Hound of the Week: Hannah White ’21
Being 8,000 miles away from her home of Guam, Hannah was nervous about feeling homesick and fitting in at Assumption. “Besides the extreme distance, it’s a feeling I’m sure many Assumption students had their first day at school. However, the minute I stepped foot on campus I was welcomed by the Assumption community with open arms. Before I knew it, I was involved in several different clubs and had friends in every corner of campus. I wasn’t worried about fitting in anymore because the community wanted me for who I was. For me, being involved is about continuing to make new friends and foster my old friendships, but also about giving back to a community that welcomed me so readily. I want others to feel just as comfortable as I do on campus, and I hope my involvement reflects that.”
One of Hannah’s biggest passions on campus is learning. “I’m glad I came to a liberal arts school. While I knew I was going to be an English major coming into my freshman year, I’ve really been able to explore other subjects and discover new interests through the Core Curriculum. For example, I had no idea I would like graphic design until I took Graphic Design I last year. Now I’m minoring in it, and it’s given me a new appreciation for art and helps me look at the world with a new perspective. The same goes for philosophy: I had never taken a philosophy class before I came here, but I found myself enjoying the two classes I’ve taken so far. So much so, in fact, that I ended up going on the Core Texts program’s Greece trip this past spring to see the birthplace of philosophy myself. My passion for learning and pondering is also what motivated me to participate in the SOPHIA program this past year, where we really got the chance to learn about ourselves and how we can best serve the world around us through our vocations.”
Hannah is also equally passionate about helping people, and it drove her to become an RA for first-year students. “This position has allowed me to connect with my residents, and help them find their place on campus. It is the most rewarding feeling to see a resident who struggled with homesickness at the beginning of the year out and about on campus and absolutely thriving. I’m glad I can play a role in that transition”