“I absolutely loved living in residential colleges and I’m going to miss it so much after graduation. Living in West my freshman year is where and how I found my closest friends that I still live with now as a senior! Residential colleges allowed me to meet new people and take part in new experiences with the weekly programming offered!”
Hananeel Morinville, College of Arts and Science Class of 2025
Can you share a bit about your background, including where you’re from and why you chose Vanderbilt?
I’m from Overland Park, Kansas, and Vanderbilt was a school that I aspired to go to since the end of my sophomore year of high school! I could talk forever about why I chose Vanderbilt, but I’ll summarize by saying great financial aid, location and Vanderbilt feeling like home. There are so many small, meaningful things that Vanderbilt does for its students and these made all the difference in my decision.
What are your career aspirations?
I hope to go to law school and practice as a lawyer!
What projects or achievements at Vanderbilt are you most proud of?
I’ve done so many things at Vanderbilt that I’m proud of, but what I’m most proud of is serving as student body president! Ellie, my vice president, and I began our roles with so many hopes of what we wanted to accomplish, and we made a real impact in such a short amount of time. I’ll forever be proud of us for stepping into positions that women typically don’t have and making a real difference.
How has your Residential College experience challenged or inspired you to step outside your comfort zone and dare to grow, personally or academically?
I think one of the best ways my residential college experiences challenged me to dare to grow was with the weekly programming. It’s so easy to walk in, stay for a few minutes and then leave. But for me, that’s staying in my comfort zone, so each week I made an effort to say hi to someone new just so there was always one more familiar face as I walked through the hallways of where I lived.
What role has collaboration played in your journey at Vanderbilt? Can you share an example of a team project, mentorship or community engagement that made a meaningful impact?
I honestly think that it’s collaboration that makes Vanderbilt the incredible school it is, and this collaboration is found everywhere! This year, I absolutely loved collaborating with so many different people and offices across Vanderbilt. I think a lot of what we were able to accomplish in Vanderbilt Student Government this year was because of these meaningful collaborations and group efforts.
