Sam Miller-McDonald

Traverse City, MI

What has been your favorite class at COA?

No one favorite, but a few:

Theories of Human Nature - Visvader

Conflict and Peace - Cox

Core Course - Borden

Advanced Composition - Kozak

Group Dynamics - Tai

What classes have you taken at COA?

Core Course - Borden

Philosophy of Science - Visvader

Global Environmental Politics - Stabinsky

Group Dynamics - Tai

Advanced Composition - Kozak

Personality/Social Development - Borden

History of Life - Hess

Conflict and Peace - Cox

Theories of Human Nature - Visvader

Water Color Painting - Carpenter

Ecology and Experience - Borden

Community Development - Beard

Environmental Law and Policy - Cline

Human Relations - Borden, McNally

The Future - Cox

Tutorial: Drum - Cooper

Independent Study: Mindfulness - Visvader

Ecology: Natural History - Swann

Launching a New Venture - Friedlander

What was your favorite lesson/lecture/discussion/project at COA? Why?

My favorite projects have been extracurricular; for example, helping organize/perform in the Jamberet; organizing random things like dancing, photosynthesis, Halloween games, and so on; and being involved in nonacademic groups like SustainUS. I learned the most and had the most fun doing these things.

What is your dream occupation?

Something in which I can work outside while having enough time to play music with friends, write, travel, and, ultimately, help other people.

Do you work on or off campus? If yes, where?

I used to work for Buildings and Grounds.

What do you see yourself doing after COA?

First, working for an NGO and other odd jobs. Then, traveling and finding a place to settle for a while. Eventually working in or starting an organization with friends aimed at addressing an issue in sustainability, such as agriculture.

What is happiness to you?

Spending time with friends playing music, traveling, eating, and talking. Spending time alone thinking, reading, writing, exploring, listening to/playing music.

Have you had an internship? If so, doing what? Where? If not, what are your plans, if any, for your internship?

My internship was in northwestern Italy working on an organic farm.

What are your ideas for your senior project? If you have already done one, what did you do?

My senior project is a research paper focused on describing the volunteer management strategies employed by the Obama for America campaign to elect Barack Obama president, and then writing a hypothetical plan applying those strategies to an issue-based campaign.

What is your favorite food to eat? What is your favorite thing to cook?

To eat and cook: - Pizza - Mexican foods (panuchos!) - Spinach salad with maple vinaigrette

To eat: - Hummus - Italian foods (raviolis, tortellini, etc.) - Fruit - Chips

What do you like to do when you're not doing school work?

Spend time with friends - Play music - Write - Read - Think - Eat - Walk outside

What came first, the chicken or the egg?

The egg (egg-laying reptiles and insects evolved long before chickens)

Why did you choose to come to COA?

I came to COA for several reasons - The curriculum - Human ecology seemed like the perfect idea for a major. I was interested in sustainability, environment, psychology, policy, and philosophy, and this idea of human ecology seemed to allow me to study all these things and actually have them make sense together. "The study of human interaction with the built, natural, and social environments" seemed to capture what I was looking for. Also, the mission driven, problem-based nature of the curriculum was appealing. - The feel - The people here are so nice, and the smallness created a real sense of shared purpose and community. The buildings, the location, the views, the grounds, it all felt really nice.

What do you like to study?

- Sustainability issues - Psychology - Philosophy - Mythology - Cosmology - History - Everything!

What historical figure do you most admire?

Mohandas Gandhi, Jesus Christ

What do people say is your most marked characteristic?

What other students said: Stoic thinking before doing anything, very not impulsive, Playful Honest, loyal, trustworthy, dedication

What talent do you wish you had?

I wish: I knew more primitive skills, I could sing better (had a stronger grasp of music theory), and I could remember facts and minutia better I could build things.