Category: Student Peer Advisors

Bienvenidos a UHP! This summer I studied abroad in Costa Rica (I did environmental research through BU), but I’ll try to talk about something else. I think nature is great, love dairy, and make really good hummus. Unlike most juniors I’ll be around the whole year, so be sure to say hi! Pro Tip: Go to Pancakes with the Provost. It’s the best! Once a month Provost Lerman serves pancakes at his house on the Vern. They have normal pancakes and a fun seasonal one too.
Michelle’s SPAcialties: BEING UNDECIDED! I had so many questions before I choose a major so chances are I’ve already found the answer to your questions. GRADUATE SCHOOL PREPARATION! GRE, research, scholarships…you name it. SUSTAINABILITY MINOR! I have one and think you should too.
If you’d like to get in touch with Michelle, email uhpspa@gwu.edu!

Hi, I’m Laura. I’m a junior in the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, majoring in Biological Anthropology and minoring in Spanish. I’m also pre-med. My hometown is Framingham, Massachusetts. Outside of my academics, I spend most of my time singing, watching tons of nerdy TV, cooking, and rereading the literature of my childhood, because I refuse to believe I ever grew up. The honors program is one of my favorite parts of my life at GW because of the wonderful people, awesome courses, and general sense of community. Favorite UHP moment so far: bonding with professors over Chinese food at the Student-Faculty Dinners.
Laura’s SPAcialties: Pre-med requirements; the Spanish department in all of its intricacies; honors housing vs. not (I’ve lived in both); roommate issues; four-year plans/DegreeMap; managing college stress (I survived organic chemistry and so can you!)
If you’d like to get in touch with Laura, email uhpspa@gwu.edu!

Hello Honors freshmen! My name is Penina Smith and I am a senior majoring in Athletic Training in the School of Public Health. I am a proud West Coast girl who is slowly learning that rain is not only a winter phenomenon. One of the reasons why I chose GW is to experience seasons. When I’m not hanging around government buildings or learning new therapeutic exercises, you can find me at the gym or watching a professional sporting event. Every Friday night I make dinner with friends in an attempt to master baking. The way to my heart is through my stomach so food is a big part of my life. (My skills have improved tremendously!) You may also hear me belt out an awesome 80s song as I am convinced that I was born in the wrong decade. I applied to the Honors Program on a whim and soon realized how amazing the program is. What I love most are the unique courses and the professors who truly make an effort to get to know their students.
Penina’s SPAcialties: Coordinating Exercise Science classes with UHP classes; 4 year plans (I love organization and planning out people’s lives); any type of UHP advice (which UHP professors rock and which classes are musts!); balancing classes with extracurricular activities and employment/internships; adjusting to independent living and roommates; handling Thurston
If you’d like to get in touch with Penina, email uhpspa@gwu.edu!

Hi! My name is Rachel. I am a senior in the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences majoring in Psychology and minoring in Biology. I am a premed student from Baltimore. In the Honors Program, I have gotten the chance to take some fabulous classes that I would not have gotten to take otherwise, like a leadership course and a Shakespearean film class. I have also loved the fabulous advising I have gotten from Liz and Catherine over the past three years. I love baking and photographing food, so maybe a little bit food obsessed. My favorite food by far is peanut butter. I love living in DC and have made so many wonderful friends at GW.
Rachel’s SPAcialties: Premed; psychology major; balancing extracurriculars and class; choosing a major/minor
 
If you’d like to get in touch with Rachel, email uhpspa@gwu.edu!

Hi! My name is Rauvin Johl and I am a senior in the Elliott school, majoring in international affairs and concentrating in international development. I am also minoring in socio-cultural anthropology and Arabic. I was born in Vancouver, Canada but have spent the last 12+ years living in Wisconsin. I spend my free time exploring the city, cooking, eating the food I cook, watching the West Wing (an obsession that makes me unique at home and a stereotype at GW) and being overly competitive whilst playing board games. I love the Honors program because of its sense of community, the opportunity to work in small classes with outstanding professors and because it means I get to spend time with my fellow honors dorks.
Rauvin’s SPAcialties: International Affairs majors; balancing the Honors Program with extracurricular activities and employment; community service in the District; Honors Housing; time management/organizational skills
If you’d like to get in touch with Rauvin, email uhpspa@gwu.edu!

