video interview
Jenna
Year: Sophomore
Major: Urban and Regional Planning
College: Fine and Applied Arts
One-on-One
What are your favorite places to study, hang out, and relax?
Each of the coffee shops downtown and on campus have their own unique atmospheres. There are so many around that it is fun to always be able to discover new places to study, relax or have good conversations with friends. I think it is the combination of jazz music playing, the diverse mix of people around and the inescapable (but delicious) coffee smell in the air that makes me tend to choose coffee shops as a destination for studying…or just relaxing.
What clubs or organizations on campus are you involved with?
I have been involved with International Impact (I-I), a registered student organization on campus. Through I-I, students plan and organize volunteer trips to various third world countries. What makes I-I unique to other volunteer abroad programs is that it is completely run by students. We are able to determine where we will go, when we will go, and what we will do there. We do our own research to determine where there is need, make the contacts, and do all the planning ourselves. For this reason, I think the experience is much more personal and meaningful. Another benefit to a student-led volunteer abroad program is that the trips are very reasonably priced. There are no program fees (because we plan the program), the University, through the student organization resource fee, generally provides significant help with funding, and we work as s group to fundraise to cover remaining costs.
I have been a part of student government as a senator on the student senate this past year. Through student senate, I became the Vice-Chair of the Cultural and Minority Affairs Committee and the student representative to the General University Policy Committee of Urbana-Champaign Student/Faculty Senate, or “U-C Senate.” The U-C Senate is the primary policy making body for the University, and the student senate exists to make sure the needs and desires of the student body are represented. Being a part of both of these bodies gave me a great perspective as to the way student issues are taken in to account in making University policy and as to the importance of student involvement in the process.
It took me a while to discover the department of urban and regional planning, but once I found it and realized that it was the right major for me I have become very involved with the department. I am the vice-president of the student planning organization and the UIUC student representative to the American Planning Association. These two positions have allowed me to get to know students and faculty members in the department, along with professional planners through planning trips to conferences and holding events on campus. I think taking leadership positions within our major is a great way to get to know your department and your peers to make the most out of your four years on campus.
Why and how did you choose your major?
While many students switch majors before settling on one, I may be unique in that I have had four different major and have been in three different colleges. This might be seen as a disadvantage, but I feel lucky to have had the opportunity to see so many different areas of the University. I have really enjoyed everything I have studied and feel like I have gained a very broad education so far, and I will still be able to graduate on time.
I came to find urban planning through taking a course called “Ecology In Planning” to fill a science requirement. Once I got an understanding of what planning was, I knew I was done moving around. In my opinion, planning combines sociology, economics, architecture, civil engineering, and political science in a way that is practical and necessary for creating good communities.
Describe your most memorable experience at Illinois.
It is really amazing sometimes to stop on the stairs of Foellinger Auditorium and watch the quad fill up with such a diverse mix of people all together in one place. The life and energy is almost tangible. That image of Illinois, in every season, will be a lasting one for me.
What is your advice to prospective students?
Do not let your image of the University of Illinois be defined by what you see around you, in your dorm, at the bars, and in the classes you have to take. That will be a big mistake. There are so many opportunities available for you, but you have to seek them out. Go to quad day, sigh up for everything that looks at all interesting to you, and pick some classes to take just for fun. Expand your view of the University and you will be shocked at how much it will open up to you.
Video Interview
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