Steffani Farquharson

Steffani Farquharson

Email: sfarquharson@ithaca.edu
From: Natick, Massachusetts
Class of 2022
Major: Journalism
Minors: Environmental Studies; Spanish

Have you studied abroad?

During the 2019–20 winter break, I studied abroad in Costa Rica. It was through a class called Sustainable Tourism, where we learned about how to be a sustainable tourist, what tourism does to local municipalities, and easy ways to combat unsustainable tourism. The class was once a week during the last five weeks of the fall semester followed by a 10-day trip to Costa Rica, where we stayed in multiple eco-lodges in central and western Costa Rica. I learned more than I thought I could and made lifelong friends on the trip. It was such a beautiful experience that helped me grow as an individual, as a tourist, and as a member of my local community.

Have you been engaged in research, internship opportunities, student teaching, or conferences?

I have attended a couple leadership conferences while at IC. One was called Social Action Leadership Retreat, a weekend retreat where students learned more about different forms of activism, how intersectionality promotes activism and interconnectedness within communities, and how to create action with everything we learned during the weekend. It truly shaped the trajectory of the rest of the semester, and then year, for me during my first year at IC. I made some incredible lifelong friends from the retreat, and it pushed me to continue leadership while in college.

What is the best class that you’ve taken so far and why?

The best class I’ve taken so far at IC is called Spanish Conversation: Contemporary Issues. This class helped me decide that I wanted to pick up a Spanish minor and work to be a teaching assistant for the Spanish department. We always read different articles in Spanish for class and then discuss them during class time. We also have different presentations about what’s going on in the news, different Latinx cultures, Ted Talks, and on subjects of our choice. In addition, we have different open discussions where we’re able to talk about current issues and have productive conversations all in Spanish. It helps to ensure we are all practicing our Spanish and that we are up-to-date on what is going on in the world!

Is there anything else you would want to share with a prospective student?

Please reach out with any questions you may have; talking to current students can answer so many questions and ease any nerves you may have. Don’t be afraid to ask your questions! I’m looking forward to chatting with you.