Sophia Riley

What’s your favorite class? Why?

Medicine Healing and Culture with Professor Sepideh Bajracharya. This course greatly expanded the way I think about social constructions of health, healing, and illness. Professor Bajracharya invites students to engage deeply with their lived experiences, and facilitates fascinating discussions.

What made you want to come to Lewis & Clark?

When I visited in high school it was a warm sunny spring day on campus and students were playing chess on the back porch of the Frank Manor house. It seemed like fun and I wanted to join!

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

Sociology and anthropology have both forced me to expand my frames of thinking about the cultures and society we live in. I love that I am pushed in every class, reading, and conversation to engage deeply with essential questions of why we (as humans) are the way we are and how we engage with others and the world around us.

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

I created and lead the Belly Dance Club on campus, which is a huge community of support for me. My coleaders, and the participants that come to classes, performances, and events are a community of dancers and creative people that I enjoy spending time with. As a participant of the Paddle Club and a leader for College Outdoors, I have been able to find a community and foster friendships with like-minded outdoors inclined people, many of whom I now live with or am very close to. Lastly, resources such as Awakened Awareness and the on-campus Student Counseling Center have been places for me to find support with the stresses of college in both private and group settings.

How do you describe the liberal arts?

Expanding your interests, pushing your academic comforts, and finding new and unexpected areas of curiosity. A liberal arts mindset is necessary in becoming a complexly intellectual person and scholar, and I am so thankful for Lewis & Clarks emphasis on scholastic exploration.

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 studied in Morocco, specifically Marrakech, Agadir, and Fes. Studying overseas introduced me to new people, cultures, religions and ways of thinking that I would have never been otherwise exposed to. It pushed me out of my comfort zone, and has continued to contribute greatly in my studies while back on campus.

What advice do you have for incoming students?

Try anything and everything that interests you! Be curious and excited, and know that college is inherently hard. You are not alone, there are so many people here who are ecstatic that you’ve joined our community and are here for you. Meet with your advisors and begin to develop tentative class schedules as you formulate a better understanding of your interests. Chat with professors! They are so kind, helpful, and caring. Be willing to meet new people, I promise they’ll be happy to be meeting you too. And remember, college is four years, but being a part of the broader Lewis & Clark community is forever.

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

Lewis & Clark increased my aid package when I decided I wanted to attend this institution but couldn’t afford it, showing me that the college cared about me as an individual which further motivated me to attend. I’ve continuously been able to afford my education due to my scholarships, which is something I’m very thankful for. That said, it is an expensive institution and I know peers who have had dissimilar experiences. Meet with your financial aid officer early and have discussions with your family about your financial situation.

If you went on a New Student Trip with College Outdoors, how did it shape your experience as an incoming student?

My New Student Trip exposed me to the culture and community of Lewis & Clark in an intimate and personal setting, allowing me to make close connections prior to the start of school and find peace within the outdoors. It was a pivotal start to my college career, and set me up for success in numerous ways once I arrived on campus.

What’s your favorite thing about living in Portland?

I love that I am in close proximity to a city, but constantly feel slightly removed both on campus or at my house in Sellwood (a common neighborhood for upperclassmen to live in). Nature is always in close proximity, as we are perfectly situated an hour and a half away from skiing and snowboarding in one direction and surfing in the other. Yet, we also have access to the privileges of a city, such as concerts, good food, and the fun hustle and bustle of downtown. All that said, my favorite part of Portland is the Willamette. Anywhere you drive in Portland you probably can see the big, snaking, beautiful river we call the Willamette. It is so grounding and reminds me of our connection to river systems, and communities of people, miles and miles away.

Sociology and Anthropology