Gen Coutant

What’s your favorite class? Why?

Biology 201 with Visiting Assistant Professor Emma Wear. This is an introductory biology class that focuses on larger scale environmental patterns. I like this class because it explains a lot of natural phenomenons that we see in the outdoors all the time.

What made you want to come to Lewis & Clark?

I wanted to go somewhere new and far away from home, where I could explore new places and meet different people. Portland seemed like a great location because there are many outdoor places to explore that are not too far from campus. I also liked the idea of a small school with a close-knit community.

What do you like or find most interesting about your major?

I enjoy understanding how the world works from the basics of cell biology to bigger environmental patterns. I aim to be more informed when I go out into the world and explore with intention and awareness.

What do you like or find most interesting about your minor?

I have always wanted to be fluent in Spanish. As I continued to take Hispanic studies classes, they got more and more interesting as we dove deeper into Hispanic culture and literature. It has been incredibly impactful to learn about a different culture in its own language.

Tell us about your support systems and social outlets on campus: people, activities, clubs, res halls, etc.

Although clubs, activities, and sports all provide their own, more unique support systems and communities, going to a small school like Lewis & Clark almost guarantees some sense of community anywhere you go. The student population is small and you see many of the same people everyday, we wave hi, gather on the steps outside of the academic buildings, and chat in the cafeteria. I almost always feel like a friend is in sight, and to me, that is comforting. I am also a student leader in College Outdoors, and I have made many friends on weekend and day trips that have become some of my closest friends.

If you went on a New Student Trip with College Outdoors, how did it shape your experience as an incoming student?

I went on a backpacking New Student Trip as an incoming student and it was a lot of fun. Spending time outdoors is very grounding before entering a new and scary environment. Getting to know a small group of people before the rest of the school is also a good way to establish some confidence and connections as you enter a new space.

If you have studied or will study overseas while at Lewis & Clark, how did you choose your program? What did your overseas study add to your L&C experience?

I chose to go on the Australia biology program because I am excited to try scientific field work in a unique and special environment.

What advice do you have for incoming students?

Continue to open yourself up to new experiences and people throughout your whole college experience. Making friends and participating in events does not stop after your first semester or even after your first year. There are always more ways to find new spaces and connections on and off campus.

Biology Hispanic Studies