Peer Advisor Biographies

Chelsey Alberico
I was born April 8, 1989 at LDS hospital to Frank and Cathie Alberico.  I am the baby of my family and have exploited this role to my advantage in many situations.  I have an older brother named Chris and pug dog named Opie.  I have lived in Utah my entire life, which has had its ups and downs.  As crazy as my family is they are also my rock.  My family takes extreme pride in our Italian heritage and it plays a very important role in my life.  I have learned many things from my family that will aid me in my future personal and professional lives.

I attended Catholic school my entire life, I went to St. Francis Xavier and Juan Diego Catholic high school, and was extremely excited to attend the U because it was going to something new and different.  Through out my year’s I have enjoyed numerous activities.  I was involved from everything from dance to softball.  In High School I became really involved with Journalism and I decided that I wanted to major in communications.  I also would like major in either history or political science. After I finish at the U I hope to attend NYU and go on to get a job as a journalist.  In high school I got my first job which was at Fassio Egg Farms.  When you tell people you work at an egg farm you usually get the standard “Do the chicken’s have large talons?”.  I never saw the chickens but it was a good first job.  Now I work as a day camp counselor at West Valley City Family Fitness Center.  It is a very interesting job that involves a lot of hand sanitizer.

There are many things I love in life.  I love reading, music, movies, and sports.  When I say I am passionate about sports I mean I am passionate about sports.  I love football, basketball everything.  There is one sport though that in my life reigns supreme and that is baseball and there is one team that you could literally say that I was born a fan of and that is the New York Yankees.  Words cannot describe how big of fans my family is; anyone of us will defend our teams honor at anytime.  Our answering machine even makes a reference to our love of the Yankees. 

I have a very fiery personality and can be a little “out there”, but I am also very passionate.  I want to leave my mark on society.  I am not necessarily seeking fame and fortune in life although it would be nice.  My main goal in life is to be remembered.

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Chris Bair
Like many children, I was born.  I’m originally from Kansas, and I spent the first 12 years of my life there.  Toward the end of my 6th grade year, my family moved to Utah because my dad got a job promotion (he works for Denny’s Restaurants).  I’ve lived here ever since then, and I would say that Utah is a pretty cool place!

One thing to know about me is that I’m a huge sports fan.  I’m a diehard Kansas City Royals and Kansas City Chiefs fan, and it has been extremely difficult since they have both been pretty bad these past couple years.  Growing up, I played a lot of baseball, but today the two sports that occupy most of my free time are basketball and golf. 

Right now, I work at Washington Mutual Bank.  When I was in high school, they had a high school internship program that I got into.  I honestly couldn’t ask for a better job!  I really like the people I work with, it’s always fun to talk with customers who come in, and there’s nothing wrong with banker’s hours. J  So, if anybody has any finance-related questions, feel free to ask!

As far as my major goes, I want to go into medicine, but I haven’t decided what major I want to use to try to get there.  I have two uncles who are both eye doctors, and I got to shadow one last summer.  I thought it was pretty cool watching the different types of surgeries and procedures that he did.  So, I’m definitely thinking about going that route, but I figure no rush, since I’ll be in school a long time anyway.
           
One of my main areas of involvement at the U right now is playing trumpet in the bands.  I come from a pretty musical family, and I’ve played trumpet since 7th grade.  I’ve played in everything from symphonies, orchestras, jazz bands, weddings, and musicals.  Playing the trumpet is one thing that I really enjoy, and I hope to keep it up throughout college.

One thing that you may or may not be able to tell by looking at me is that I enjoy traveling.  My mom is from India, and I visited there for about a month when I was in 6th grade.  My grandparents are big cruisers, and so I occasionally get to go on cruises with them.  Just as an aside, if you ever have the chance to go on a cruise, do it!  It is quite possibly the most fun you can have on the ocean.

Well, that’s basically it for me in 1 page.  I’m excited about LEAP this year, so let’s all make it a good one!

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Jaime Bowen
I was born the seventh child and last in Palo Alto (tall stick), Ca. Coming from such a large family I developed a since of independence at a young age. I don’t blame my parents for not giving enough attention to all of us individually, but I am grateful for the little moments that I did receive. I love being the youngest because I can learn from my older siblings mistakes and there triumphs.

My family mainly consists of two types, business and art. I am the odd duck who has chosen to study communications and Anthropology. From day one my parents always told me that you need money to survive and there is money in business, but I never really listened. I love money though and I have especially loved counting it since I was a kid. One of my favorite cartoons is Ducktales because they were always looking for treasure and Scrooge has his money bin that he swims in (please don’t try to swim in money, it doesn’t work).
At a young age my parents taught me how to save and work for money. When I was 8 I had a paper route and the summer before my 11th birthday I started working at a somewhat real job. I have worked in landscaping and in apartment maintenance and leasing. I will be working the undergraduate studies department this coming fall and hopefully pull off some killer internships in the coming years.

Some of my interests consist of movies, music and ESPN or sports in general. I love to play music and I am always up for learning new instruments. I love going to concerts so if anyone wants to go to some awesome shows give me a call. Also I love watching movies and have probably seen most of them that are worth seeing. I am a little behind because of a leave of absence from the country, but I have caught up a little bit.

Sports are one of my favorite things to watch, attend and play. I played baseball my whole life and I am a big fan of the San Francisco Giants. I also love to play basketball (Go Jazz!!!), football, golf, table tennis, billiards, swim, volleyball, etc.

One of my biggest aspirations is to work for ESPN in sometime of broadcasting. I would also like to become Indiana Jones and be a professor by day and a kick a%$ archeologist by night. I also want to wear a cool hat like Harrison Ford does.     
 
Life is beautiful so enjoy it. It’s a good philosophy. Also remember that your decisions of today will echo upon eternity. Never give up never surrender I always say and always remember to have strength and honor.

