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People Profiles
Elliott Hindman
- Hometown: Seattle, WA
- Majors: History and Political Science
Why Western?
After visiting the campus and meeting some of the faculty in my department, I knew that Western was a good fit for me, a college I could attend that would prepare me for advanced-studies while I built close, personal relationships with my instructors and peers.
Broadened Perspective
I don’t think I could have ever imagined the incredible ways this school would help mold me as a student and citizen of the world. Perhaps the same would have happened wherever I went, but the diversity of new ideas and lifestyles on our campus, in addition to the valuable instruction, has definitely challenged me in important ways and raised me above myself.
A Well-Rounded Education
The way I have been challenged by the professors in both the History and Political Science Departments to critically engage my work and perform my best has had a great impact on me. Outside my department, the lab experience in bio-anthropology (studying the primate order and doing comparative anatomy was amazing) and in physical geology working for 10 hours in the lab conducting a field study and geologic history of mock rock outcrop for our final project. For some reason, those seem formative; perhaps because of the applied knowledge focus that has rounded out my education.
Favorite Memory
For physical geology, we took an optional field trip out to the San Juan Islands to study accretionary wedges and pillow basalt and limestone deposits on their coastlines. That was probably one of the greatest experiences I have had at Western: studying rocks out in the wild madrona forests and along the vacant, windswept shorelines. It was incredible.
Studying in Greece
I had the great fortune of studying abroad in Greece for four months during my junior year. The program allowed me to travel all around Greece, a country and a culture I have studied most of my life. One of the courses I took was based in on-site lectures and we actually studied in front of and at some of the most famous places and buildings of Greek antiquity, the medieval period, and before. During and after the program I was able to accomplish one of my life goals and I backpacked across over 15 countries in southeastern Europe. All told, it was an incredible, life-changing experience.
Outside the Classroom
I play several instruments (harmonica, piano, guitar) and I record music with friends. I am the president of the AS club, ACLU-WWU (American Civil Liberties Union of Western), where I get to express my politics and creativity in ways that affect all citizens directly.
After Western
I have several ideas for what I want to do next, and they all involve continuing my education in some way. I am looking at joining a program such as the Peace Corps or Teach for America to give something back to my country while enriching my perspective on things. Whether before or after this though, I plan to go to graduate school to study European history or topics in political science.