Being involved has always been part of my educational journey. You could find me in every sports team in middle school and sticking with two through high school. Not only that, but I was also part of the band, choir, show choir, jazz band, speech team, and mock trial—not to mention being the treasurer of our volunteer club. One advantage of being at a small high school like mine was that I could be involved in a lot of things and my teachers were always willing to work with me because they understood my level of involvement.

When the time came to select a college, Morningside caught my eye because it seemed like I would be able to continue to be involved and everyone I talked to seemed to genuinely care about me and what I wanted out of my college experience. After meeting with Dr. Mitch Keller and Randy Campbell during my campus visit, I felt right at home. They opened my eyes to the potential of juggling a double major or adding minors. Though music wasn’t initially in my forecast for college, visiting Heath Weber and getting an insight into the music program made me reconsider. The financial aid office even pointed out grants for continuing with music. It was everything I wanted and some things that were even more than I expected.

One of the best parts of college life is meeting new people. I’m always up for campus events and have joined a few clubs. Playing intramural volleyball with some RAs has been fun even if we’re not always the champs of the court. Looking ahead, I’m planning to attend grad school to pursue a master’s degree in data science. I’m intrigued by the blend of computing and math. My research project with Dr. Canning—delving into a decade of enrollment data—really cemented my ambition in this field. I’ve loved numbers since I was a kid and my grandpa used to give me math problems to solve for fun. Now, not only do I plan to make that kind of problem-solving part of my career, but I’m also a tutor that helps other students with their coursework, a writing consultant in the Writing Center, and a teaching assistant for Dan Wubbena in the School of Business.

From mathematical inquiries as a kid to harmonizing in college choirs and looking forward to a future shaped by data, I’m grateful for where I am and excited about where I’m going. Here’s to embracing every opportunity, no matter where you start.

– Isaiah Hinners, senior mathematics and computer science double major who’s making every minute of his Morningside experience count