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In 20 words or less, what is the best thing about being part of this department?
Getting to study the amount of movies from the variety of different places and eras that they come from.

What is your biggest piece of advice to first years and sophomores about getting connected to this department?
Prioritize what you haven’t tried yet over what you know you like. All of my favorite courses have exposed my lack of knowledge at one point or another, and I feel like that’s when you learn the most.

What is something you know now that you wish you could tell your first-year self?
Go outside bruh

What is the most valuable thing you’ve learned at K?
The most important thing I’ve learned at K is that community is not something that can be created from the top down. Institutions cannot create environments for the people in the same way that the people can.

What has been your favorite class at K? 
My favorite course has probably been Advanced Documentary Video Production. Difficult and tedious for sure, but I just love every part of it, whether it be setting up equipment or organizing B-Roll footage. It’s a very communal experience too, making a documentary requires a lot of help and it’s very rewarding for that reason. When things go well, you get to see how everyone has bled a little bit into the project.

How have you taken advantage of the flexible curriculum or experienced breadth?
Taking Anthropology/Sociology courses has done a lot for me, as a student here and as someone who is into filmmaking. I’m always fascinated by unseen systems motivating behavior, and ANSO courses were a great way for me to explore not just how others work, but how I do.

What is your SIP?
I’m making a short film based on a short story that I wrote for Intermediate Fiction with Andy Mozina, which was definitely one of my favorite courses.

What are your career aspirations/next steps after K?
I hope to make just enough money to live and eat and create things sometimes.

What is a random fun fact about you?
My phone fell between the booth and the wall at a Denny’s in Grand Rapids. They couldn’t get it out. It’s still there. Denny’s has my phone.