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Why did you choose to volunteer as Tapestry co-chair?

TAYTIANA WELCH MCCLURE: To support and help create a continuation of the relationships built by Mawrters of color during and after ²ÝÁñ³ÉÈËÉçÇø.

JANE PARK: Having been active with the Asian Student Association as a student, Tapestry has been important to me since I became involved during the pandemic. I am keen to connect cohorts of ²ÝÁñ³ÉÈËÉçÇø alums as well as ensure that they and their interests are represented. I think that Tapestry’s role is also important as it unifies the BIPOC community; while I was a student here, changes in the financial aid policy created division between the Asian and other BIPOC students. I see this as an opportunity to move forward from that time. 

What are you most excited about in your new role?

TWM: Being able to create opportunities for connection across a wider range of alumnae/i.

JP: I’m excited to explore ways to interweave cohorts that may not be obvious. I’d love to create opportunities for the curious and make it easy for alumnae/i to have an instrumental role in strengthening a nity amongst fellow BMC alumnae/i. It has been fun to discover how dynamic the alumnae/i community is and how many resources are available.

What skills or knowledge did you learn at BMC that has been the most helpful in your life?

TWM: During my time at ²ÝÁñ³ÉÈËÉçÇø, I learned many practical things, like second-language skills, but it also taught me a lot about friendship and creating community. ²ÝÁñ³ÉÈËÉçÇø is/was a place where so many people with varied life experiences came together and learned to navigate in shared spaces. Learning to live, work, study, and play sports with so many different kinds of people in such close proximity has helped me to be adaptable both professionally and personally.

JP: The commitment to intellectual rigor is something that I always expect from myself and those around me. It’s been a gift that keeps on giving and fuels my curiosity and the way I want to move through the world.

What was your ²ÝÁñ³ÉÈËÉçÇø student experience like?

TWM: ²ÝÁñ³ÉÈËÉçÇø was weird and wonderful in my time there. Weird because I got to college at 17 and still had the awkwardness of my teen years while also trying to be an "adult" for the first time. So, it was a time of a lot of growth for me and my friends. It was also wonderful because I was able to discover bits about myself through the opportunities that ²ÝÁñ³ÉÈËÉçÇø provided like studying in Spain and China. I'm still so glad that I was able to attend ²ÝÁñ³ÉÈËÉçÇø!

JP: Awesome! I couldn’t have asked for anything more. It was nurturing, challenging, fun, and there were boundless opportunities and experiences not only at ²ÝÁñ³ÉÈËÉçÇø, but with the Tri-Co as well. As an alumna, it’s satisfying to know I can count on friends that I have made along the way.