video interview
Janel
Year: Junior
Majors: Professional Pilot & Gender and Women's Studies
College: Institute of Aviation & Liberal Arts and Sciences
One-on-One
What are your favorite places to study, hang out, and relax?
I like to study in the ACES library. It’s never crowded, always peaceful and there’s a nice view of the south side of campus from the windows upstairs. My hang out spot is PAR (Pennsylvania Avenue Residence) where a lot of my friends live. If not there, then probably the Union or anywhere there’s food available. To relax, I like to sit in one of those giant, fancy chairs at the Union and knit.
What clubs or organizations on campus are you involved with?
The Central Residential Funding Board delegates student-paid funds to housing organizations throughout campus for events and club budgets. I was an actress in the Vagina Monologues, a play about violence and female sexuality. The play is a part of a national event called V-Day that raises money for local women’s charities. As a member of the Peer Recruitment Program, we visit high schools and talk to students in an effort to recruit more minority students.
Why and how did you choose your major?
It was a long road before I decided on professional pilot and gender and women’s studies as my majors. I started out a pre-pharmacy chemistry major, but after working in retail pharmacy for a couple of years, I realized it wasn’t for me. I took a nutrition course and it seemed more logical to aim to teach people how to better care for themselves instead of providing them the drugs to undo harm they could’ve avoided. So I decided to major in nutrition. With my passion for women’s issues, my advisor asked me, “Have you thought about majoring in GWS?” I had thought about a possible minor in gender and women’s studies, but then decided to follow my interests and declared my major.
As for aviation, I always wanted to become a flight attendant and I knew the opportunity the Illinois aviation program provided so I decided to tackle both.
Describe your most memorable experience at Illinois.
My first day of flight instruction was my most memorable experience. I thought we might go into a flight simulator or have some discussion with our instructors, but my instructor took me up in a plane. I sat in the pilot’s seat while he flew from the co-pilot seat. We flew over my campus home. He sat back and let go of the controls and said “you have the aircraft.” All I did was a couple of simple turns but never having flown a plane before, it was such a phenomenal moment for me.
What is your advice to prospective students?
Take advantage of office hours. It’s really important to stay on top of your studies. It’s so easy to fall behind so go to office hours and ask tons of questions. Try to make some friends and study buddies who will help motivate you to get work done. Outside of class, look for a smaller community that may be a club, church or other housemates to help make the adjustment to our large but friendly campus.
Video Interview
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