Jessica Butelo

Anticipated graduation year: 2010

Majors: Art; Psychology

Hometown: Sunnyvale, Calif.

Whitworth activities/clubs: Colleges Against Cancer (head of P.R. Committee for Rely for Life); Artist's Guild co-president; intramural basketball; track and field (freshman year); Psychology Club.

Favorite food: Mexican!

Favorite guilty pleasure: Taco Bell

You'd be surprised to know that... I have an extremely long tongue and can pick my nose with it!

Favorite off-campus study program experience: I studied the Power and Politics of Art in Italy and Germany during Jan Term 2009. It was incredible to be immersed in a whole new culture – one that has such history and beauty! I learned a lot about myself and my own culture by going on this trip (and ate WAY too much gelato!)

Favorite professor: Gordon Wilson because he is one of the most encouraging people I know! He always has such funny, random stories that sometimes take him like a half hour to tell! His love for life and art spill over to his students (and he looks and talks just like Sandy from The O.C!)

Favorite residence hall: Baldwin-Jenkins ALL THE WAY! It is hands-down the most spirited, united, exciting dorm on campus! My best memories at Whitworth are of living there freshmen year! I think my roommate and I only got an equivalent of 6 hours of sleep the first weekend of school because we did not want to miss out on all the fun!

Why I chose to attend Whitworth:  I chose Whitworth because of the incredible community and close-knit relationships. Originally, I wanted to stay in California for college, but once I visited the Whitworth campus, I knew right away that God was calling me to go there. It was a culture that was completely different than mine (snow and mountains vs. the beach and busy city). The teachers form close friendships with the students, the students are all very accepting of each other, the atmosphere is positive, and there is just so much to do! When I saw boys open doors for me and dance parties in the lounges, I knew it was the place for me!

Advice for incoming students: Don't be afraid to takes risks! Seize every opportunity to get involved with the school. There are a lot of fun events that the school puts on that you don't want to miss out on. It is a new stage of your life, where there will be huge growth and so many fun, new experiences.

What I plan to do after graduation: I plan on going to graduate school in California and pursuing a Ph.D. in counseling psychology. I am really interested in art therapy, which uses art as a way of introspection and self-healing. It is a very non-threatening was to gain control of a world that is so out of control for people. They can create a world that they are easily able to manipulate. It is a strong catharsis and a very effective, new form of therapy.