Joseph Naylor

What’s your favorite class? Why?

My favorite class was Math 233 or Multivariable Calculus and Vector Calculus with Professor Iva Stavrov. This class really opened my eyes to all the exciting and different applications of math in spaces larger than 2 dimensions. Also, I was able to discover my passion for math and being able to think about and solve different complex problems, and how it can take more than just one attempt to do something correctly, and the class really helped me to learn about myself and my own studying process. One invaluable feature of this class was teaching me to adjust to being in a college class, one where I was given the opportunity as a student to decide how I wanted to study and which assignments I thought were going to be the most important for my learning. This was largely due to the structure of the class with a large portion of my grade relying on my test performance. At first this was a little daunting, but after adapting to the situation I believe this was a great experience as it allowed me to learn how I would best study for a class with the more independence that college allows for.

What made you want to come to Lewis & Clark?

The opportunity to be able to run in the NCAA and being able to still focus on my academics. Additionally, in hindsight I went to a smaller high school and being able to come to Lewis & Clark and still have that small community is something I have found very important. My favorite aspect of this is that I can regularly go to my professors’ office hours and have my professors all know my name and excited to teach their classes. I think one of the best examples of this sense of community is that even in my Organic Chemistry Classes (Chem 220), one of the larger classes at L&C with about 60 students, the professor still knows everyone’s names, and different activities they are involved in on campus. This personal connection that the professors can make with their students is something that I find very helpful as it makes it easier for me to want to understand and learn more about each subject. In turn this makes L&C a place that I want to be and want to come back to each semester.

What do you like or find most interesting about your major?

The math department was a large factor in helping me to choose my major. It is a super close-knit community in the math department where everyone knows each other either by name or recognizes each other’s faces. This community is something that I really enjoy as I can connect with my teachers, and my peers. The second aspect that I really enjoy about the math major is how dynamic the subject can be as it allows me to learn about problem solving techniques, how to use logic to solve problems, and ultimately how it can be used to describe the world around us in all different aspects. Further, something that studying math has taught me is the understanding that to solve problems that at first might seem confusing they can be solved through patience, practice, and making mistakes. This is a lesson that my math major has taught me, but I have also been able to carry this skill into all my other classes and has positively impacted many different aspects of my life.

Tell us about your support systems and social outlets on campus: people, activities, clubs, res halls, etc.

My biggest support system on campus is the cross country team with my teammates and coaches. This is because I spend a large majority of my time with them at practice and competitions. Importantly, this is something that I think was super important for me when I first came to Lewis & Clark as I had a built-in friend group almost immediately as we met before school started in the summer for team camp. Also, my RA staff team in Stewart-Odell and Akin (SOA) has been a great support system and friend group, outside of athletics, that has really helped me define myself outside of my sport, but also to meet new people and connect with them on another interest of mine. Having these two, different, support groups is something that I think has really helped me gain a better understanding of myself, but also to feel more connected to Lewis & Clark.

What advice do you have for incoming students?

I would recommend trying to get involved with different activities that you are interested in when you get to campus, either through clubs, or just meeting people around campus. One thing that I really enjoyed with being on Cross Country is our team camp the first week before school starts each fall, it really allows everyone to bond as a team, and get to meet the freshman on the team in an environment different from school. Although, this might not be accessible to everyone, there are other options such as New Student Trips (NST) that the school offers that are a similar thing where incoming Lewis & Clark students are able to sign up for off campus trips (such as backpacking or hiking trips) led by current Lewis & Clark trips. This is something that I think would be great as it would allow you to meet people in a non-campus environment and give you a group of friends before school even starts. If I was not on the Cross-Country team this is something that I would have done. Another key piece of advice I have is to make sure to attend office hours for your teachers, this way you can get to know your teachers. Then getting to know your teachers can help you find the subject that you are most interested in and better engage in your classes.

How did your financial aid package influence your decision to attend Lewis & Clark?

It was a large part of my decision to attend Lewis & Clark, and it made the choice between Lewis & Clark and other colleges easier and straighter forward. A key feature that I was looking for in my university was one that would help pay for my education and recognize the hard work that I had done in high school. This is something that I felt Lewis & Clark did and represented in their financial aid package, and it made the decision to attend Lewis & Clark a clear choice.

Which residence halls have you lived in? How would you describe the hall’s personality? What is/was the best thing about living on campus?

I lived in Copeland quad my freshman year and Odell as an RA during my sophomore year. Living in Copeland was a fun, and exciting environment where there was always something going on in the lounge areas which made it easy to meet people and feel like you were a part of an active community. Then living in Odell was a little different, it was not as active a community as Copeland, but it was a little more relaxed. Although it was different in Odell as I experienced Odell through the lens of being an RA, so I had a more active role in helping to making the community full of events, and Copeland is drastically different in the fact that it is mostly first year students, whereas Odell is full of upperclassmen students, many who have already found their friend groups on campus and a little less active in their community as first year students might be.

