Hi, I'm Natalia! I'm a current sophomore interested in History, Classics, and Political Science. I love going to college in North Carolina; the climate is great and the people are really nice. Davidson has a wonderful campus and I love going to the local farmer's market on weekends, Lake Campus with friends, and taking walks on the cross country trails. There are so many things to see both on and off campus; I personally love going to coffee shops or restaurants in the town of Davidson. If you'd like to know more about Davidson's humanities, great professors, and other helpful resources for students, let me know! I'm also involved with Catholic Campus ministry and I sing in Davidson's chorale (student choir), so if either of those things interest you I'd love to talk about them.

Hometown

Rockleigh, NJ

Major(s)

History, Classics, Political Science

Clubs, organizations & involvement

I'm involved with Catholic Campus Ministry, sing as an alto for Davidson College's Chorale (which is the primary student choir), and I enjoy going to WildCrafts events (I love arts and crafts).

Describe your college experience

I initially felt a bit unsure about Davidson since I came from a really small Catholic high school---Davidson seemed intimidating due to its numerous clubs, activities, and courses. As a freshman, it's easy to get caught up by peer pressure and anxiety that you aren't making friends fast enough or aren't getting involved enough. As I settled into college life, there was certainly a period of adjustment, but I learned that it's an incredible opportunity to get a Davidson education. Davidson offers so many intriguing courses that are often interdisciplinary and fulfill several core requirements simultaneously. This allows you to further explore interests you already have as well as discovering completely new ones. One of the absolute best things at Davidson is its professors---often they develop friendships with their students and are an incredible resource outside of class.

Tip for future students

- make sure to get practical stuff for your dorm room, like plates, cleaning supplies, etc. - don't worry if you don't make friends right away in college---I didn't have many friends first semester, but I have an awesome friend group now! - schedule office hours with your professors! Don't be shy, they often want to get to know you outside of class.

Favorite class

I took a course titled "The Crusades, Then and Now" where we learned about both the Islamic and the Christian sides of the narrative. The class was co-taught by two amazing professors, where each used their specialization in either European or Middle Eastern history to enrich the course. Our final project was a research paper whose topic had to include the intersection of religion and violence---but the students made the choice. I wrote about religious persecution in 1920's Mexico, translating primary sources from Spanish into English. I loved this course because it allowed me to view the Crusades from multiple perspectives and learn about the impact it still has today. Moreover, it allowed me to weave together my various historical interests over different time periods.

Career goals

I might go to Grad School, start teaching, become a writer, or something else!

Ideal way to spend a free night

Watching a movie with friends or going out to dinner at one of Davidson's great restaurants!

High school or secondary school

Cardinal Kung Academy

Favorite spot on campus

My favorite spot on campus is probably outside Lilly Gallery. I love the shade provided by the trees and you get a beautiful view. I like sitting in one of the lawn chairs and eating lunch there.