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Paul Chap
Greetings to those of you who do not know who I am. My name is Paul Lee Chap and I am going to be a sophomore this year at the University of Utah. As of right now I am 19 years old and enjoy activities such as going with friends to see movies, playing video games, and eating out. One talent that I have is that I am pretty adept at playing the arcade game Dance Dance Revolution. Another talent that I have is that I am a pretty tech savvy person. Computer Engineering is most likely going to be the major I am going to pursue. Currently I am in the process of being hired on as a Data Conversion Operator at the Salt Lake City Remote Encoding Center. Therefore, it is likely that I will start working by the end of May 2008. I would describe my family as being traditionally Asian, yet also being Americanized Asian. The reason why I consider my family being traditionally Asian is the fact that they work really hard at what they do, highly value education and have established a network of Asian contacts who share similar backgrounds. What makes my family Americanized is the fact that English is the primary language used in the household. The other language that my family speaks is Cambodian. Though I am able to understand Cambodian when my parents speak the language to me, I reply back in English because I grew up learning English and also because speaking Cambodian is really awkward to me. I was born in Salt Lake City, Utah; though my ethnicity consists of both Chinese and Cambodian descent. My Cambodian heritage comes from both of my parents' side of the families,  while my Chinese inheritance comes from my father's side of the family. The single most important fact that you should know about me is that I am an altruistic person in that I try to help others without expecting any rewards because I feel the greatest reward comes from being able to make someone's day a little better. What I hope to accomplish in life is to obtain a career that I am really passionate about and one in which I can enjoy doing for the rest of my life. My philosophy in life is to enjoy life as much as possible because time goes by so quickly that we cannot do everything that we hope to do in our lifetime.

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Caroline Czernichowski
My name is Caroline Czernichowski. I was born in France, in a town called Orleans. When I was 10, due to my father’s job, I moved to Calgary, Alberta, in Canada. Then I moved again to Spring, Texas at age 13, and at 15 found myself moving again to Layton, Utah, where I am currently living. When I was raised, in France I though my family was quite huge, 5 people total (I have two little sisters), but now living in Utah, it is considered pretty small. I have been at the University of Utah since the fall of 2007. My major was Materials Science and Engineering, but I am thinking about changing to Speech Pathology with a minor in Business. At the University of Utah, I am part of the U-Operation Smile. It is a group that tries to raise money to pay for surgeries of children with cleft or lip palettes, to help them have a chance to succeed and no longer handicapped. I am not currently working, but I am a volunteered instructor for the American Red Cross. I instruct people of all ages in CPR, AED use, First Aid, and the babysitting course. I love helping people, this is why I want to switch majors, but I’m still looking into it. The single most important fact about me is that I am a very dedicated person; I never start something and not finish it. I believe this is how everyone should live his or her lives. If you voluntarily sign yourself up for something, you should never back out of it. The most important person in my life is the one I can trust the most, myself. This might sound a little selfish, but I believe before you can trust someone else, you need to trust yourself, and I live my life by being my most important person, so then I can find other important people to help me live my life. I will be an E-LEAP Peer Advisor, and wanted to congratulate you for coming to the University of Utah, and choosing the LEAP program. I enjoyed it, and am looking forward to working with you.

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Stessie Dort
All that I am is a result of the experiences I have had and the things that I have done. I am a Haitian-American. My culture is deeply rooted in Haitian traditions because that is the country of origin for both of my parents. However, I was born and raised in Utah Valley and have an American accent to prove it. I come from a fairly large family that was actively engaged in well, everything. I attribute my morals and the values to the irreplaceable family that I have, and I am extremely grateful for them because of the successes they have led me to attain.

I am an active person by nature. On any given day can be found at the peak of a mountain, on the court or field, the center of the dance floor, riding the wake, or conquering the rapids. I will take on any physical challenge that confronts me with a determined spirit to do it, just so I can say that I did. The newest adventure I intend to embark on consists of strapping myself to a man thousands of feet above sea-level, and jumping out of a piece of machinery suspended in the air. This may sound crazy but, I will be going sky diving and would love to share every minute of that experience with anyone that will listen when I return.

I have strong religious beliefs, as many Utahans do. My faith has helped me to come to the conclusion that the success of one’s life is not measured by wealth or who you know; success is measured by how many lives are better because they knew you. For this reason I have become actively involved in a non-profit organization called International Aids Serving Kids (IASK). With this organization I had the opportunity to travel to the Dominican Republic on a health related humanitarian trip. I consider that one of the most monumental experiences of my life. To see the smiles on those poverty stricken children’s faces after we healed them of many of their ailments has soften my heart and changed my prospective on life. It is also the experience that solidified my desire to go into the field of pediatrics.

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Gisela Figueroa
My name is Gisela Figueroa and I come from a wonderful family of five.  I am the oldest in my family and I have two younger siblings. My brother, Mauro, is thirteen and is very useful when it comes to killing spiders and other bugs that may be in my house. He is an amazing soccer player and loves to brag about the fact that he is taller than me.  My sister, Diana, is four and she is the smartest four year old I know. She can strike up a conversation with anybody, anywhere. My family is just awesome! They can be loud and obnoxious, yet I would never trade them for anything. I know that they would support me through anything and that they will always be there for me no matter what. My parents and my siblings are definitely four of the most important people in my life.

I came to the University in the fall of 2007 and I thought I wanted to go into Medical Laboratory Sciences. I later decided that I was not satisfied with what that career would offer me and changed my major to Exercise Physiology. Soon after that I changed my major once again and am currently majoring in Nursing. I plan on becoming a nurse and someday a doctor. Specifically a pediatrician because I love being with kids! I am currently not working and I have not worked while attending school. I will, however, be a Resident Advisor in the residence halls in the fall along with being a Peer Advisor.

