Name: Scott Rohlf
Age: 21
Major: Earth sciences (environmental geology concentration)
Hometown: Capitola
UCSC College: Crown
Favorite class or professor and why?
My favorite class, taught by my favorite professor Hilde Schwartz, was The Fossil Record. It was great fun, and I learned about many things that I hope to make my focus of study in the coming years. Hilde was always very open to helping anyone in the class, always had handouts and supplemental material provided for you, and often gave out candy. What more could you want?
Most memorable experience at UCSC?
My most memorable experience has occurred very recently. This year I have joined an Argentine Tango Society on campus and it has been the best thing I've done with UCSC in the last four years. I've met some really great, friendly people and I get to dance a few times every week.
Favorite spot on campus and why?
My favorite spot on campus are the tennis courts at the East Field House. I have played tennis there every quarter, either because I was taking the advanced tennis class through OPERS or practicing with the tennis club.
How has UCSC shaped you?
Geez, hard question. Through the last four years, I've become a person who is relaxed and calm, but understands what needs to be done and when it needs to be done in order to get the task accomplished in time. The open-minded state of UCSC has broadened my views of a lot of topics.
What are your future plans?
Next year I will be a graduate student in the Earth Sciences Department under a one-year masters program. So after hopefully receiving my masters, I will apply for jobs in either the private sector with geotechnical consulting or do some museum work in the field of paleontology.
How did you choose your college, and how has your college affected your education?
My life as a Crown student did not have a strong effect on me. The core class I took my first quarter of freshman year was great. I really enjoyed it. But I don't think it affected my education one way or another. And I only maintained one friend from when I lived in the dorms at Crown. So I think being a Crownie did not affect me much.
Accomplishments:
My biggest accomplishment, outside of graduating UCSC, has been my work with the Disability Alliance. For the past two years, I have been president of the alliance, which is run by students with disabilities. I helped create this club four years ago in part to create an example for other students with disabilities--to show them that a disability doesn't have to hinder your performance, especially if you play to your strengths. Last winter we had our main event, a Disability Awareness Fair, where we educate passersby about different types of disabilities such as learning, physical, mental, etc., in order to slowly help destigmatize disabilities and erase stereotypes. As a student with learning disabilities who is not afraid of the stereotypes, I have been trying to show over the last four years that other students with disabilities don't have to be afraid either.
