Tara Elsa

What’s your favorite class? Why?

I have three favorite classes. One of which is Excel, taught by Read McFaddin, because it was taught clearly, making it feel easy and productive. It also feels great knowing I’m coming out of a class with an important technical skill for jobs. Second is Rhetorical Criticism, taught by Ben Mann, because each class felt meaningful and helped us develop our criticism essay on topics based on individual student interests. Thirdly, my first year “Words” class, Communication and the Environment, made me more interested in the intersection of environmental studies and communications. Since this class, I have become a Rhetoric and Media Studies major and have focused as many projects as possible on exploring environmental issues, including my capstone/thesis project.

What made you want to come to L&C?

I was touring different college campuses, and this campus was the most beautiful. I was looking for a college where I could be part of the running teams, and Lewis & Clark College had a spot for me. The idea of being able to walk or run through the campus trails and nearby neighborhoods interested me. I also really enjoyed the small class sizes and the amount of support they provided to students. The class sizes have helped me make deeper connections with the professors and staff. These connections led to several different jobs and internships I’ve held during my time at Lewis & Clark.

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

My major, rhetoric and media studies, is quite unique and not something offered at most colleges. I enjoy that each course focuses on different types of communication and media, so we can apply our major to many different fields of work post-graduation.

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

I absolutely love my minor in entrepreneurial leadership and innovation. After taking both the Design Thinking class and the Excel lab during my sophomore year, I realized how impactful the minor could be for my future career. Nearly every course has given me technical skills that are applicable in the job world. In my biased opinion, the entrepreneurial leadership minor is the best program on campus; it has given me interesting classes, dedicated professors, and many professional connections on and off campus.

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

The entrepreneurial leadership program has given me many opportunities to connect with professionals on and off campus. Both my major and minor advisors have acted as mentors to me, genuinely helping me with my academic and professional journey, as well as helping me figure out how to best communicate challenging topics with my employers. The clubs on campus, such as the investment club, have given me a fun way to meet people with similar interests and to hear from professionals. Also, I think there are a lot of good programs for students to take advantage of that are more accessible at L&C than they are at other colleges, such as the counseling services, which are provided free to students for as long as they need.

What advice do you have for incoming students?

The most successful students I’ve seen have taken the initiative to make connections with professors and advisors and to go to the different networking events on and off campus. Some students don’t try to make connections and expect that help will just come to them, but that often isn’t true. My biggest piece of advice would be to actively seek out support during your time at Lewis & Clark because the support is there, and it could be life-changing.

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

One of my favorite spots to go to on campus with my roommates is on the field below the reflecting pool.

I would not have been able to attend Lewis & Clark had it not been for my financial aid package. I decided to apply even though my family and I couldn’t afford it, but once I received the financial aid offer, we were able to make it work. Also, being able to take a summer career development class for only $250 helped me financially while receiving credit for my internship.

Tell us about your involvement with the Bates Center. How do you feel that entrepreneurship and leadership integrate into and enhance a liberal arts education?

I am minoring in entrepreneurial leadership and have participated in the Winterim entrepreneurship competition, investment club, internship courses, and other events through the Bates Center. The Bates Center’s info session about Babson College’s master’s programs was the first step to my graduate school attendance next fall.

I enjoyed my major, but felt something was missing, so when I found the Bates Center through their Design Thinking course and their Excel skills lab, I knew I had found the perfect program to complement my liberal arts education. While I studied communications and media with my major, I was able to gain technical skills, such as Excel, SEO, Cybersecurity, and AI for Business, as part of my minor, which I really valued as they will be helpful in my career.

What’s one of the best spots on campus?

One of my favorite spots to go to on campus with my roommates is on the field below the reflecting pool. When we have a sunny day in Portland, a lot of people will come to play games, eat, or lie down in the grass. It’s a beautiful spot with lots of plants and chirping birds; sometimes you can hear the owl that lives in the EAR Forest right by the lawn.

What’s your favorite thing about living in Portland?

Like many, my favorite part of the Portland area is the opportunities to hike in nature and by beautiful waterfalls. I recommend the Ten Falls Trail at Silver Falls State Park! This past Fall semester, my roommates and I made time each weekend to explore a new area in nature near Portland, including the famous Multnomah Falls!

Have you been involved with one of our symposia, as an organizer or participant? What was the experience like? How did the event complement your academic experience?

I attended the Environmental Studies (ENVS) Symposium last semester and loved it! They brought in incredible speakers who spoke about technology and the environment. They discussed the impact of and difference between China and the United States in their environmental efforts and infrastructure. The topics discussed during the symposium were relevant to both the current state of the world and my thesis/capstone project topic.

What have been the biggest challenges you have faced at Lewis & Clark?

When I moved from California to Oregon for college, it was the first time I had ever even moved houses in my life, let alone a whole state. It was a challenging adjustment, and I felt that my anxiety held me back in my first year. However, during my second year at L&C, I began opening up more and getting out into Portland. I attended the Winterim entrepreneurship competition, which was one of the best decisions I made during my time here. It was exciting, educational, and helped everyone make connections with fellow students, staff, and local professionals. I did my first few informational interviews that year to learn about available career paths and met some great people along the way. Several of these connections ended up leading to jobs or internships that changed my perspective. My biggest challenge at L&C was initially settling in and adjusting to being in a new space with all new people. Sticking with it and putting in the effort to make connections and explore the city was very beneficial, and I’ve really enjoyed the adventures I’ve experienced here.

Why did you choose to transfer to L&C?

I wasn’t a transfer student, but I did transfer college credits. During my time in high school, I dual-enrolled at a nearby community college, where I earned quite a few college credits. Because Lewis & Clark accepted most of my college credits, I am now able to graduate one year early with a major and a minor while saving quite a bit of money on tuition.

Entrepreneurship Leadership and Innovation Rhetoric and Media Studies