I have a lot of philosophies that I follow in my life. The first is that if you’re going to do something, you might as well do it right. I think that it is very important to always put all your effort into something you choose to do. I don’t believe anyone should give up or let someone talk them out of achieving something they want. I also like to live by the philosophy that life is short, so you better make it fun! I like to work hard, but I like to have fun as well. I enjoy hanging out with my friends and my family. I love to go out and enjoy myself. I enjoy playing sports, dancing, eating, snowboarding, hiking, watching TV, and sleeping. I also love music and I listen to it all the time.

I am a pretty outspoken, social person. I like getting to know new people and I also like being a leader. A unique thing about me is that English was not my first language. While I was growing up my parents would only speak to me in Spanish and I later learned English in school. The single most important thing anyone should know about me is that I am always willing to help out. If there is ever a time when I can help anyone with anything,  I will gladly do it. If anyone ever needs me, they should never be afraid to ask.
           
Random Favorites
Food: Anything with chocolate on it!
Music: I like mostly everything from country to hip hop
Color: Red, of course!
Number: 15
Sport to play: Soccer
Sport to watch: Football
Place to be: In the mountains or somewhere outside
Thing to do in my spare time: Take a nap or read something interesting
Ice cream flavor: Cookie dough
Fast Food Place: Costa Vida
Book: Twilight

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Claire Gorton
I didn’t start speaking until I was about 1 ½ years old; though my first spoken language describes me very well. I was 18 months, and my first words were, “May I have some cheese please?” I don’t start things unless I can do them wholly.  I also really like cheese.

I was born in Mount Pleasant, Michigan and raised in the same house until my senior year of high school.  My home was on 40 acres of land which lead to a lot of running around and climbing trees as a youngster; and my continuing love of nature today.  My family consisted of my father, Peter, mother, Gail and older sister, Grace.  Looking back I can say that I had a wonderful and loving family life which resulted in my absolute love of life.
           
When I was fourteen and in my freshmen year of high school, my mother was diagnosed with cancer.  Three weeks later, I was attending her funeral.  Although this was not the way I had foreseen things, I can say with utter certainty that experience has significantly shaped me, my life, and my outlook.  I had to grow up very fast, but having the support of my family was essential.  Two years after my mother’s death, my father became engaged and then married.  Seven months after that we moved into a house with my new step-mother and three step-siblings.  This was a huge learning experience and has provided me with many personal as well as cooperative skills.
           
Ever since my first French class in eighth grade, I have had a passion for the French language and culture.  I lived in France for a short student exchange in my senior year of high school.  This and my love of the outdoors combined created the decision of going to the University of Utah to study French and International Studies.  My other passions include reading, soccer, volleyball, the outdoors, and anything active.  I am a very energetic person.  I love backpacking and anything to do with nature.  Having grown up in Michigan, it makes sense that I love lakes, rivers and forests, but I also love all that the great planet has to offer. Currently, I work at the Outdoor Recreation Program as well as the Eccles Health Sciences Library.  In the fall I will resume my post of the Outdoor Leadership Floor Resident Advisor.  I enjoy my jobs because they pertain to the activities I love.
             
A unique fact about me would have to be my middle name.  In general, I am driven, I tend and like to leave lasting impressions; my middle name is a prime example.  I was named at birth Claire Whitney Gorton.  I was to have a middle name that started with W for my grandfather William.  It was planned that it would be Winter for my grandmother’s maiden name, but my cousin born before me used it.  Upon hearing this story as a child, I wanted to change it.  So in eighth grade, I filed the papers for the name change and now I am officially Claire Winter Gorton.
           
My philosophy on life is borrowed from a Dave Matthews Band song, “Turns out not where, but who you're with that really matters”.   The people in our lives are the most important, and when you are somewhere spectacular with someone you love: Bonus!

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Tiana Larsen
Born, but not raised in San Antonio Texas; raised elsewhere. I’ve never lived in the same house for longer than four years, and never attended the same school for longer than three years. My family is typical and very predictable, yet semi dysfunctional. I’ve got an older brother and an older sister who claim they don’t belong just because we have different mothers. After them, I have one other older brother and two younger sisters (we share a mom). My brother is a geek who wastes his geekdom on drugs and laziness, not quite realizing his potential. My 16 year old sister is a drama queen, obsessed with getting her way—NO MATTER WHAT. (She is making a recovery though, slowly, but at least it’s a step in the right direction). My 13 year old sister is too sweet to say anything sarcastic about. She thinks I’m the funniest person in the world, and who could argue. She tells me I’m her favorite and I don’t blame her. My mother is me 30 years from now. We have identical flaws and identical strengths. My father is a tease and he knows how to push each one of his children’s buttons in just the right way; he does it in good fun. (I’ve learned that if I don’t fight the obnoxiousness then I can get away almost scotch free. But sometimes he is a master at his tricks.)

My grandma also lived with us for a few years. She had AIDS and was too sick to take care of herself, and her husband was too sick to take care of both of them. So, she came to live with us. At first I was kind of scared of her. I didn’t know what to really expect, but boy did I learn quick. She wasn’t ashamed of her disease, sure she wished she didn’t have it I’m sure, but she wasn’t going to keep it a secret or have a pity party for herself. I soon learned that her personality was strong, just like my 16 year old sister. She wanted her way and she wanted it now. She was tricky though. She didn’t want to hurt other people’s feelings, but she also did everything she could to get her way. I guess you could say she mastered the art of deception, but in a very sweet, loveable way. In a way, I loved to hate her. She was the type of lady that would make me so angry, but I couldn’t stay mad at her. I couldn’t yell at her, I couldn’t fight with her. My family liked to call her the energizer bunny. She just kept going and going and going and going. She got aids when I was about 9 and wasn’t expected to live for another five years. Yet, she lived until I was 18 years old. She had this routine. She would get really, really sick and my mom and dad would call all her kids to come say their goodbyes. She would be in the hospital for a few days, but then miraculously she would get better. And the very next day she would want to go shopping. She told me once that the reason she couldn’t die is because she needed to be here for some reason. There was something she still needed to do or see or feel or experience. She was in so much pain, so miserable, yet she kept kicking. I’m not sure why and I don’t think I’ll ever know why, but I am so grateful that she did. My grandma taught me a whole lot about life. She taught me not to be ashamed of my mistakes; to own them and to move on. But most importantly she taught me how to love unconditionally. I don’t think she meant to, I don’t think she even realized that she did it.

