Evelyn Hajzl is a first-year double majoring in Natural Science and Secondary Education from Viola, WI. She was nominated for a shoutout because of how she balances all of her extracurriculars and schoolwork, work ethic, kindness, and talents.
Evelyn is involved in Ballroom Dance Club, Rock Climbing Club, and Chiara, a Catholic women’s group. In addition to these organizations, she is also in Concert Choir, the Abbey Singers, and she will be joining the Concert Band in the spring, playing the clarinet.
Having participated in both band and choir throughout middle and high school, “music has been a huge part of [her] life for a long time.” She made time in her busy college schedule to include music because of the stress relief and joy it brings into her life. Her favorite part of being part of these two choirs is “how quickly the music comes together” when everyone involved is so passionate about their part. While she enjoys listening to amazing ensembles, she knows there’s more magic when you’re part of it; surrounded by all the different voices and moving parts. “You can feel the music as much as you can hear it, which makes it even more impactful.”
Of course, there are always times when we become overwhelmed or stressed, especially when someone like Evelyn has so much on her plate. Her advice is to reset to a positive mindset before you start new tasks, take care of yourself, and use your breaks well when you take them. Oftentimes those with a strong work ethic see little things like going to meals with friends or reading for fun to be a waste of time, but Evelyn warns about falling into a trap like this. Your brain needs breaks like these to process what you’ve learned, Evelyn says, which helps reset your mindset. When we’re more relaxed and motivated, we do better work.
Going forward, Evelyn is excited to study abroad in Iceland next spring. The program involves classes in environmental engineering and a research project that she hopes will involve invasive species or renewable energy. She hopes to continue training aerial silks and hoop, performance arts she is an instructor for, at the local aerial dance studio in De Pere.
We are lucky to have someone so amazing as Evelyn at SNC and in the Honors Program. The moment she knew SNC was the right choice for her was when she was sitting in on a Physics lecture and everyone was fully engaged. Every time she visited SNC or interacted with students, she was blown away by the joy and friendliness of students, faculty, and staff. She joined the Honors Program because she wanted to be surrounded by peers who have similar priorities, care deeply about their studies, and are highly motivated to achieve their goals. Living together in the same dorm makes it incredibly easy to find your people who share the same values, interests, and goals.
Evelyn says here at SNC, you can try new things without the fear of being judged, but while you’re being cheered on by your friends and peers.
