Heyy!! My name is Jenny Belton, and I’m from South Florida (though I consider California to be home). I am so honored and excited to be a part of the Baldwin Scholars community.
A little bit about my background–growing up meant constantly packing and starting over. I moved between Russia and California a few times before settling in Florida right before high school started. While it was never easy to start fresh, those experiences taught me the value of being surrounded by people from different backgrounds and perspectives. Because of all of the moving around, I have grown to appreciate communities that welcome me–a big part of why Baldwin felt like the right place for me.
At Duke, I plan to major in political science on the pre-law track. It’s really important to me to end up in a career that allows me to use my voice to create meaningful impact; law feels like the perfect avenue for me to achieve this goal.
Beyond academics, some of my on-campus involvements include being on The Backpack Project exec team, where I am able to advocate for those experiencing homelessness, and a work-study position in the Slavic and Eurasian Studies Department, which allows me feel closer to my Russian heritage even when I am thousands of miles away from Russia.
Some of my favorite things in life include playing card and board games, trying out new restaurants and recipes, staying up late to chat with friends, and occasionally disappearing into a craft project or binge-watching a show.
I’ve already met so many inspiring women at Duke who have shaped the kind of person I aspire to be and how I think about leadership and community. I know that being a Baldwin Scholar will be a very important part of my next chapter in life, and I couldn’t be more excited to be in this community of strong women leaders. I look forward to being part of a family with them and growing alongside each other.