Brandy Vargas
Hobart and William Smith Colleges
As a Posse Scholar from Los Angeles, Brandy Vargas acclimated to our upstate NY campus and extended community with intentionality and a remarkable ability to balance curricular commitments with involvement in the Geneva community. In less than four semesters, Brandy has excelled in social justice coursework and related field work in the community that allows her to test her classroom knowledge while working to better the lives of vulnerable people. Her commitment to the residents with disabilities at the Lochland School as well as with local youth involved with an oral history project have launched her to further explore policy issues related to access and education and organizational leadership.
Personal Statement
"My busy schedule is reflective of my life, but more importantly - it's also a reflection of my passions. Since my arrival to Hobart and William Smith Colleges I was aware of my passion in providing opportunities to people and thus is seen through my enrollment in service-learning courses and participation in civic engagement opportunities. Many whom I have encountered are well aware of my devotion to empowering, mentoring and assisting others. I find that my heart overflows with joy when I see that I have created and contributed to positive social change, even when it is small change. Collaborating with local communities enables all to practice leadership skills, understand the importance of unity, appreciate humanity and grow as individuals. To conclude, I believe investing the time to understand and collaborate with members of the community where my college is based is essential for I must understand the world beyond the premises of the college."