Anyways, recently, well 4 years ago, we moved from Sacramento, California to St. George, Utah. I was pretty unhappy about the move, but quickly learned that St. George wasn’t all that bad and that the same types of people were here and that I was too young to be truly attached to very much. I made friends really slowly, surprising, I know. People seem to stay away from shy, not very talkative girls. You know, I’m not even sure why. I was really friendly and willing to get to know people. I just wanted them to approach me first. I didn’t want to be rejected. Eventually, well, maybe a year later, I found a group of friends that would talk to me and kind of enjoy my company. And then I began feeling more comfortable in my own skin and I branched out to others in my school. Soon I knew almost everyone in my grade, but most people didn’t know who I was. That’s okay though, I liked the whole lurking-in-the-corner-watching-people-have-fun thing. I’m joking, sort of.

I’ve always been a recluse. I like to be alone, until I don’t. Then I need people, fast. I’m not sure how it works, but it does and I’ve tried to change it. I’ve tried the social scene. It’s much too much work. I’ve tried the solo thing. It’s too depressing. So, I’ve come to realize that I need that middle ground. I need people around me, but I don’t necessarily want them to know everything about me and I to know everything about them.

Okay, let’s fast forward about 4 years. Why you ask? Because I did what every other pre-teen did. I cried about boys, I laughed with the girls. I snuck out of the house for the first time and got caught in a miserable lie. I’ve done things my parents wouldn’t like and things I wouldn’t repeat. Yet, I’m still here, plus I don’t want to give away all my secrets in one sitting.

I graduated from Dixie High School (GO FLYERS?). I never really got that whole school spirit thing. I mean, aren’t all high schools basically the same? There are the jocks, the dancers, the cheerleaders, the drama kids, the band kids, the math kids, the scary kids, etc. All the same sports are at all the high schools; the same classes are there, the same types of personalities are there. How can one say that a high school is better than another?  Well, I graduated and was glad to get out of there. For some reason I had some notion of getting out of high school and finding this great clique of friends that was intelligent and witty, basically like me. Yet, I moved to Salt Lake and started school at the U and realized it was almost just like high school. Don’t get me wrong, my high school didn’t have almost 30,000 students, but the people here are the same types of people that were there. I was afraid of that. But I came to realize that I’m not any different from these “them” I speak of. I’m not all knowing and all powerful. I am just trying to figure things out, just like they are.

I began classes head on. I knew what I wanted and I wasn’t going to stray from the plan. I wanted to major in Architecture, but had no idea what to minor in. I decided to join the LEAP program because it offered two courses for architecture, and I would feel safer in a more familiar, small classroom setting. Let me tell you, I fell in love with architecture that semester. I always kind of had an interest in the subject but never really understood why or where it came from. This innate love came from my second paper I had to write for my LEAP class. We were asked to go to the Utah Museum of Fine Arts and to write about what we saw. He didn’t give us any other instruction other than that. The moment I walked into that building I knew I loved it. The pure mass of the building and the height that it provided was astonishing and it took my breath away. Sure, many say that it’s just a museum and it’s just a building. But the moment you look at it in a way that isn’t criticizing or judgmental or too simple, you’ll see it too. The most ordinary places can be the most breathtaking. I’ve noticed that a lot of people are afraid to love a building. I’m not sure why. It’s okay to love a person or an animal, yet when it comes to something that will never leave you or die or hate you or despise you, we can’t love it.

Another class I wanted to take was a philosophy class. I remember in middle school and elementary school wanting to take a philosophy class. For some reason, it’s always been in the back of my mind. Well, this class made me mad. I realized I hate not having a definite answer. I hate having to discuss and argue everything. I want someone to be right and someone to be wrong. There shouldn’t be a middle ground. Yet, in philosophy there is no definitive answer. Although the class made me extremely frustrated, I did come to some sort of conclusion. I realized that everything is possible and nothing is certain. Every day life manifests that one statement. There is no guarantee that you’ll be alive tomorrow, yet it’s possible that you will be. There is no guarantee that I’m going to be a great architect, yet is possible. I like the idea of unlimited possibility and non-existent certainty.

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Thomas Maughan
My name is Thomas Jeffrey Maughan.  My birthday is June 28th and I am 18 years old.  I live in Sandy, UT with my mother and father. I would have to say the single most important thing in my life right now would be my family.  I have one sister and one brother, Amanda and Chris, who are 8 and 11 years older than me respectively.  They are the most important people in my life because they’ve always been there for me and have always been strong role models. My sister Amanda also lives in Sandy, UT with her husband Kevin and their new born baby girl Karlie.  She received her degree in Family and Consumer Sciences from the University of Utah.  My brother Chris is currently living in South Lake Tahoe, CA working as a Water and Resource Management Engineer. He is the reason why I am currently pursing a degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering here at the University of Utah. My three favorite hobbies are guitar, fishing, and golf at the moment.  I own four guitars, one acoustic and three electric.  I enjoy music and love sitting down and wasting away the day with a guitar in my hands.  I’ve always loved a challenge and all of my hobbies revolve around this.  I live for the challenge that a round of golf, catching a fish, or trying to learn a new song on my guitar provides, and it brings a smile to my face when a good challenge finally pays off.  One unique fact about me would have to be the fact that I have split my head open five times and never been to the doctor for stitches in my life.  I would have to say my goal in life is to become successful and simply to be happy and surround myself with things I enjoy.

