My name is Lauren Martins, I am from Danville, Ca (East Bay Area), and I am a freshman here at Boise State, majoring in Illustration. I grew up in a town that we like to call a “bubble” because its different from the outside world. It is the epitome of a suburb and there is rarely anything fun to do in the town itself. Growing up there made me realize how much more there is to learn and experience from the world, which made me want to go to school somewhere out of state. I have read many books over the years both in school and on my own. My favorites from high school are To Kill a Mockingbird and Tuesdays with Morrie, and my favorite books overall are The Lovely Bones and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. I usually find out about what’s going on in the world by friends or the news. In my free time I usually read, draw, hang out with friends or watch TV. My parents come from a lot different cultures but I’ll mainly identify as Italian (Mom) and Portuguese (Dad), because of this I’ve grown up eating a lot of pasta and having a lot of cousins, many of whom I’ve never met. I think one of the biggest things about growing up is being able to understand what is going on in the world around you, and formulate your own ideas based on the events that occur. Until this point, I sort of just agreed and believed what was said around me or told to me, and it wasn’t until the end of middle school that I would think to myself  “I don’t agree with that,” when my parents said something. My junior year of high school I joined a program called Youth and Government. The entirety of the program is super complicated to explain, but it essentially helped me know the major issues in the world, in our country, or even just in the state of California, and helped me to formulate my own opinions and debate them. This program helped me realize my political affiliation as well as topics that I am very passionate about, and will absolutely debate about if someone brings the topic to light. Other than Youth and Government having a huge impact on my life, my Great Grandma has too. I didn’t know her very well, and I only have two real memories of her, because she died right before 7th grade. However, from what I have been told about her, we were a lot a like. My parents will always get the occasional question “where did she (me) get her artistic ability?” and they’ll always say from my Great Grandma. She is the only person I personally have known to have put her life into her art. She didn’t do anything else, and she’s inspired me to do the same thing and pursue what I love to do, hence me being an illustration major. So that’s essentially me!

Hi! I’m Madison but I go by Maddy. This is my second semester here at BSU. I did go to a community college near my hometown for a year before transferring here. I appreciated that year at a smaller school because it was a good transition from high school to a big university. I moved here from a small town in Southwest Washington that doesn’t even have a stoplight. My family raised beef cattle, and growing up I rodeoed and showed cattle. My horses were very important to me, and how I relaxed and how I escaped the pressures of school and work and whatever else life threw my way.

I’m from a middle-class, conservative family. Growing up, I think this narrowed my views on certain things, mostly because I didn’t encounter very many diverse views. My real-world experience was a bit limited. This wasn’t because my parents sheltered me in any way, but more because there just wasn’t a lot going on in my small town. They always encouraged me to go away to college, because it was my chance to see the world in an environment that was different and that I could make my own. For my upbringing, I like to consider myself extremely open minded; there are a lot of people where I’m from who aren’t as accepting. So, my “lens” is ever-changing as I gain new experiences and knowledge about the world. Moving to Boise was a big deal for me, and I learn new things every day. The world is so full of people and ideas, and I am loving my experiences away from home. My major is pre-radiology, and I am taking this class to fulfill my DLL. I chose this class specifically because the topics we are expected to cover interested me.

The majority of my upbringing was in rural Idaho. I spent my middle school and high schools years in Kimberly, Idaho. As soon as I graduated I moved here to Boise to attend college. I believe that the way I was raised and where I grew up has greatly influenced me as a person. I have great parents, who were strict and religious but loving and fair. I spent a lot of time with my family and still have a great relationship with my siblings today.

I remember reading Shakespeare and To Kill a Mockingbird in high school. I enjoy reading crime/thriller fiction, biographies, and I am fascinated with medical history and diseases.

I learn whats going on in the world by watching the news (KTVB),  and speaking with co-workers and family.

I spend my leisure time with my family, cooking, watching movies, reading books, shopping for antiques, and completing household projects. I feel I have a very simple outlook of the world because I stay consistent with what I do and who I do it with. I feel more immersed in culture and the world when I get to travel to different places. This allows me to interact with other people/cultures, eat new food, and visit historical landmarks.

Growing up in a religious family gave me a specific perspective on what was right and wrong. Now that I am older and have experienced things in my own life, I have my own perspective. I feel like everyone has the right to live the way they want (unless they are harming others or breaking the law) because in the end its not my job to harshly judge others for their decisions. I am concentrating on my own life and trying to do whats best for me and my family. I think its important to have your own opinions and values as an adult but to still be open to new ideas.

My father has been a huge influence on shaping who I am as a person. His work ethic, independence, love of family, respect of others and genuine personality have all influenced my decisions and efforts to become a better person. I am so thankful to have such a strong and positive influence in my life.