Krista

Activities

• 4-H House – Cooperative Sorority
• Field & Furrow – An organization whose goal is to expose its members to all aspects of agriculture and to develop the leadership skills needed to be a successful professional
• Students of Agronomy, Soils, and Environmental Sciences (SASES)

Where is your favorite spot on campus to study?

The ACES Library is my favorite spot on campus to study. I don’t usually like library settings because they’re almost too quiet and structured that I’m uncomfortable to study. However, I’ve found the ACES Library is relaxing and the atmosphere makes studying very easy.

Where is your favorite spot on campus to hang out with your friends?

I love being a part of the College of ACES, partly because it is so small and I have met a lot of people through classes. Many of these people live together in the other agriculture fraternities. My friends from 4-H House and others we’ve met in classes enjoy just hanging out with them at our house or their houses where we can get to know each other better outside the classroom setting.

Where is your favorite spot on campus to relax?

For me, working out is very relaxing and a way of stress relief in the midst of classes and homework. CRCE is a great facility, with many options, from a track and cardio equipment to free weights and various classes.

What is your favorite club or organization on campus that you are involved with?

Field & Furrow is my favorite club that I’m involved with. At first, I joined because it was fitting for my major, Crop Sciences. Now, I’m really enjoying the opportunities it has lead to, especially being involved with other university agronomy clubs on a national level through SASES (Students of Agronomy, Soils, and Environmental Sciences). The Department of Crop Sciences and Field & Furrow make it possible for students to participate in SASES regional and national events two times a year. I’ve been able to make contacts with people across the country.

What do you like most about your major?

One thing that’s really great about my major is that it is the smallest in the College of ACES and is one of the smallest at the University of Illinois. This is really very beneficial to the students because we all are able to really get to know our professors and the other students in crop sciences.

What are your favorite courses within your major?

One of my favorite courses so far is Crop Science 261: Biotechnology in Agriculture. I have found this class extremely interesting and beneficial because everything I’m learning in it is very applicable to everyday life. Just within the past few months, I’ve already been able to use information I’m learning to explain some issues to my parents, who are farmers, which they find very helpful. They also really like that I can come home and share what I’ve been leaving.

What are your favorite extra curricular activities NOT related to your major?

Being a member of the 4-H House Cooperative Sorority is one of my favorite activities. Although 4-H House is referred to as a sorority, it is not a typical sorority at all. One requirement that sets it apart from other sororities is the 5 year minimum of
4-H participation. I really liked that when I came as a freshman I could move directly into the house and automatically become friends with 50 other girls, ranging from freshmen to seniors. Living at 4-H House has definitely had an impact on me, mainly due to the cooperative living environment in 4-H House life. Each girl living in the house contributes to all of the cooking and cleaning. Living at 4-H House has taught me a lot about responsibility, time management, cooperation, and attitude.

Describe your most memorable experience at Illinois.

One of my most memorable experiences at the University of Illinois was in March 2005, when the University of Illinois men’s basketball team advanced to the Final Four. I have always loved participating in and watching all sports. As a season ticket holder, I closely followed the basketball team all season. It was amazing to be a student here during that postseason because there was so much excitement. After the first Final Four game and following the championship game, my friends and I walked to Green Street and the Quad. Being a part of the enormous number of students packed together and united in celebrating our basketball team was an unbelievable experience.

Why do you belong at Illinois?        

The University of Illinois is a very welcoming place and everyone is very friendly. I have felt like I belonged from the moment I first came to campus. I moved into the 4-H House, and through the girls in my house, I met many other people right away. Of course at a school as big as the University of Illinois, there will be large lecture classes, but I also feel like class size is kept pretty small when possible and there are many opportunities to meet other students in class. As someone who came from a public high school graduating class of 19 students, one of my favorite things about the University of Illinois is that I can meet a new person every single day if I make the effort. I love the University of Illinois, especially being a part of the College of ACES, because it provides me with the small town feeling, since it’s a smaller part of something so large, which is probably true of the other colleges within the University also. There are so many clubs that there is literally something for everyone. I feel as though anyone, regardless of their interests, should have no problem feeling like they fit in at the University of Illinois.