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Jennifer McGill
In all my experiences of reading biographies; all of them start from the same point−at the beginning of life. In my opinion, my life started during my first semester of college. Like most entering freshmen, I felt anxious to start my new life as a college student and was ready to enter the world of the unknown. But my anxiety quickly turned to fear as I waited for my first biology class to start. As the clock drew closer to 10:45, the room became more crowded with students from all backgrounds of life. Since I was seated in the front row, I turned around and looked up the escalating rows. Almost immediately, I realized that this particular biology class was as large as my entire high school. I was in awe by the fact that two seasons earlier, I graduated with a class of forty-two, and now, three months later, I was a part of a class of two hundred plus. In time, I became accustomed to the sizes of my classes and the teaching styles of my professors. But still, a part of me wanted something more out of my college experience.
               
Since I came from a high school of less than two hundred, I had many opportunities to get involved with different activities such as athletics, debate, and student government. I did not want my college life to just be about studying; even though that is a major part, I wanted to be involved in something in sync with the university. So, I decided to apply for the ASUU’s Freshman Council. A week later, I received a call that changed my first year college experience. Being a part of Freshman Council opened new doors for me; I made long term friendships with other students involved in student government and at the same time made a difference. Now, as I enter my second year of college, I am again anxiously awaiting for new doors and experiences to open.  But first and foremost, I know that the doors will not open without the support of my friends and family.

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Aaron McKinstry-Luepke
My name is Aaron McKinstry-Luepke: a 19 year-old kid born and raised in Lakeville, Minnesota.  I grew up among my two little brothers, Jesse and Cody, my mother, Ann, and my father, Charlie.  I am prideful of my “Minesooootan” accent, but I looked to the west this past year to satisfy my never-ending desire to work hard and play hard.  My sights fell on the University of Utah!
           
Although it is difficult to qualify one’s personality in a single word, I would submit that my word is “driven.”  In the areas of academics, I am a heavily left-brained person: I love math and science!  In high school, I took various AP classes and excelled in clubs/sports in the spirit of my “drive” to prepare for college.  I intend to major in biomedical engineering at the University of Utah and would like to attend a graduate program in this area of study.  In the future, I see myself landing a research job in an engineering lab and starting a family in Salt Lake City.
           
I came to Utah to attend college and witness firsthand the supposed “greatest snow on Earth.”  This past winter season definitely lived up to my expectations!  In terms of sports, I love to snowboard, play tennis, aggressive rollerblade, and, a past time I just took up this past winter, ski.  In my other leisure time, I like to hang out with friends, watch movies, and, in between classes and other commitments, I love to laugh with my favorite comedians and comedy shows, including “The Office,” “Seinfeld,” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”  I also cherish networking through the internet.  Like many other youngsters, I do indeed have a facebook and myspace page, so feel free to communicate with me through these venues!
           
But in order to stay in-line with my established “drive” in life, I also fit a job into my schedule.  I currently work in the Heritage Center as a front desk and mail room attendant.  Don’t hesitate to say “hi” when you head upstairs to the dining room for a meal!
           
I look forward to being a Peer Advisor this coming fall and hope that I can instill a love of learning and “drive” for success in my students.

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Michelle Mueller
My name is Michelle Mueller and I am so close to being 19. My birthday is June 4, so I will actually be turning 19 while I am on a study abroad in France for the summer. My plan is to Major in Math and French and then go on to Law school to become an Adoption attorney, and someday a Family judge. I have loved the college experience so far, but I worked too much last year. I have had some awesome opportunities and I will also be able to be much more involved in the college life this coming year because I do not have to work off campus. I love playing basketball, I played all through school, but haven’t since high school ended. I love watching movies and spending silly time with friends. I was working at a law firm downtown; I was the gopher girl. I did everything from pick up mail and things to be copied to getting people drinks, stocking fridges and setting up for the weekly parties. I have since transitioned into the world of math tutoring. I am currently tutoring math to all ages from a second grade girl to a junior in high school. It has been very fun and so much more rewarding because I can spend time with these wonderful, unique individuals. I love people, helping, interacting, watching, serving, teaching, learning, anything, I love people. I have been very involved in outreach opportunities like serving in homeless shelters or giving time to the food bank or a thrift store. I enjoy that more than any of my other hobbies. It is probably because of the time you are able to spend with others while doing something like that. I believe that these experiences have helped to mold me into the person I am today.

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Byron Nelson
Consider yourself extremely lucky, for you are about to embark an adventure with unprecedented wonders, magnificent visions of the future, and dazzling delight around every corner. An adventure where there is no time and there is no worry. A place where only those considered godly figures are allowed. Yes, you are about to step foot inside the mind of Sir Byron Nelson [Sir added for sophistication purposes only and does not denote an official title].
           
Hello and welcome! My name is Byron Nelson. Let’s get a little information, the basics about me, if you will. I am 19-years-old and attend the University of Utah. I stand at a whopping 5’7” and wear a size nine shoe. My ordinary day would include waking up, flawless, going to my job as a barista at Starbucks Coffee, walking to wherever the wind takes me, and, of course, dropping by every restaurant in town to ensure they are up to health code standards.
           
OK, so you might have caught on that not everything I’ve said has been true. Of course I don’t walk to wherever the wind takes me—I have Fiyero drive me. But to be completely honest, I am 5’7”, wear a size nine shoe, and I do in fact work at Starbucks. The rest is just my imagination at work (my mom says there’s a name for my condition, but I blocked it out years ago). I have a twin sister, Jenni, who is also my best friend. Yeah, my mother forced Disney movies on us as kids, so we’re a very “cheesy.” Other than that I’m concentrated on becoming a writer. More specifically, a writer for a television series or a magazine (come on Seventeen, I know you got my resume!). So, to achieve this, I am studying communications at the University. What else? Well, I’m left-handed, addicted to watching re-runs of Friends and Will & Grace. I like American Idol but end up disliking the remaining ten contestants every season. I have a 2-year-old Chihuahua named Romeo and a slightly larger dog named Juliet (My mom’s an English teacher, go figure), and not to mention four cats and a rat. I love musicals and any live theater event. I enjoy cooking and believe in astrology and ghosts, but find superstitions like walking under a ladder completely and utterly illogical. Other than that I’m what you will refer to as ordinary.

