Meet Andy

As a kid what did you want to be when you grew up?

I had dreams of becoming a cartoonist, a novelist, or President of the United States. Once I got to high school, I decided I wanted to be a professional jazz saxophonist. I’m still figuring it out, but I know now I want to dedicate my life to public service.

In high school, what did you think of the idea of college?

In high school, college felt very distant—I wasn’t familiar with how I could possibly pay for it, how I could get there, or what my life would look like if I got there. Because I started the application process quite late, I had to scramble for information regarding financial aid while giving my best effort at writing application essays. I tried my best, but it was definitely an intimidating and isolating process.

What’s your favorite thing about where you are now?

My favorite thing about life right now is the sense that anything could happen—that I can pursue the things I love. My world used to feel very small, and I am constantly grateful to all of the educators, mentor figures, and friends in my life who have helped me and connected me to all kinds of opportunities. I have a wonderful community of loving, dedicated people who I can turn to for guidance.