TOMAS KAVANAGH '11
Dublin, Ireland
Major: Environmental science
Highlights: President of I-House, rugby club, PRIDE leader

The thing that attracted me to Trinity was the quality of the education. After two years at an international school in New Mexico, and then a gap year working on an organic farm in Mexico and traveling through Latin and South America, I really wanted to stay in the U.S. to continue my education. Coming from an environment of so many international perspectives, I was pleased to find that the faculty at Trinity bring more international perspectives than at most colleges.

Coming to the U.S. to study for four years is a huge commitment for international students. A group of us organized the I-House (104-106 Vernon Street) where international students can meet and have events. Last year I was elected president of the house, and it’s been an incredible experience. It has helped me build real-world leadership and organizational skills that will definitely help me in my career beyond Trinity. 

Engineering is what I’ve always wanted to do. I chose Trinity because it was the right mix of academics: a specialized engineering program coupled with the flexibility of a liberal arts program. At home, I would never have had the opportunity to explore philosophy or economics while focusing on my major. Science can be highly specialized, and the liberal arts help me see the greater picture. They remind me why I set out to be an engineer, which is to better people’s lives.

Trinity has become like a second home to me, which is important, because I don’t get to go home as often as I’d like. There are so many ways to be part of the Trinity community, whether through social or community groups. In my sophomore year I co-founded Trinity College Robotics Engineering and Design for Youth (T-READY), a program that promotes engineering and robotics in the Hartford community by engaging kids in various design projects. I have also applied that same curriculum to fourth and fifth graders who attended Trinity’s Dream Camp during the summer. It makes me feel good to help local kids get excited about something that can make a big difference in their futures.

What I found most attractive about Trinity was freedom. Growing up in Malawi, I was educated under the British system, where there is little freedom to choose beyond your program of study. My real passion is words, and I love literature, but I also wanted to include legal studies to help me with a job if I decide to go back home.

Writing is really important to me; it’s my way of exploring my experiences, both here at Trinity and beyond. It was Mary Leonard, my English 101 professor, who really pushed me to pursue writing and literature. Rather than throw out the pieces of writing I wasn’t happy with, she encouraged me to keep them, and use them. She is deeply involved with her students’ development, both academic and personal, and she pushed me to be a better writer and explore more of myself through writing. I’m really grateful to her. 

Trinity offers so many positive things, from internships to working in the community; these are opportunities that challenge you to take your knowledge and apply it to the real world. I think of Trinity as a place with treasure. And you have to get out there and explore to find it.

I have always attended small schools, so finding a small-school college environment was important to me. Most students in Zimbabwe leave the country for college, and they travel to South Africa or Australia. I wanted a new experience, and I knew I would find it in the U.S.

Getting used to life at Trinity wasn’t hard. I was lucky to be a part of the squash team, who treated me like family and helped me assimilate to Trinity’s community.

I chose to major in anthropology, specifically cultural anthropology, because I’m fascinated by how culture motivates people’s actions. My first-year seminar was Robin Sheppard’s Culture, Conflict, and Competition: Sports in Our Society, which was a great course that mixed my academic and athletic interests. It examined how America approaches the culture of sports. As an athlete, I was very interested in learning how this dynamic works.

The connections you make in college are irreplaceable. At Trinity there is so much to be a part of and so many people to meet; I will always carry that with me.