Name: Gina Gilson

Majors: Biology and Environmental Science

Hometown: Nebraska City, Neb.

Plans after graduation: “Living the dream! I landed an internship in Costa Rica as a resident naturalist for the University of Georgia. It doesn’t start until November, so I’ll be backpacking through Europe for four months before I start. Once I’m back from my year off, I want to go to graduate school to study environmental science, possibly marine ecology.”

What will you take with you from your experience at CU?

“I honestly think Creighton molded me into who I am. I can’t imagine where I’d be if I hadn’t had every single one of my experiences here. I’m definitely taking away confidence in who I am and in all of my abilities. I feel ready to take on the real world—LOL not really. I received a quality education, and I feel informed and capable, ready to take on new experiences. I’ve always wanted to be true to myself and now I feel truly empowered to do that.”

Favorite Creighton memory:

“I honestly don’t think there is any way to choose a favorite. Pretty much every moment of my freshman year stands out, because everything was so new and exciting. I’ve made the most incredible friends here—it’s hard to narrow down the good experiences! I think my favorite actual moment was walking down the mall towards the end of Welcome Week, finally done with the crazy year of co-coordinating with Scott [Laurenzo]. The campus was looking gorgeous and buzzing with fresh faces and my friends had just gotten back. I started thinking about how far I’d come since I first set foot on campus, how things had changed and about all of the opportunities that I’ve been able to take advantage of, all of the friends I made. I was almost euphoric. Pretty nondescript, I know, I know.”

 What will you miss?

“Is it possible to say ‘everything’? Over the last four years I feel like I’ve become a part of this campus—I feel so at home here. I’m going to miss the sense of comfort, particularly in my relationships with friends and faculty. I know I’ll keep in touch with my good friends, but I think I’m going to miss my acquaintances: the people who I rarely see, but who brighten my day when I cross paths with them.”

Arts & Sciences senior Gina Gilson will travel through Europe before interning as a resident naturalist in Costa Rica.

Sara Gentzler/The Creightonian