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Shukaria Rajabali
I am Shukaria Rajabali. I was born in Afghanistan. I have three brothers and three sisters. When I was nine years old, we moved from Afghanistan to Pakistan because of the war in Afghanistan. When I was thirteen, we moved here. While I lived in Pakistan I missed four years of school. When I got here, I worked very hard to catch up. Coming to America was a big change for me. All the food was new. I had never seen hot dogs before. In Afghanistan, we bought fabric for clothing and took it to a tailor. Here, we buy ready-made clothes at the mall. Just pick your size!

I enjoy living here, especially all the opportunities women have. Women here have access to any course of study that they merit. They can work in upper level jobs. They have equal rights. Knowing that I can actually achieve something has made me want to work harder and be positive when I encounter problems.
My goal is to be a biomedical engineer.   I would like to get a doctorate and run my own research lab. I would like to work in the area of medications. The ELEAP program has helped me to form this goal and has supported me in it. I love being a student at the U. I particularly enjoy my math classes. When I am not studying, I work and spend time with my family. They are the people who are most important to me. I look forward to being a PA for this class. Last year, I enjoyed my ELEAP class a lot. My PA was very helpful. I hope that you will enjoy this class as much as I did and that I can help you in all the ways my PA helped me.

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Kristina Rodriguez
I am Kristina Rodriguez. Born and raised in this great state of Utah, April 2, 1989. Currently, I have been spending most of my time at the University of Utah, majoring in Finance and Information Systems. From my education, I plan to work in New York City as a financial consultant representative. Finance, in general, suits my personality. I am organized and precise with any professional work. Furthermore, I love numbers, money, and people, and consulting people about his/her finances works for me. Yet, I do not have a job, because I planned to dedicate my time towards my academic experience at the University.
Aside from my professional goal, I make time for my favorite activities. Although I am not lined up to be the next sports phenomenon, I enjoy improving my tennis, golfing, basketball, and, lately, soccer skills. When I am not breaking a sweat, I enjoy hanging out with family and friends. Family and friends are the most important aspects in my life. My family keeps me grounded, while my friends help drive my imagination. Although they are the most important part in my life, it is difficult to make plenty of time to enjoy with my family, because of classes, homework, and extra curricular activities. However, I make sure to spend dinner with the family as a minimum quality time for the week. As for my friends, I find it easier to enjoy time with them, because most of us are involved on campus and/or have the same classes to study for. 
I believe that is important in person’s life; to develop relationships that help you grow emotionally, physically, and mentally. Emotionally, I have learned to be calm under pressure, and to not let little problems get too big. Physically, my friends pushed me to continue my studies long into the night, when I thought I could not continue anymore. Lastly, I have surrounded myself with communities that have different outlooks on various issues, strengthening me mentally. As a result of my life’s experiences, I decided to continue my sophomore year as a L.E.A.P. Peer Advisor at the University of Utah. 

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Mark Sedlacek
I’ve lived in Boise, Idaho all of my life. I was born about three miles from the house that I lived in for the eighteen years of my life. Only recently has my family moved to house that is slightly more conducive to my parents living, finally, without children. I don’t regret at all only living in one place the vast majority of my life because I love Boise and am considering moving back once my education is completed. That being said I do know more of the world than simply Boise. I have travelled all over the states as well as out of the country on multiple occasions.

In high school I was probably most easily classified as a nerd, but I think in the long run that’s more of something to be proud of than an insult. I was on the policy debate team for three years, as well as the Mock Trial team for two years.

I’ve been at the University of Utah for only one year, but I’m in no way new to Salt Lake. My mother grew up here, and her sister and parents still live down in Holliday. Needless to say I’ve visited the city more times than I can count. While I’m here I plan on focusing the majority of my education on receiving a degree in BioMedical Engineering with an emphasis on BioMolecular Engineering. With this degree I hope to go into industry and work in research and development of prosthetics. Ultimately I hope to get a graduate level degree in BioEngineering, but I’m not 100% on how far exactly I want to take it.

Outside of school I like to stay very active. Don’t get me wrong I like to play video games as much as the next kid, but I like to also make time for hiking, camping, tennis, and a good game of ultimate frisbee. Aside from those pass times I also thoroughly enjoy running with my parkour team through the streets of Boise. If you care enough to check us out you can either go to our website: http://www.idahoparkour.com/ or just type in “Boise Parkour Team Paradox” on YouTube.

Finally, although I don’t read as much as I should I do enjoy the occasional text. Ever since seventh grade I’ve been into reading about philosophy, religion, sociology, and psychology most specifically. Some of my favorite books are the “Pop Culture and Philosophy” series, and I will gladly discuss the finer points of any philosophical argument with anyone who is game.

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Gretchen Snyder
My name is Gretchen Snyder. You can call me what ever you would like. I have over 15 nicknames. I am really outgoing and love meeting new people. I believe that everyone has a story worth telling. You can learn something from everyone one you come in contact with.
           
I love to travel. There are so many wonderful places in the world. A survey recently told me that I have been to 11 percent of the world. Which is not good enough. On of my goals is to travel to every continent. I am three away. I love to talk travel with anyone. It’s a wonderful common ground I find with a lot of people.
           
My family is so wonderful. I love them with all my heart. I have one older brother that is 5 years older than me. We are very close. My mom is my best friend. My dad is so awesome. My parents have provided me with such a blessed life. They have given me everything they could. I could not have had a better life. I have a beautiful white lab named Penny. She is the best dog in the world. She has such a strong character. She truly is a part of the family. Occasionally we’ll catch her lying on the couch with her head on the pillow. She is a human I swear.
           
