Humanities Ambassador Spotlight | Parker Bowden

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

A: It is a great opportunity to learn and grow. It gives me a chance to give back to the university and college, and it sounded like fun!

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 Spanish/Pre-Med. I chose to be a doctor because I want to help people get out of pain and return to the lifestyle they want to live. I chose Spanish because it has been a huge part of my life. I have spoken it my whole life. Knowing a different language helps me grow and connect with other people.

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: For writing a paper, I wear a hoodie with a hat and put in my earbuds. It helps me minimize distractions and focus. For a test, I like to read the material and then take notes. I then read over my notes and test myself.

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

A: Santo Taco downtown.

Q: What do you think your most unique hobby is? Why do you love it?

A: Star gazing. I love the stillness of the night and looking at the beauty of the night sky.

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

A: I feel that there are no exclusive groups. I feel that I can go into any group that I wish to join and feel accepted.

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: My latest class was Algebra; I had it at 6:00 p.m. What was worth it was all the people I met on Trax.

Q: What’s the best piece of advice you have received in life, and how have you lived up to it?

A: “Never take advice from someone who you wouldn’t switch places with.” As I pursued other career options, I realized that I would not switch places with them.

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: During the school year I live in SLC, usually 10–15 minutes from campus — for me, that is not bad at all. During the summer I live in Layton, which can be 45 minutes to an hour depending on traffic. I do not enjoy that commute, but I listen to music to help pass the time.

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

A: I have teamed up with the Bennion Center and the Service Committee at the Institute of Religion for service activities. These included creating back-to-school bags for kids in other countries, making toy cars for kids in third-world countries who do not have any, and becoming a suicide prevention ambassador.

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

A: Two places:

1. The J. Willard Marriott Library has some of the best study places and a ton of resources.
2. The Institute of Religion offers free parking if you take a class.

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

A: I would love to own my own orthopedics center. I am doing prerequisites for medical school.

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

A: I would either go to anywhere where they speak Spanish or to Switzerland. I would go to a Spanish-speaking country because I love Spanish and want to learn more about their cultures. I would go to Switzerland for the Swiss Alps.

Q: Would you rather have back-to-back classes from 7am to 9pm one day a week or have one two-hour class every day of the week, including weekends?

A: I would rather have back-to-back classes all day. This would give me time to do other things and be less tied to schoolwork.

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: It was everything you hoped for and more!