Humanities Ambassador Spotlight | Grier Abercrombie

Q: Why did you become an ambassador for the College of Humanities? 

A: I chose to become an ambassador because I love the College of Humanities and all of its areas of study, so I wanted to be a part of a group that promotes the college for others and advocates for the value of the humanities.

Q: What are your major(s) and/or minor(s)? Why did you choose them, what do you love most about them, and what do you hope to do with them once you graduate?

A: I’m majoring in English and minoring in computer science. I chose English because of my passions for writing and reading and to hopefully propel myself into a career as a writer and/or in the publishing industry. I’m also interested in video game design, hence the computer science minor, with which I have gained coding skills and taken game design courses.

Q: What do you think your most unique hobby is? Why do you love it?

A: Lots of people drive, but I guess I’d consider myself a driving hobbyist, just because I love to get in the car and drive, listening to music and seeing what’s around.

Q: In what way(s) do you feel "at home" at the University of Utah?

A: The people you meet can quickly turn an unfamiliar place into a comfortable space. I’ve found this to be true with my friends, my professors, and the people I work and interact with on campus.

Q: What is the earliest or latest class you’ve ever had? What about that class made it worth getting up so early/staying on campus so late?

A: My calculus classes were from 6 to 8 p.m. I lived on campus when I took them, so, aside from the learning material, it wasn’t too painful to go to them.

Q: What’s the best piece of advice you have received in life, and how have you lived up to it?

A: My dad loves to tell me, “Don’t sweat the small stuff. And it’s all small stuff.” It’s a good reminder to let things go that are easy to unnecessarily worry about.

Q: On a regular day what does your commute to school look like? Do you enjoy it? If not, what are some ways you make it more bearable?

A: I take the bus to get to campus, which I enjoy both for the opportunity to read on the way to school and also because it means I don’t have to stress about hunting for a parking spot.

Q: In what way have you engaged in the college experience that you are most proud of?

A: I wrote on the Arts Desk for the Daily Utah Chronicle. I’m proud of how I grew in terms of my writing skills and responsibility, and I really enjoyed being a part of a team that produced something for the student body.

Q: What do you feel is the most underrated building or place on campus?

A: Maybe it’s not underrated, but the architecture building is just so cool and has lots of windows and natural lighting. The Brio Coffee inside is also great.

Q: What is your dream career? What steps are you taking to get there?

A: I’d love to be a published author at some point, no matter when or how it happens. For now, I’m writing on my own time, taking a creative writing class, and reading a lot.

Q: If you could study abroad anywhere on earth, where would you go and why?

A: I recently visited Paris and Amsterdam for about a week each, which was just enough time for me to discover how much I like the cultures and people of both, and to make me curious enough to want to stay in both places more permanently.

Q: Would you rather have back-to-back classes from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. one day a week or one two-hour class every day of the week, including weekends?

A: I’d definitely rather have classes back-to-back one day a week. Caffeine plus the knowledge that I’d have the rest of the week off to do whatever would get me through that one day.

Q: If you could go back and tell just one thing about your college experience to your past self on your first day at the U, what would you tell yourself?

A: “As often as you can, try your best to take opportunities that align with your passions and skills—you never know where you might end up or who you might meet.”