Hello all! My name is Rebekah, and I’m a senior in Elliott majoring in International Affairs (concentrating in Security Policy) and minoring in History. Coming from a small community at home in Texas, I thought that DC would be really overwhelming. The Honors program provided me, and still provides me, that small community where everyone knows your name and cares about what you’re up to. I have such amazing and talented classmates, and it really is a joy to get to know them- AND THIS INCLUDES YOU! See you on campus soon!!
Rebekah’s SPAcialties: 4-year plans; making up study schedules and other time management issues; double-counting classes for as many Elliott requirements as possible; graduating early
If you’d like to get in touch with Rebekah, email uhpspa@gwu.edu!

Hello! My name is Sarah Rood and I am a senior majoring in Biomedical Engineering. I am a part of a ton of orgs relating to engineering, including Theta Tau, the engineering fraternity and Tau Beta Pi, the engineering Honors society. Outside of the lab I am cheering on the Colonials as part of the Colonial Brass, GW’s very own pep band. I love the Honors program and the fact that I have gotten to take awesome classes with awesome professors outside my major. Fun Fact: I spent this past summer interning at NASA making fruit flies feel G-forces by spinning them in a centrifuge.
Sarah’s SPAcialties: Being an engineer and balancing engineering and honors; finding internships and scholarships; going abroad (especially as a science or engineering major); finding professional organizations and on-campus research
If you’d like to get in touch with Sarah, email uhpspa@gwu.edu!

Hello, my name is Siddhi Salvi! I am a senior (yikes!) double concentrating in Business Economics and Public Policy as well as International Business in GWSB. I was born in India, lived in Wyoming for 4 years, and now call Nashua, NH (as well as DC) my home. At first the honors program scared me. I did not have a strong literary background and hadn’t read any religious work, ever. To put my ignorance in perspective, I didn’t even know who Adam and Eve were or what the significance of the “apple” was in the Bible. With that being said, I am proud to say that I have now read and analyzed the Bible, Bhagavad Gita, Quran, Saint Augustine, and many works by well-known philosophers. As a business student, I find it crucial to use the transferable skills that classes in the Honors Program (including Origins) teach to expand my way of thinking. Obviously none of this could have been done if it wasn’t for Catherine and Liz, who seriously have been a god send. Now obviously my life is not the Honors Program (although I basically live in the townhouse during exams), so for fun I enjoy eating my way through DC, exploring the city, and playing with my wonderful friends! I am so grateful for all this university has given me and am stoked for my final year!
Siddhi’s SPAcialties: Business School students; general scheduling/requirements; stress management; searching for on campus jobs; balancing work and play; typical #Honorsproblems (including not always knowing everything, adjusting to a new school/year, not knowing exactly how everything will work, etc.)
If you’d like to get in touch with Siddhi, email uhpspa@gwu.edu!

Hello! I’m Thomas. I’m a sophomore in the Elliott School of International Affairs majoring in IA with a minor in Arabic and a concentration in international development. I love leaning and trying many different things, so much that deciding what to do can be very difficult. I love Liz and Catherine because they are genuine and make my life work. The Honors program is also the best part of GW, and I enjoy asking the big questions and learning more about myself. I like investing in people personally, and if you need anything at all please don’t be a stranger.
Thomas’s SPAcialties: Culture shock: transferring from a small private school in the South to a big city; academic stress; organization; program advice; language/major advice; personal well-being; pretty much anything you need I’ll do my best!
If you’d like to get in touch with Thomas, email uhpspa@gwu.edu!

Hello! I’m Hannah; a senior in CCAS majoring in Art History, and minoring in Religion and French. I’m from Columbus, Ohio (Cleveland too) and cannot believe that this is my last year at GW. Continue reading “[SPA 2013-2014] Hannah Wendling CCAS '14 – Art History”