Degrees: B.F.A. in Music Performance and B.S. in Linguistics
How did the Stamps Scholarship help shape your undergraduate experience?
The Stamps Scholarship made it possible for me to attend school in the great city of New Orleans, a place very different from Boise, Idaho, where I grew up. I wanted an adventure, and I got one! Not only that, but the enrichment funds allowed me to go on many other adventures, from performing in Italy, to attending a life-changing conference on language revitalization in Washington, D.C.
Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give your freshman self?
Don’t give up. School is hard, life is hard, being away from home is hard, but there are so many people that love and believe in you, and you are so much stronger than you know.
Who has had the greatest impact on you throughout your college career and how so?
I would have to say that my Linguistics professor and advisor Judy Maxwell has had the greatest impact on me throughout my college career. She encouraged me to attend Breath of Life, and in attending that conference I discovered what I wanted to pursue in life: that is, language revitalization. She has given me so much; she’s been patient with me through difficult times and guided me through my every linguistic pursuit. I would not be where I am now without her.
What’s your favorite Stamps Scholar memory?
I have had many wonderful experiences that have resulted from the Stamps enrichment funds, but my favorite was attending Breath of Life, which placed me with fellow linguists and Native Americans. There was a moment where I was listening to a performance of a traditional tribal song when I just felt so incredibly connected to my community and heritage and knew that I needed to give back.
What comes next?
I will be living in Oklahoma with my relative who speaks my heritage language, Quapaw, to begin learning and documenting the language, since she is the last speaker. Following that I will pursue my masters and perhaps my doctorate in Linguistics in an effort to better prepare myself to continue documenting and then to ultimately revitalize the Quapaw language.
Please share your favorite inspirational quote.
“I am not in the habit of denying myself the simple pleasure of saying true things.” -Augustus Waters, The Fault in Our Stars, by John Green.