Bridging the Gap
Lauren Weickert ’19
From her research on prison reform to her internship with Planned Parenthood of Maine, Lauren Weickert ’19 is not afraid to take a stand on tough issues. She discusses what drew her to Dickinson, her favorite moments while studying abroad and the class and professor who inspired her to declare a major in American studies.
Hometown:
Cumberland, Maine.
Majors:
American studies, with a political science minor.
Clubs and organizations:
Women’s club volleyball.
Favorite book:
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.
Favorite movie:
Life is Beautiful.
Why/how I decided on my major:
I had dabbled in a few courses in women’s & gender studies, political science, Africana studies, history, etc., but I realized that the courses I loved most were all cross-listed with American studies. I had never heard of the major before coming to Dickinson, but I love the fact that I go to a liberal arts school with a major that is so interdisciplinary, because I can learn so much from so many different perspectives.
As I kid, I wanted to be …
… a zoologist. Sometimes I still want to.
Why I decided to attend Dickinson:
There are many reasons I decided to attend Dickinson, but the most memorable for me is that Dickinson was the only school I visited where students I had never met before would smile and wave at me as I toured campus. The gesture seems so small now, but at the time, I knew I wanted to be at a school where the students seemed happy, friendly and welcoming, and this ultimately became a big factor in my decision process.
Favorite Dining Hall food:
Baked potato bar (extra cheese and bacon, please!).
Favorite class/learning experience (and why):
My favorite class at Dickinson College would have to be Fat Studies, taught by Professor [of American Studies and Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies] Amy Farrell. This course opened my eyes to an entirely different way of thinking and learning, and I genuinely believe I am a different person because of this course. This was actually the reason I decided to become an American Studies major as well.
Little-known hobby/talent:
I love bullet journaling! I am not always the most organized person, but bullet journaling allows me to creatively sort out my life and actually enjoy doing it.
About my internships:
I have had a few internship opportunities, but most recently, I was an intern at Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund. My primary focus at this internship was the Bridging the Gap campaign, where I learned how to deep canvas, approaching strangers at their doorsteps and, instead of reading from a script, trying to strike up a deep and meaningful conversation about issues by sharing personal stories. In this case, I was speaking with strangers all over Maine about abortion, sharing why I believe reproductive justice is so important and having a genuine, honest conversation with others about this complicated issue, sometimes for 30-40 minutes. Many of the people I spoke with did not agree with everything I believed in, but we always walked away finding that our values and beliefs were far more alike than they were different. I learned a lot, but definitely one of the most impactful lessons I learned is how vulnerability and honesty can break ice in unbelievable ways.
Where I studied abroad, and the highlight of the experience:
I studied abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark, and loved every second of it, but the highlight of my whole study abroad experience was actually biking through the miles of tulip fields in Keukenhof in the Hague, Netherlands.
About my research:
For my senior thesis, I am researching prison uprisings. Primarily using Michel Foucault’s theory of the Panopticon, which basically states that individuals police themselves because they are told that the rest of society is watching them, I am asking what catalyzes prison uprisings in a system that works to suppress inmates and produce docility. Prison reform is a very important issue to me, and I want to understand more about why and how prisoners rebel and how this activism affects their well-being.
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Published May 7, 2019