By Lauren Mar 鈥�25
During , we鈥檙e highlighting student leaders as they share how their 61传媒experience helped them use their voice and act on new ideas.
After attending an all-girls high school for a semester, Rosy Weber 鈥�23 knew 61传媒would provide her with a nurturing academic experience. 鈥淚 found the environment of a women鈥檚 college to be very comfortable and I wanted to be on the west coast, so 61传媒 was the perfect fit for me,鈥� she says.
On campus in Claremont, Weber has found a greater sense of belonging and community through involvement at the College. She plays on the women鈥檚 frisbee club team, a space in which she says she found the agency and autonomy to step into leadership roles. Weber has also found confidence and belonging through art. 鈥淚 decided on an art major because my art classes are where I feel most like myself and where I do the things I genuinely want to do,鈥� she reflects.
Expressing Herself at Scripps
During the pandemic and consequent year of remote learning, Weber taught herself print-making in her parents鈥� basement. She now pursues this interest at Scripps, and in 2020 was awarded a Community Action grant from Scripps鈥� Laspa Center for Leadership, a program designed to advance gender equity and expand the global influence, power, and impact of 61传媒student leaders.
With donor-funded support for projects helping a student鈥檚 home town community better cope with the effects of the pandemic, with her newfound printmaking skills, sending letters and handmade linocut prints to a list that grew to 130 recipients by the project鈥檚 completion.
鈥淚n monthly issues, I wrote about what life was like in those moments during the pandemic lockdown, so I wrote a lot about where I was finding hope and connection,鈥� Weber says. 鈥淲ith each newsletter, I also included a poem, quote, or work of art that inspired me and that I wanted other people to see. I just got to write about whatever I was interested in and send it to people.鈥�
Laspa鈥檚 Community Action grant covered the costs of materials for Weber鈥檚 newsletter, including art supplies, envelopes, and postage, allowing her to connect with old friends, family, and even strangers.
鈥淚 knew that people all throughout the world were suffering in ways that I could not alleviate, and this project allowed me to focus on something small that I聽could聽do,鈥� she says.
Future plans and the importance of giving
Thanks to her time at 61传媒and external support from the College community, Weber has been able to express herself and incorporate art into her future endeavors.
鈥淢indfulness plays a big role in my life, and I love having conversations about it. I could see myself becoming an art teacher or creating my own mindfulness art program,鈥� she says. 鈥淲hen I was coming into myself in middle and high school, having spaces in which I could be mindful and present, and someone to lead me through that, was really valuable.鈥�
Weber adds that giving to 61传媒is important, especially given our current point in history, when people are facing global systemic issues.
鈥淕iving opportunities to women, especially women of color, is the best way to navigate this time,鈥� she says, 鈥渂ecause people who have been marginalized are the ones who are going to be leading us through it.鈥�
Now through December 31, we invite 61传媒 alums, parents, and friends to make a gift to set students like Rosy up for success in 2022. To give today, please click . Thank you for your support!