Cooper Kroll

What’s your favorite class? Why?

One of my favorite classes I’m currently taking is a class called Space Place and Landscape with Assistant Professor Kabir Heimsath. It’s part of my major, and I have found the readings to be very inspiring and helpful for the essays that we wrote in the class, all of which have been very thought-provoking explorations of space for me.

What made you want to come to Lewis & Clark?

I was very interested in their athletics and study abroad programs as well as the fact that I would have a liberal arts degree, which fit with my values.

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

Sociology and anthropology seem to be at a confluence point between the sciences and humanities, which allows me to engage with both perspectives. This multidimensional perspective is a very thought-provoking way to approach just about any issue and keeps me on my toes.

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

I’m considering an Asian studies minor, which is of particular interest to me considering that I traveled abroad to Korea in 2022 for a semester.

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

My predominant support system on campus is the rowing team. I’ve been a member of the team since my first year, which also happens to be the year COVID restrictions were heaviest, and we did a lot of team building to keep us all sane during social distancing. I’ve done the sport my whole college career and they’ve become an integral part of my college experience.

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

In terms of financial aid I am lucky to have a number of scholarships that helped me make the decision to attend Lewis & Clark. However, these considerations were secondary to my admiration for the school. I would recommend that, if possible, prospective students should first consider whether or not the school feels like a good fit for them before considering potential scholarships.

If you have studied or will study overseas while at Lewis & Clark, how did you choose your program? What did your overseas study add to your L&C experience?

I went overseas to South Korea in the fall semester of 2022. There were a number of programs that appealed to me, such as the Ireland program, but I had previously taken a class called contemporary Korean culture that I had found very engaging. After taking that class, I found myself curious about expanding my knowledge of East Asia—a region I was not very familiar with. The abroad program to Seoul seemed like a great opportunity to expand my boundaries and learn more about a different part of the world. The semester turned out to be amazing with tons of new and surprising experiences for me, but the thing I was most pleased by is how much it pushed me to adapt to another culture.

What advice do you have for incoming students?

My best advice to incoming students is to join a club or some other extracurricular activity so that you have a place to meet people and relax from classes a bit.

Sociology and Anthropology