Hello everybody, my name is Charlie. I am currently a sophomore here at James Madison College, which means I study politics. I came into this school knowing nobody; I hadn't even messaged my roommate before, which is an easy path to having two fridges. But with a little elbow grease and a lot of Google Maps, I learned the campus like the back of my hand. If anyone has questions on where the best basketball courts are or needs to know the best dining hall chicken, I'm your man. When I'm not in class, I like to eat out and play games with my friends. Or studying, I suppose... I'm happy to show you all my favorite spots around campus and the rich history that comes with them. Like the supposedly haunted Mary Mayo Hall that I live in right now, or the Cowles House, the oldest building on campus, which was built in 1857, more than 10 years ago! I'm happy to answer any questions, and I'm excited to show you the campus that has been my home for coming on two years.

Hometown

Livonia Michigan

Major(s)

International Relations

Minor(s)

History

Clubs, organizations & involvement

I accidentally joined a Frisbee club at one point and just went with it for a semester in my freshman year, but other than that I just hang out with my friends from my hometown more than clubs, though I'd like to join a few this year. Though I was the leader of the chess club in my Highschool, and was a member of a men's league basketball team and varsity tennis.

Describe your college experience

From the first semester to now, college and MSU have been all I could have imagined, where I've made great new friends and explored so much that the campus offers, and even now I find new and interesting places I had never thought to explore, like the Maps and Geospacial Services area of the Library. The classes have been hard, and I've spent countless hours and nights in painful studying, but it is the most rewarding work I've ever done.

Tip for future students

Pick a schedule that you can commit to, and avoid too many early classes, or you will want to skip them, and showing up to class is absurdly important, even missing one class can set you back.

Favorite class

17th-century European history was my favorite class so far. It was an interesting class that explored times and topics that I had never even heard of. I also got very interesting hands-on assignments at the MSU Special Collections library, which felt so much more official and important than the history I had obsessed over in high school. The teacher was also very good at drawing attention to the topic, and now I can be the most educated person in almost any given room on the topic of the Thirty Years War.

Career goals

My ultimate goal is to become a diplomat or envoy to other countries. But I may also go into law or history.

Ideal way to spend a free night

I like to text one of my friends or just show up and go to the gym, play basketball, work out, and go get something to eat after. If possible with more than 1 other person.

High school or secondary school

North Farmington High school

Favorite spot on campus

The Beal Botanical Garden, though a basic pick, is my favorite part of campus. Its natural beauty and interesting layout were always peaceful to me, though I really like that one concrete alcove that goes down to watch over the red cedar, and i recently learned how gorgeous Mary Mayo Hall's interior lobbies are.