In high school I was a cheerleader two years and a songleader my senior year. I was vice president of our National Honor Society. I was co president of our interact club. I was on the dance company in Junior High.      
          
I am majoring in Chemistry with a business minor. When I grow up I want to make perfumes and colognes. I would love to own my own little boutique. It would also be awesome to work for a major fashion company such as Dolce and Gabbana or Chanel. I probably will have to move away from Utah to pursue my career. At first moving away made me really sad but then after taking leap it made me realize that there is so much bigger of a world than Salt Lake City Utah.
           
I am a very active person and enjoy doing everything outdoors. I love to snowboard and wakeboard. I love to boat and camp. I love to ride my bike. I really enjoy sitting on the beach and watching the sunset while sipping a pina colada. I would love to try surfing one day. I think that all God’s elements are so wonderful and should be appreciated to the fullest.
           
I love to dance. I did it for 4 years then once high school ended and I wasn’t on a team anymore I thought I can’t dance anymore, I don’t have my girls with me. I went a year of not dancing and decided to take a class. I found out why dance made me so happy. Sure I loved being with my girls and performing for half time but the reason I loved dance so much was because it made me happy and it is my art medium.
           
I always wanted to have a really big family when I grow up. Since I only have one brother, I wanted like 6-8 kids. I came to the realization one day after a LEAP discussion that I don’t need to bring 8 kids into this world. I could use that money that I would spend raising these children on other children in the world. I could either adopt a couple babies or just use the money to give the children things they could use but their parents could not provide for them. I would love to go to Africa and build an orphanage or school. In LEAP one of our final exam questions was, with everything you have learned this year, what are you going to do to make the world a better place? My mom said that you could make a difference in someone’s life by just smiling at him or her. Although this is true, I want to do something bigger.

I am a very social person and love to be around people. I would so much rather go out to a party then to stay at home with one or two friends. I am a lot happier when I am in a social situation. I work a lot better when I get to socialize with people as I work. I could never do a job from home or in a filing room or somewhere isolated. I try and make an effort to make everyone feel welcome and comfortable. Everyone deserves a friend.

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Claudia Tetelpa
No matter what you read, you will never know exactly who I am. Only the superficial things that make up my life are the ones written on this page.

I answer to the name Claudia Tetelpa. Currently living with my parents in Roy UT, I hope to have the opportunity to move closer to campus for the following semesters to come. In the past year I have learned that commuting back and forth has taken its toll physically and academically. However, I am not saying that it is an impossible task to commute and succeed in these areas.
The first seven years of my life were spent in Mexico. I vividly recall the nightly sounds of the waves hitting the rocks at the foot of our home. It was what I now consider to be a run down beach house.  I would spend every possible evening collecting seashells from the sand, and allowing the rays of the dimming sunset to gradually darken my skin.

In a loving and nurturing family of six, I am the oldest child. I can easily describe my family with the words fun, and outgoing. We love to camp in the summer, doing things such as four wheeling, jet skiing, boating, fishing, and sometimes just laying out in the sun. Although I may complain while out in the wilderness, I love the time spent sitting round the fire under the stars, even if this includes being bit by mosquitoes and contracting West Nile disease.  I know those nights spent around the campfire are moments that I will never forget.
           
The single most important thing to know about me is that I love to have fun. I am usually up for anything (depending on if we will get in trouble with the law). I think of myself as an easy going individual, I would hope others think of me in the same way. Steering away from conflict and confrontational situations is my specialty, I simply do not like to make or see people cry.

Having an exciting social life is one of my priorities. Being in the LEAP program I have learned that an active social life and succeeding academically are things that go hand in hand if they are handled in the correct manner. I love to spend time with friends even if it is simply sitting on the couch while eating Tostinos pizza rolls and watching an episode of the office. It is the simple things in life that make me happy. I love being alive, and I appreciate every breath of air that has filled my lungs, even if it is exhaust smoke from the car in front of me.
My philosophy in life is to take chances. This was the most valuable thing that I have learned in my first year of college. My peers as well as educators, unknowingly have taught me that taking chances is crucial for success. For the most part we have nothing to lose, we’ve only things to be gained. I want to experience life at it’s fullest, and know that I have not let an opportunity pass me by.

The writing on this page only gives a mere glimpse into who I really am. If you would like to get to know me simply say hi, I tend to continue talking after that point. Eventually, our relationship will grow.

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Elyse Timothy
On February 15, 1989, I was born two minutes after my twin brother. (No, we are not identical. You’d be surprised how many people think boy/girl twins can be identical. Feel free to ask me about the twin psychic experiences we’ve had though.) This, technically, makes me the youngest of four children, and I am the only girl. Although I wanted a sister when I was young, I love all three of my brothers and I can’t imagine life without them.

One extremely important part of my life is my Greek heritage and culture. Does My Big Fat Greek Wedding come to mind? Just remember, it’s a movie and not all of it is true. However, my family does roast a lamb in my backyard every year at Easter, and my Yiayia (grandma in Greek) used to spit on me to keep away the evil eye. I am very proud of my Greek heritage and I especially love sharing my Greek culture with others through dancing. I have been active in Greek dance groups since seventh grade, and I am currently a member of the Dionysios Professional Greek Dance Group.

One of my favorite things to do is travel. It doesn’t matter whether I am going camping in Moab, visiting friends in Boston, or visiting family in Greece, I simply love traveling! Last summer I spent one month in Greece in my family’s small village, Kalyvakia. The village is located less than 2 miles away from the ancient city of Olympia, where the Olympics first began. I loved my time in Greece and I plan to return for the third time in two summers.

Playing sports is another one of my favorite things to do. I play lacrosse and basketball, and I have tried a few other sports here and there. I’m not sure if pee wee soccer counts though. I enjoy playing lacrosse the most, and during high school I was the captain of my team. I also had a great time coaching elementary lacrosse, and I hope to start coaching again very soon.

