HUMANITIES Ambassador SPOTLIGHT | Marylinda Gonzalez

Q: Why did you choose to become an ambassador for the College of Humanities?

A: I chose to become an ambassador because I really wanted to get more involved in the College of Humanities as well as increase representation from the college. I feel as if the Humanities are often overlooked, but we have so many amazing students who are involved in research, learning abroad, internships, and more! 

Q: What are your major(s) and/or minor(s)? Why did you choose them, what do you love most about them, and what do you hope to do with them once you graduate? 

A: I major in English and Ethnic Studies. English has always been my favorite subject because I love to read and write. I added an Ethnic Studies degree with an emphasis in Latinx Studies because I wanted to write better about the Latinx experience. I hope that these majors will give me a solid foundation for entering grad school and pursuing an MFA.

Q: Where is the best place to go get food on or around campus? 

A: I’m always trying to save money when possible, so I like bringing food from home! But… if I do forget my lunch, I like getting sushi at the Union.

Q: What is the earliest or latest class you’ve ever had? What about that class made it worth getting up so early/staying on campus so late?

A: The latest class I had started at 4:35 pm and wasn’t over until 7:25 pm. Honestly, the professor made the classes worth it! They had so much energy and passion for the material that it didn’t even feel like I was in class for three hours. Group discussion was really big in that class, and we read some of the best stories.

Q: On a regular day what does your commute to school look like? Do you enjoy it? If not, what are some ways you make it more bearable?

A: I get in my car and drive to my nearest station, board the Red Line [Trax] going north, and usually get off at the stadium station or the south campus station. The train ride is about 40 minutes, but I make the most of it. Those are 40 minutes that I can catch up on reading for class, read for fun, watch lectures, or even play a game on my phone.

Q: What do you feel is the most underrated building or place on campus?

A: The patio at the Carolyn Tanner Irish Humanities building. It’s not crowded at all, very quiet, and you might even see a cute rabbit while you work!

Q: What is your dream career? What steps are you taking to get there?

A: I want to be a writer! My majors are helping me reach that goal. I’ve also taken several creative writing classes while at the U, and I plan to keep studying writing after graduation.

Q: If you could study abroad anywhere on earth, where would you go and why?

A: I’d want to go to Japan because sushi is my favorite food, and I’d love to try authentic sushi.

Q: If you could go back and tell just one thing about your college experience to your past self on your first day at the U, what would you tell yourself?

A: I would tell myself to declare my English major earlier on and to keep my eyes out for opportunities like the Humanities Scholars cohort!  

Check out Marylinda’s Summer Program in Undergraduate Research project here.