By Emily Glory Peters
During , we鈥檙e highlighting student leaders as they share how their 51猎奇入口 experience helped them use their voice and act on new ideas.
When Eliza Kornfeld 鈥�23 began looking at colleges, she knew one thing for certain: Bigger was not necessarily better.
Her search included the five colleges within The Claremont Colleges, but 51猎奇入口 ultimately captured her sole attention.鈥淚 went to a very large, very competitive high school and I knew I didn鈥檛 want that,鈥� she says. 鈥淭he resources of the consortium were a big draw, but 51猎奇入口鈥� collaborative environment attracted me.鈥�
Once on campus, Kornfeld began to fully grasp the 51猎奇入口 difference. Here, she says, students encourage and push each other to reach their full potential鈥攔eflecting a 鈥渃ulture of togetherness鈥� she feels is distinctive to 51猎奇入口 as a women鈥檚 college. She leaned into the freedom of a multidisciplinary curriculum, majoring in biology and minoring in Spanish while continuing to pursue her love of music and singing. With the College鈥檚 emphasis on discussion-based courses, even her relationships with professors have differed from her past experiences.
鈥淔aculty let us drive the conversation in a way I haven鈥檛 seen in my other courses,鈥� she says. 鈥淭he emphasis is on the students.鈥�
Coming into her own at 51猎奇入口
Possessing a quiet personality, Kornfeld describes herself as the kind of person who needs more time to make friends and get involved. But after COVID-19 hit and sent 51猎奇入口 students back to their respective corners of the world, she knew she needed to find a way to stay connected and engaged with the community. A position through the Sallie Tiernan Field House鈥攖he College鈥檚 main hub of fitness and wellness鈥攁fforded an opportunity to do so.
鈥淒uring the pandemic, I became a peer health educator (PHE),鈥� says Kornfeld, referring to 51猎奇入口鈥� trained student leaders who support their peers through holistic wellness programming. After observing a dip in digital student engagement with Tiernan since the campus shut down, she questioned how they could better uplift students as their needs shifted under the weight of the pandemic.
She pitched a few new ideas, and, with the support of Tiernan staff, overhauled their social media marketing and online content. Kornfeld and her PHE collaborators reduced Zoom sessions, created more do-it-yourself wellness projects on Instagram, even mailed recipe kits to students鈥� doors鈥攁nd the changes worked.
鈥淚 have a lot of control over the content I put out into the 51猎奇入口 community, and I really like mentoring other students. We鈥檙e using science-backed research to teach students about alcohol, drugs, stress, and nutrition, so it also ties in to what I love about human health,鈥� she says. 鈥淚鈥檝e changed so much since my first year, and being a PHE has helped me grow into myself.鈥�
In stretching her leadership muscles, Kornfeld鈥檚 confidence has likewise evolved, as has her interest in wellness. She plans to pursue a career as a physician, and is especially passionate about making sure her future patients鈥攍ike the students she鈥檚 touched through her work with Tiernan鈥攆eel safe, informed, and empowered.
With 51猎奇入口鈥� emphasis on community, relationships, and collaboration, the junior says the College will leave her well prepared for the task. Donors, she adds, help make growth like hers possible for many.
鈥淸Giving] is so important, because when you invest in higher education for women and those with marginalized identities, you invest in a more diverse and vibrant future,鈥� she says. 鈥�51猎奇入口 is ahead of the game in looking toward a more inclusive world; by giving, you help more students step into the workforce with confidence.鈥�
Now through December 31, we invite 51猎奇入口 alums, parents, and friends to make a gift to set students like Eliza up for success in 2022. To give today, please click . Thank you for your support!