Hello everyone!

My name is Steven and I am in my fourth year here at Boise State University. I am majoring in Civil Engineering and plan to pursue a career in sustainable and environmentally friendly buildings. I was born and raised in Olympia, WA and moved to Boise for both school and the abundance of outdoor activities. Looking back, it was interesting being raised in one of the most liberal cities in the country, while having fairly conservative parents. I believe it gave me a good view of both sides and allowed me to form my own political opinions. Growing up, my parents made sure I stayed active and I consistently participated in a large variety of sports, eventually sticking with baseball and football throughout high school. My life was also heavily influenced by attending church on a regular basis, although I have stopped since. When I was younger, I was an avid reader and enjoyed book series such as Harry Potter and Redwall. When it became required to read books that I wasn’t interested in for class is when I lost my desire to read. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, backpacking, snowboarding, and mountain biking. My appreciation for the outdoors has influenced my desire to preserve nature and pursue a career that helps protect the environment. I like to consult a variety of sources to find out what is going on in the world, including Flipboard and the Apple News App. I also love watching Vice News documentaries. In the last couple years or so, I have made it a point to keep up with the news and politics so that I can stay politically informed. I believe it is important for each citizen to take on the responsibility of voting and doing so with an informed opinion. I look forward to learning more about history and am hoping for a great semester!