Real People Profiles: Dylan Cook

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 16:35:00 -0400
real-people-profiles

I’m asking some of the people you might encounter on the UMBC campus, including students, faculty, staff and alumni, to answer a few questions about themselves and their experiences. These are their responses.

Name: Dylan Cook

Hometown: Port Republic, MD

Q: How long have you been at UMBC?

A: This semester marks the beginning of my third year here at UMBC!

Q: What is your current title (job or student organization position)?

A: SGA Executive Vice President, Peer Advisor, Governor’s Summer Intern, and Brother of Pi Kappa Phi

Q: In 12 words or less, what role(s) do you play on campus?

A: Giving peers the tools they need to learn to own their passions

Q: What aspect of your UMBC role(s) do you enjoy most?

A: It isn’t uncommon to hear students talking about the importance of being involved on this campus; if, for no other reason, than to create opportunities to meet and make connections with a diverse group of people. What I love most about my roles on campus though, is the fact that their diversity lets me re-encounter people I have already met, but in a completely different context. It’s one thing to meet somebody within one of their many life-roles, and to get to know them well within that context, but it is so much more enlightening to get to know that very same person from another perspective. You don’t truly know a person until you have seen how these roles cooperate, or quite often, conflict, to form a complete image of who they are. Nobody is one-dimensional enough to be fully understood from an encounter of a single kind.

Q: What is the most important or memorable thing you learned in college/have learned at UMBC?

A: You are going to change your mind. More often than you could have ever imagined that you would, and more often than you are going to feel comfortable allowing. My advice to you is this: approach every one of these opportunities as if it were a study in self discovery. Take a moment to reflect on what is causing this change, and whether or not the outcome is truly organic. Be willing and able to change your mind when the moment arrives, but always make sure that you are the one calling the final shots. Allow yourself to be challenged and tested again and again, but always remember to stay what you are.

Q: Complete this sentence: "I am a big fan of __________"

A: Going to Concerts! Most people who meet me would never think that I’m the type of guy who spends most of his free time at punk rock festivals or sold-out hip-hop basement shows. People who say that the music industry is dying clearly haven’t seen the incredible surge of talent and passion from these genres in the past few years. Do yourself a favor: support the artists you love by seeing them on tour. Also, on a completely unrelated note – I absolutely love Indian food. Seriously.

Q: Do you have any UMBC stories, little-known facts about UMBC, favorite spots on campus, or anything else you’d like to share?

A: The history of UMBC as being a place where students are empowered to bring their passions and dreams to life is hardly a new development. In October of 1968, a student named Annette Stadd organized an eight-hour marathon of student involvement, an event that began with the infamous UMBC “Bitch-In.” While those familiar with the story know that the event brought about a fantastic array of discussion, many aren’t aware of the fact that the conversation resulted in little more than three hours of students pointing the finger at the faculty and administration for causing the problems that they faced. Stadd was infuriated by the remarks that were being made, and announced to the students that their solution-less complaining was going to solve nothing; instead, she encouraged them to “become active, say ‘I want to help’” (The Retriever, Nov. 1968). During your time here at UMBC, I encourage each and every person to answer that call.

BONUS VIDEO QUESTION: What else would you like to share? Ask yourself a question and answer it.

[Video]

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