Hello! My name is Quinn. I was born in Los Angeles and raised in the Pacific Northwest. I’m a recent high school graduate from Portland, Oregon, and this fall I will be attending the Oregon State University Honors College, where I plan to study STEM with a focus in geology and pursue a minor in museum work.

I enjoy being creative, contributing to my community, and spending time with friends and family. Whether I am shaping a project in ceramics, capturing unique perspectives through photography, or experimenting with audio engineering and music production, those are my happy places. I’m drawn to preserving stories, landscapes, and moments, which is what sparked my interest in geology, history, and museum studies.

Growing up in the Pacific Northwest also gave me a deep appreciation for the outdoors. I love camping, hiking, and exploring the diverse landscapes of Oregon, from the coast and forests to the high desert. Visiting places like the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument strengthened my fascination with geology and Earth’s history. Being able to see layers of time preserved in rock formations and fossils inspired me to pursue geology as a field of study. Some of my favorite experiences have been road trips, camping under the stars, and discovering new places throughout the Pacific Northwest.

I consider myself an interdisciplinary learner who enjoys connecting ideas across science, art, history, and culture. For the past 13 years, I’ve been part of a dual Japanese language immersion program, which has deepened my intercultural understanding and appreciation for global perspectives. Through this program, I completed a capstone project and participated in a homestay with a family in Kobe, Japan. That experience strengthened my curiosity about the world, and I hope to study abroad again in the future.

Beyond the classroom, I volunteer in my community, where I’ve learned the value of connection, teamwork, and making a positive impact. Creativity and community are both central to who I am, and I’m excited to continue growing in both areas throughout college and beyond.

In my free time, you can usually find me reading George Orwell, Homer, Franz Kafka, or Fyodor Dostoevsky; playing bass guitar; listening to music; hiking in nature; or spending time with friends and family. And, I also love to garden and cook!