Sam Garcia

What’s your favorite class? Why?

My favorite class was Environmental Law and Policy with Hannah Goldblatt because in general, I enjoy learning about the topic and I’m looking to apply to Lewis & Clark Law School after finishing my undergraduate. Hannah was also a wonderful professor and connected us with many outside resources and brought in weekly guest speakers to show us how environmental law is being put into action in our own community in Portland. I also enjoyed our final moot court assignment in this class where we had to give an oral argument on a real life environmental law case in front of the class.

What made you want to come to Lewis & Clark?

Many things influenced my decision to go to Lewis & Clark. I wanted to go to a smaller school with a tight community, I liked the idea of being able to go from the undergraduate college to the law school once I graduated, I was able to run on a college cross country and track team, and I wanted to live in the pacific northwest.

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

I like how the environmental studies major is interdisciplinary and how it encourages you to take classes in other departments. For example, I had the opportunity to take environmental history and introduction to anthropology to complete the requirements for the major, and I thoroughly enjoyed how those classes weaved together to support my overall education in this major

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

I love how the hispanic studies minor has a requirement to study abroad to finish the minor. I think it’s a great opportunity for students to study abroad while working on this minor and my study abroad program was a life changing experience for me at my time at Lewis & Clark.

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

My main support system is my cross country and track team. I have lived with them on and off campus for all four years and they are the people I see the most everyday. We eat almost every meal together in the dining hall and then see each other at practice everyday. It’s great having a community of people who you train with and who you work hard together with everyday to achieve a shared goal. I know I can always go and talk to them or my coaches about anything in my life and that they will support me through it all.

How do you describe the liberal arts?

Interdisciplinary and innovative. I enjoy that Lewis & Clark has a general education requirement to take a language class and a creative arts class. I think it connects you with new people and professors as well as it teaches you skills you can apply to your other classes or your life in general.

How did you choose your overseas program? What did your overseas study add to your L&C experience?

I chose my program because I had heard amazing things about the program and it was highly recommended by my professors. Studying abroad in Granada extremely helped my Spanish skills grow and I gained a better understanding of Spanish life, culture, art, and history through this hands-on program.

What advice do you have for incoming students?

Explore as many different clubs and classes as possible. It’ll help you broaden your social circle and Lewis & Clark has so much to offer when it comes to extracurriculars. Take advantage of being able to take one credit intro to piano or guitar classes, or the amount of PE classes the college has to offer. There are so many opportunities here where you can explore all of your interests.

Why do you love playing your sport at L&C? How do you balance athletics and academics?

I love the community that my team has and the opportunities I am able to have from being a part of this team. My team holds me accountable and helps me strive to be the best version of myself everyday, inside and outside of the sport. We spend a lot of time together and I have some of my fondest memories at Lewis & Clark with the time I have spent with them. My coaches are also extremely supportive of me as a student and my other interests outside of the sport and work with me on a daily basis to make sure I can achieve my goals.

What’s your favorite thing about living in Portland?

I love Portland as a city in general and how amazing of a community it is. Portland also has a lot of accessible outdoor opportunities right at your doorstep, from forest park to the coast, Mt. Hood, or the Columbia River Gorge. Oregon in general is a gorgeous place for natural beauty and the outdoors are very accessible here.

Environmental Studies Hispanic Studies