Philosophy in Action

Student Snapshot: Olivia Whittaker ’28

Olivia Whittaker ’28 values community, authenticity, the way her philosophy courses challenge her beliefs, and the practical experiences she gained through her internship with Dickinson’s House Divided Project. Below, she discusses that class that inspired her to declare a philosophy major, the value of speaking up and more.

Hometown:

Venice, Fla.

High School:

Venice High School.

Major:

Philosophy.

Best thing about my Dickinson experience so far:

The best thing about my Dickinson experience is probably the community I’ve become a part of. I’ve befriended some really kind and interesting people, and I’ve had great professors who have always done what they can to support me.

Best thing about my major:

Philosophy constantly challenges and evolves my basic beliefs and perceptions. It’s extremely humbling, but it catalyzes me to think, question and expand through lots of really, really interesting conversations.

On choosing Dickinson:

I knew I wanted to go to a small liberal-arts school, with intimate class settings and accessible professors. Dickinson stood out to me for its real efforts to support students’ well-being outside of the classroom. There are a lot of resources, like access & disability services, minority advocacy centers, community events, mental-health resources, the Free eXchange, the career center and so on.

Favorite class:

Introduction to Ethics (PHIL 102) is the class that got me thinking: “Wait, maybe I want to be a philosophy major.” I’d sort of passively enjoyed philosophy in high school, but coming to class, deliberating about morality and actually engaging in those discussions a few hours a week turned out to be inexplicably fun and interesting to me. Besides, ethical reasoning is important to develop, so I think it’s just a really worthwhile (and accessible) class for anyone.

Favorite professor:

I genuinely regard each of the professors in my department very highly, but Associate Professor of Philosophy Jim Sias will always stand out to me for his ability to teach philosophy in such a conversational, frank and often humorous way. I also just really respect him for his honesty and evident quality of character. His classes have continued to be a motivator for me in pursuing philosophy here, so I’m glad I get to sing his praises a little.

Proudest accomplishment so far:

It’s a bit sappy, but: Becoming a bit truer to myself. Dickinson is a much more open environment than my high school, so I’ve had the space to come into myself a bit more.

About my internship:

I interned with Dickinson’s House Divided Project. I essentially helped high schoolers learn about slavery and U.S. history. I was really glad to get to work in an educational environment while also using my creative skills to create educational content and model projects for students. In addition to being informative and interesting, it was a really good opportunity to practice working with and speaking in front of other people, which often nudged me out of my comfort zone in a constructive way!

On getting involved:

I’ve become increasingly interested in how I can contribute to and become more integrated into to my community. This is partly inspired by my studies in ethics and partly inspired by the kindness and generosity I have received from others. I’m becoming more giving with my time, resources and abilities, and would love to encourage others to keep doing the same, because going out of our way for our neighbors creates a really good neighborhood for us all.

Most important thing I’ve learned so far:

If you want or need something, ask! There are so many people around who are willing and able to help you. Ask about internships in a department you like, where you can borrow supplies for a project, how to start a club or initiate a change you want to see on campus, ask about someone’s study abroad experience … and ideally, position yourself as a resource for other people too! There’s so much we can do for each other if we’re just willing to reach out.

Clubs and organizations:

Philosophy Collective.

Honors/scholarships/awards:

Alpha Lambda Delta and Academic Merit Scholarship.

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