We Are Knox...

"Knox is full of the most compassionate people you will ever meet."

What is an activity you participate in on campus and how has it
influenced your experience?
I play the viola, and am a member of String Ensemble, a chamber orchestra that meets weekly and performs a recital each term. Recently, we've been rehearsing literature from Tchaikovsky, Handel, and Mendelssohn. The Ensemble, being a close-knit group, has greatly enriched the sense of community on campus and has enabled me to pursue my musical passion with others who love string playing just as deeply.

What is your favorite place on campus?
I love the stairwell in Old Main, particularly the impressions on the stairs from generations of feet climbing up to classes.

What would surprise your high school friends about you now?
My friends would be very surprised to know that I traveled nearly a thousand miles eastward to become close friends with someone I grew up ten minutes away from, and who even attended my rival high school, but never met until now.

Tell us about a memorable class and what you learned from it.
I am taking Greg Gilbert's art history course that examines Proto-Renaissance to modern day works, and he took the class up to Chicago to visit the Art Institute. The visit was a surreal experience. I was able to tour galleries displaying masters like Monet, Durer, and Van Gogh, making the material we cover in class so much more meaningful now that I've witnessed in person how much of themselves artists infuse into their pieces.

How would you describe academic life at Knox?
Rigorous. Knox can always serve up a challenge. But the professors also know that balance serves students well in their academic performance, so the workload does require time management and diligence, but it's also manageable and not completely out of control.

What's the most important thing you've learned at Knox outside the classroom?
Knox is full of the most compassionate people you will ever meet. It doesn't matter if they know you or not, if you're having trouble with something, they will go out of their way to help you out.

Read about Sophia's college search and journey to Knox through her New York Times blog posts