HUMANITIES Ambassador SPOTLIGHT | Haven Elison

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

A: I really wanted to get more involved with the campus community and thought that becoming an ambassador would be an amazing opportunity to do so.

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 am a Linguistics and English major, and I chose these because I simply love language. I love that my majors allow me to better understand how we all use language and how I fit into a broader linguistic history. After graduation, I'm planning on possibly applying for law school, but I'm not so sure about that quite yet. 

Q: When you have to lock in and study for a hard test or write a long paper, what is your go-to method for staying focused and pushing through?

A: My secret weapon for staying focused is ambient playlists on YouTube. They are great for blocking out other distractions, and once I've put one on, I don't have to worry about what music I'm listening to.

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

A: I try not to eat the food on campus too much, but I just had the Mediterranean food truck Olive's Oasis for the first time a couple weeks ago, and it was soooo good. It's definitely my favorite place I've had on campus so far. They are usually parked just outside the library.

Q: In what way(s) do you feel "at home" at the University of Utah?

A: I feel most "at home" here at the U when I'm in a class and I can engage with other people who are as passionate about a topic as I am. I love being able to express my love of linguistics and literature in a place where so many others share the same interests.

Q: In what way have you engaged in the college experience that you are most proud of?

A: Honestly, this ambassador program is probably the proudest I've been engaging in the typical college experience. I love meeting so many other people and discussing what makes humanities great!

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

A: Maybe this is just from the perspective of a humanities student who doesn't have classes there very often, but Crocker Science Center (CSC) is one of my favorite places to study and I haven't heard too many people talk about it. The basement is really quiet and has a lot of little areas to study that aren't usually too crowded.

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

A: I started studying Japanese this semester, so right now, it would have to be in Japan. I would love the opportunity to learn more of the language and engage with the culture.

Q: Would you rather have back-to-back classes from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. one day a week or one two-hour class every day of the week, including weekend.

A: I would definitely take the 7-9 one day a week over the class every day. I am the type of person that prefers to have designated days for study/rest, so I could not have every day taken up by class like the second option.

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 not worry so much about choosing a major right away. I spent so much energy worrying about picking a "good" major, but I really should have focused on figuring out what I enjoyed most.