Emily Creasy is a 2021 graduate from Gladstone, Oregon. She is a Social Science major with a concentration in Political Science, plus a minor in Psychology. She is also WOU’s Honorary Political Science Student of the Year.

 

What has the experience been like as a transfer student?

I transferred from Clackamas Community College. I was a little worried about being away from my family, and at school not knowing anyone, but I made new friends pretty quickly in the Ackerman transfer hall. 

 

What has been your most memorable class? 

My most memorable class was Interviewing and Appraisal with Dr. Alicia Ibaraki. I loved working with Dr. Ibaraki to develop my interviewing skills, something that will be beneficial for me no matter what I go on to do after graduation. I liked that the class was highly interactive, and we learned the skills by practicing them with each other. 

 

What has been your favorite annual event at WOU? 

My favorite event at WOU was the Holiday Tree Lighting. It has always been a tradition in my family to celebrate the holiday season by going to look at lights in our neighborhood. I was really excited when I found out that WOU had a similar tradition, right on campus! I invited my family down, and we were able to go to the tree lighting and then Gentle House afterwards for some cocoa and sweets. It was a really good memory at WOU, and one I got to make with my family. 

 

Do you have any advice for current and prospective students? 

My advice for students at WOU would be to make connections! It is a really small school, but there are so many different clubs, groups, and activities to get involved with! I am really glad I joined Model United Nations, because it allowed me to grow my public speaking and research skills while also being able to make new friends who shared a passion for public service and international politics. 

 

Who stands out from your time at WOU?

If I could give a shoutout to one person at WOU, I would want to mention Dr. Mary Pettenger. Dr. Pettenger is one of the most caring, compassionate instructors I have ever had. You can tell she genuinely cares about her students and wants them to succeed, going above and beyond what is expected of her to help her students. Her classes challenged me, and while I sometimes griped about the amount of homework, I loved being in all of her classes: Model United Nations, Civic Literacy and Engagement, [and] Environmental Politics and Policy.

 

What was your most visited spot on campus?

The Health and Wellness Center! I love swimming, and one of my favorite things to do is to go swim some laps and de-stress. Working out is one of my favorite coping skills for dealing with the chronic stress that comes with college. With the pandemic, the pool was shut down for a bit, and I was so sad. It reopened this spring, and I have been there almost every day for my workout. 

 

What is your favorite building on campus? 

My favorite building is the RWEC building. One of my favorite things to do was to go into the library, get a coffee from The Press, and head over to RWEC for some studying. They have so many cute and cozy options to settle down in and spend a couple hours doing work. In the winter, I especially loved sitting by the fire with my coffee and doing my reading there between classes. 

 

What will you miss the most about WOU? 

The thing I will miss the most about WOU is the campus. I love the atmosphere of small town Monmouth surrounded by the fields and the sense of community here. I liked going for my walks in the morning, getting my coffee at one of the school coffee shops, and heading out to a bench by the fields or under the trees to sit and enjoy nature. Where I live is pretty urban, and there is a feeling of serenity and calm here that I will miss. 

 

How have you adapted your learning process for COVID-19 restrictions and virtual classes?

Senioritis mixed with less interaction (and less accountability) in my classes made my procrastination a lot worse. The best thing I have found is having time quotas for doing my work. I found that breaking down my work by assignment was too stressful–who wants to sit down to write an eight page paper? By setting a specific time, usually about three to five hours a day, I had a specific goal I could work towards and stay productive. I also found that starting my day doing something productive, like going for a walk first thing in the morning, helped set me on a good path for the day. 

 

What are your plans for after graduation? 

Sleep! Lots and lots of sleep and relaxation, for about a week or two. Then I hope to start a career in government to help increase accessibility and inclusion for people with disabilities through research, public policy, and community engagement.