Hi! My name is Jessie, and I am a sophomore majoring in biology and minoring in animal studies. I currently participate in cheerleading here at Southwestern and am a proud member of our EQUIP scholars.

I grew up in a small, traditional town in Southern Illinois. As a female, I found it difficult to express myself, my opinions, and even factual information in a way that people would hear, notice, and consider because of the old-fashioned mindset that most citizens in my hometown have, including many of my family members. Throughout my academic career, writing became an outlet where I could express myself clearly, and in an impactful way. Writing has opened many doors for me, and I know it will continue to.

In the future, I hope to become a zoological veterinarian, perform research, report my findings, and possibly change people’s perceptions of zoos for the better. These ambitions require clear writing and communication, which I aim to continue improving while working with all of you.

I’m sure many of you reading this have also struggled with expressing yourself at some point and aspire to better your writing the same way that I do. I am excited to help all of you write more clearly to convey your unique ideas and perspectives to the world around you.