Alex Alvarez-Bright ’17
Class Year
2017
Area(s) of Study
English Politics
Co-curricular
Forester Guides
Alex Alvarez-Bright ’17 of Colorado believes people from her home state are more adventurous and willing to take risks. This Coloradan says she risked it all when she chose Lake Forest College, and she’s glad she did.
An English and politics double major, Alvarez-Bright is a Forester you should know.
Q: What drew you to Lake Forest College?
A: When I was applying to schools, I felt like a number so many times. I called people with questions and they wouldn’t answer. Instead, I’d get an automatic email response. At Lake Forest, they would personally talk with me. I visited campus and I got to talk to Admissions staff, teachers, other students–everyone was very genuine and welcoming, and I felt like they wanted a community. I appreciated that. I felt like I could be me and not just another student, that I could get the opportunities I wanted rather than what the school wanted.
Q: Have you had experiences here—besides your classes—that have helped prepare you for your future career?
A: Two things really come to the forefront. First, working for Admissions. I get to meet people from all over and I’ve come to understand how to work with people and help them. I got to see how higher education works, how you form a class, what to look for in students, what questions you need to ask people to get to know them at a deeper level.
The biggest thing, though, was coordinating student orientation—that taught me so much. I learned how to organize mass amounts of people, how to plan events and make sure they go smoothly, and, more importantly, how to react when things go wrong. There are so many students coming in every year, you have got to build a community from that with the Forester Guides by really looking at each person individually and determining how they fit into the bigger picture. This helped me with the people skills that are so necessary in the real world. In any job, you need to understand the people around you because that’s how you work better together.
Q: What do you do in your free time?
A: I write a lot, a lot of poetry. It’s my love. I’m always writing, always reading. I love hanging out with friends, going to the beach. I go down to the city a lot because Chicago is so cool. I can always find a different neighborhood and it will have a completely different feel.
Q: What are your plans after graduation?
A: I feel like I come up with a new one every day. Currently, I’m going to see how I feel about the non-profit world and see if I want to stay in Chicago or not. I’ve got an opportunity to help a high school class abroad and chaperone them in Greece and Italy. I might do that, but I might stay and work with non-profits for a bit. I love Chicago, so I’d love to stay here. It’s exciting because I know I have time, and I have so many different options and opportunities.
Q: Any advice for new students?
A: Don’t waste time trying to “fit in,” just be yourself from day one. Everybody has a place here. Take all the opportunities you’ve been given. It’s easy to just grab them and get involved, and there are so many things that can change your life. Just jump in.
Q: Parting words:
A: Enjoy the journey!