Presidential Scholar serves the Florida State University community through dedication to service
“Having the opportunity to come to college with a cohort of peers eased my fears, and was something that I did not want to pass up.”
Florida State University Chemical & Biomedical Engineering and Department of Economics student Kailen Christian strives to help others acclimate to campus life through her work as a learning assistant and the director of the Freshman Leadership Institute. Christian studied abroad and expanded her academic perspective with the global citizen certificate program.
Why did you choose Florida State University?
Growing up, my family always adored FSU. As a big football fan, my dad always said he would have gone to FSU if he grew up in Florida. When college applications came around, I undoubtedly knew I wanted to apply. On a whim, I decided to apply for the Honors Program. I was shocked and ecstatic to find out that I was selected as a semi-finalist for the Presidential Scholars Program. The program required an in-person interview, so in April of 2022 my family took a weekend trip to FSU. The trip solidified that FSU was the place for me. The moment I learned about my acceptance and scholarship award, I didn’t hesitate for a moment and accepted. Having the opportunity to come to college with a cohort of peers eased my fears and was something that I did not want to pass up. Since my first few days in Landis Hall, I have loved my experience here.
What was an impactful academic experience you’ve had at FSU?
My biggest dream was to study abroad. I wanted to travel to at least one new country before I graduated. I decided to study abroad at FSU’s Republic of Panama campus where I could finish my math and physics prerequisites. This was a life-changing experience and opened my eyes to the global possibilities available with an engineering degree.
I enrolled in the global citizen certificate program through the Center for Global Engagement (CGE). Through my sustained experience, my coursework and various intercultural events, I was able to bring new perspectives into my academic path. I have enjoyed meeting people in the global citizen certificate program and the CGE community, as it has exposed me to things I would not have otherwise encountered.
How have you served the community while at FSU?
In January 2023, I began mentoring with Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Big Bend. My involvement ignited my passion for mentorship and community, especially within the STEM field. There are many opportunities to help the community and create change in Big Brothers Big Sisters. My freshman year, I organized a donation drive with the Presidential Scholars Program that collected over 10 bags of clothing and small household items for the Big Brothers Big Sisters Clear the Clutter Drive. This experience was incredibly rewarding.
I also led a service trip through the Florida State Alternative Breaks program. I worked with Camp Boggy Creek in Eustis, Florida, and the Center for Leadership and Social Service to make the service trip a reality. My experience with these organizations redefined accessibility and inspired me to find solutions within the biomedical engineering industry.
What kinds of impact have you had on the FSU community?
I have been working with Kassie Ernst and Sophia Rahming to optimize the curriculum for the First-Year Engineering Lab as a learning assistant (LA). I absolutely love being an LA because it allows me to meet aspiring engineers with different backgrounds and inspire other Black or female engineering students to stick with it. Helping new students acclimate to campus and find engineering organizations they relate to has been a full circle moment, as those same organizations allowed me to grow and thrive.
I was also selected as the director of the Freshman Leadership Institute, which is an executive project within FSU’s Student Government Association. Last year I served as the facilitator of operations, where I was able to help plan workshops, lead a small group of incoming students in a peer-mentorship relationship and manage overall participant relations. This year as director, I hope to elevate the program to a new level by further strengthening the bonds in the peer mentorship program and throughout small groups.