My name is Elizabeth KonKolics. All the Baldwins just call me "Poe" though. (Yes I am related to Edgar Allan--he's a distant Uncle)
Anyways, I am from a small town north of Baltimore in Maryland. It is called Hereford and there are cows next to my high school. I am the oldest of six kids. I have three brothers and two sisters. Some are full, step and half. Kind of confusing but I love my big crazy family.
I am an undecided Pre-Med major. I want to work in medicine and most likely with children. I have taken a variety of courses at Duke and have learned a lot. Outside of academics, this past year I was involved in East Campus Council. This is the programming unit for East Campus (where Freshman live (that’s you!)) I am also a tour guide and Admissions Ambassador. I love Duke!
But let me tell you about my journey with the Baldwin Scholars.
I first found out about the program from the red packet they send out in the summer. I knew it was something I would want to be a party of. Then I met some other upper classmen Baldwins. I could not wait to apply.
Then the day came when I received a letter in my mailbox saying I was one of eighteen women accepted. I could hardly believe it!
That day I had no idea what Baldwin would mean to me. Baldwin is my support group. It is the place where I am challenged---academically and personally. These girls are my friends. They are there for me but they also make me figure out things on my own.
I have been surprised by how much I have come to appreciate Baldwin. We are a set of girls from completely different backgrounds and different beliefs. Yet we have a unifying goal to decide how we want to be defined in our world, instead of letting others define us.
I cannot wait to see where this program and Duke take me. Hopefully I will see you along the way!