Reading is a favorite pastime of mine, and I have recently discovered an amazing author, Jodi Picoult. I would be happy to give you some excellent (in my opinion) book references. Additionally, I play the violin and a little piano. I would like to improve my piano playing skills as well as learn how to play the cello, but for now I will just stick to the violin.

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Andrea Umphenour
My name is Andrea Umphenour (note that I have no middle name. My parents thought my last name was long enough to suffice but I feel differently.) I am the third oldest of six children. There are a total of four girls and two boys, in that order. My mom had all of her girls within five years, but not only are we really close in age, we also are close friends. I would rather spend time with my sisters than almost anyone else. The older of my younger brothers came four years after the birth of my younger sister and then my youngest brother was born about a year and a half later. As a result, my brothers are intimate but there’s a slight rift between the girls and boys not only because of the age variance but clearly the difference in gender. Currently, my brothers drive me crazy most of the time but they can also be really fun at other times. My parents are still married, which seems to be almost the exception lately. They are both very hard working and busy with careers and multi-talented children. My family is extremely important to me and I am grateful for the relationship we have with each other.
            On a much different note, I have declared Civil Engineering as my major and unless something happens that makes it revolting to me, I plan to stick with it. I have a not-so-secret wish of majoring in modern dance. While this would make me deliriously happy, dance doesn’t have many career choices and tends to be unstable. My reasons for choosing civil engineering are much more complex than this however. I feel as though I have two major parts of myself that often compete with one another. One of these is dance and the other is academics. I have a great love for both but they have proved difficult to balance. The concept of my future won the battle with my present and that is why I chose civil engineering. I know it will provide me with career options I will enjoy and ones where I can excel. However, I enjoy dance much more at this point in my life.
            Dancing is obviously one of my passions. My mom is a dance studio director and owner so I have been surrounded by its influences since birth. Throughout the years, I have added several different styles to my dance repertoire. I enjoy ballet, tap, clogging, jazz, modern, hip hop, and recently ballroom, especially Latin dance in particular. All my sisters dance and my aunt also teaches dance so not only have I danced with three sisters, but six cousins as well. Largely due to this fact, dance holds a certain family essence to me. In ninth grade, I auditioned for the middle school dance company and made the team. I had the privilege of serving as the Dance Captain, which mainly consisted of choreographing routines for assemblies. The next year, I made the high school dance company and that is where I stayed for my entire high school career. My junior year, I was the Treasurer and as a senior I served as President. High school is also when I began instructing classes at my mom’s studio. Dance was such an integral part of my life at this time that I had a hard time leaving the majority of it behind as I started college. I was still able to take hip hop, ballroom, and Latin-American dance classes, but the time I spent dancing had been cut tremendously.
            Similarly, my philosophy for life is “there are short cuts to happiness. One of them is dance.” I will often start singing a song in my head and randomly break out in movement. I honestly can’t help myself. This fact is exponentially compounded when I actually listen to music with a good beat. Dance isn’t just a hobby for me, it’s a lifestyle. And my life has been much richer as a result.

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Ali Vance
Born as the youngest of four in Missouri, I have enjoyed twenty-two years as the baby of the family. I grew up on music of all kinds – from the Beatles to Jimi Hendrix. My family moved to Utah when I was five, and at the age of seven I began singing and dancing with local performing studios. After years of training in ballet, tap, hip-hop, jazz, and modern dance, I spent 3 years on the dance company at Hillcrest High School and enjoyed playing several leading roles in the musical productions there. Upon my audition and acceptance to the University of Utah I declared a major in Vocal Performance and I have never looked back. I am entering my Junior year this fall, and I cannot advocate enough what the U has to offer!
                       
 Hobbies include listening to music, attending shows and concerts, reading, keeping a journal, riding Manny (my bike), taking photographs, singing, watching pretentious artsie films (kind of a joke), world and nation-wide travel, eating delicious food, enjoying nature (hiking, beach, anything), and spending time with family and friends. MOSTLY I JUST LOVE TO HAVE FUN!!!
           
 Some things you may not know about me by looking at me: I lived in Hawaii for three months last summer and worked as a Barista at Seattle’s Best Coffee. I speak near-fluent Spanish. I love dogs more than any other animal. I have a bamboo plant that once brought me good luck as I ran after a bus with it in my hands (great story). I have had numerous hair colors including platinum blonde. I have a plethora of laughs and I love laughing! I have a number of embarrassing nicknames including sugar-booger and Alicat.
           
 I’ve worked a number of jobs including three years of waitressing. I am definitely the customer service type! This summer I’ll work with The Point doing catering as well as an internship with the Office of Undergraduate studies.
            
My future goals include graduation in May 2010 and then I’ll be taking a huge step in the direction of my biggest dream: Move to Manhattan and try my luck with Broadway! I have wanted to perform on Broadway ever since I can remember, and that dream is coming to a sweet fruition as I study music here at the U.
            
My involvement on campus includes two very dynamic student leader roles: the first is as a Resident Advisor (RA) for the Residence Halls (dorms) on campus. This last year I was the RA for Chapel Glen, and this summer and through next year I will be an RA for Sage Point.
            
My other student leader role is the beloved PA position! I took LEAP my freshman year and looked to my PA in every facet of college life, wanting to be just like her. Thus, I applied for and was offered the PA position for the 2007-2008 year, and I have never had a more rewarding experience as a student leader and peer mentor. I worked with Dr. Harper in Exploration LEAP, as well as served on the Opening/Closing socials committee, coordinating and carrying out two very successful LEAP events. This 2008-2009 school year I will work with Jeff Webb in Residence Halls LEAP, which is really going to be a neat experience. My goal is to further the relationship between LEAP and the Res Halls by involving students in monthly dialogues concerning issues of social justice and diversity.

I’m really excited for this year! YAY LEAP!

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