society needs to catch up. And… it’s no different for animals; no ivory trinkets are worth it. We need to have more integrity as humans. We need to treat one another better. We need to stop the abuse.
If I could give my younger self one piece of advice, I would say…
that I am going to change in the next few years. I would tell myself that it’s okay to change my mind when I feel, to follow my gut when I feel, and… to smile more (fairly severe case of RBF, unfortunately). I would tell myself to go to even more school events and to talk to even more people. I’ve always been a self-assured person, good and bad. I’ve worked my tail off throughout college, as needed. But it really does go so quickly. High school me thought high school went quickly… college goes even quicker. Even though I thought it wouldn’t.
I’m going to be Miss COED 2017 because…
I have done so much that I am so proud of throughout my time as an undergraduate that being Miss COED 2017 would truly be the icing on the cake. I try to share as much information about classes, and schedules, and professors, and events with underclassmen as I can. I would love to continue doing so on a larger scale.