What do you love about being a resident advisor (RA)?

The ability to be able to have an active role in making a strong living community, and having a fun environment to live in. Also, the ability to help integrate new students, and students in general into the Lewis & Clark community that I have come to feel connected to and supported by. Also, I love the fact that it allows me to expand my group of friends, and community beyond the Cross Country and Track Teams, and it has allowed me to meet different people. Importantly though, it has allowed me the ability to learn more about myself, and define myself outside of my athletics team, and integrate myself into the Lewis & Clark community more.

What’s one of the best spots on campus?

I really enjoy the Watzek Library, it is super beautiful and a great place to study. The library was designed with multiple windows and walls made almost entirely of glass which makes it feel as if you are outside and more connected with nature when studying. I find that this helps me focus and be more productive with my studying. The other place that I love on campus is the Eldon Fix Track which is where we run all our track and Cross Country workouts, so it is something that I have a lot of fond memories there and spend a large percentage of my time there. A cool feature that I believe showcases the sense of community at Lewis & Clark is how our track is open to the public during certain hours of the day so anyone in the community can come and run on the track. This is a feature I find unique as in Las Vegas there are very few public tracks, so doing some runs back home can be difficult unless I have access to a school track.

Did you visit campus before deciding to come to L&C? How did your visit influence your decision to attend?

I visited Lewis & Clark where I went on an office tour through the admissions office, and then I also came on a second visit to meet my Cross Country Coach. It was beneficial to visit Lewis & Clark before I decided to come here as it allowed me to see how Lewis & Clark really fit the mold that I was looking for. This was a college that had a defined campus, where academic and residence hall buildings were close together and not spread out in a city. Then along with a defined campus I also wanted a campus that was still close to a major city which L&C fit perfectly as it is only about 10 minutes from downtown Portland, and even closer to downtown Sellwood, a Portland neighborhood. Then most importantly I wanted a college campus that offered a completely different environment and climate than I was used to in Las Vegas, which LC definitely has. The campus is covered in greenery, very different from the Las Vegas desert, and the climate is drastically different with the rain and cooler temperature, something I really enjoy.

Who is your mentor on campus? Why?

My mentors on campus are my cross country team members and all the collective experiences that they can offer me though different classes I might want to take, or how to navigate any issues I might have from learning how to adjust to life in the dorms, or fun restaurants to try off campus.

What’s your favorite thing about living in Portland?

My favorite thing about Portland is the weather and how different it is from where I grew up, Las Vegas. I welcome the rain as a welcomed difference, and the cooler weather is fantastic for living and running. Also, I really enjoy all the different outdoor activities that I have the opportunity to do: from running or hiking in Tryon Creek State Park which is right next to campus, or Forest Park which is within 30 minutes from campus and has hundreds of miles of trails and places to explore.

What should incoming students know about sustainability at L&C?

I think some of the coolest facts about L&C sustainability is how the Holmes residence hall used all sorts of reclaimed material, and that Holmes is partially made from many of the trees that used to be on the site where the building is located. Further I think it is cool that many of the buildings on campus are LEED certified, and that many small design features around campus were done with sustainability and environmental harmony in mind. One aspect is how the bridge that connects a large section of the residential campus to the academic campus shows special lights that are positioned in a way to not harm the nocturnal animals that commute through campus.

Why do you love running at L&C? How do you balance athletics and academics?

Playing a sport at L&C is amazing, and having the ability to do so was one of the primary reasons that I came to Lewis & Clark in the first place. One of the best parts of my day is going to practice every day where I get to have fun practicing my running, but most importantly getting to hangout, and make memories with my teammates. Also getting to represent L&C in competitions is always a great time as it gives me an aspect of my life where I get to be competitive and do something outside of just being a student.

Balancing athletics and academics is a challenge, and I would say that I have a unique perspective as I am one of a few students who is not only in two sports seasons each academic year (cross country and track), but I am also an RA. This means that I must be very deliberate about how I spend my time, and make sure to use a calendar to plan out classes, practice, and RA duties. I would also say at times it can seem overwhelming, but to me that is dealt with through some of the aspects of being at L&C. By this I mean that due to L&C’s size it is very much a community, thus everywhere I go I am surrounded by either people I know or people that I recognize. This makes being overwhelmed a lot more bearable as I always feel as if I am surrounded by those who can support me. Also being on a sports team and being an RA helps to alleviate this feeling as I always have a built-in support group with close friends. Finally, another feature of L&C that makes balancing all these roles do-able is the fact that it is, so community centered here and having professors know me by my first name and all the things that I am involved in. This is helpful as I am then able to communicate with my professors on more stressful weeks and we can create plans for me not to fall behind or how to streamline certain topics for studying. Finally, another great feature that comes in handy is the L&C SAAB tutoring which offers 2 hours free per subject per week in tutoring for classes. This is very helpful for me to be able to streamline studying, and homework, and making sure that I understand my classes without feeling overwhelmed by focusing too much on a single subject.

Mathematics