During my freshman year, I took English 101. The class was shaped around community activism and engagement, and I ended up writing a paper about food security. Through my research, I met all these people involved in the Miami/Oxford organic food network. They told me about the Wilkes Leadership Institute, a program that prepares students to become engaged public leaders and encourages them to get involved in the communities around Miami.

Through Wilkes, I took some American Studies classes. They were small, discussion-based classes, and in one, we did "asset-mapping," where you look at the various resources that help city residents build a sense of a community, such as churches, schools, and senior centers. I found it interesting, and eventually, I decided to switch my major from business to urban and regional planning.

My favorite urban development classes have been taught by Dr. David Prythrech. From him I've learned about the history of American cities from pre-colonial times to the present. On a local level, we also looked at Oxford's recent decision to allow four-story buildings to be constructed uptown and how the city is trying to attract students to live in the core rather than the periphery.

In addition, I'm a member of "Acting Locally," a program that encourages Miami students to think globally and act locally. I'm learning how a global issue like immigration affects nearby Hamilton by working with the city's Hispanic business leaders. Specifically, I'm observing how they use organized sports—soccer, mainly—as a method for helping immigrants find their place in a new city.

Last year, my interest in community activism even spilled over into my free time. I took part in Miami's alternative spring break program, traveling to Louisiana with 30 other students. During the daytime we helped clean up a state park that had been damaged by Hurricane Katrina, and in the evenings we were free to explore Baton Rouge and New Orleans.