Tiana Sharpe ’23
Hometown: Chicago Heights, IL
Major: Human Rights & Hispanic Studies
Extracurricular Involvement: President of Nest Artists, Barista at the Underground, Spanish Tutor
Email: [email protected]
Why did you join the Diversity and Access Team?
My biggest fear about going to college was not belonging. I thought I was going to be stuck 14 hours away from home in a new and different environment, all alone. Yet the moment I stepped on campus for orientation, so many people accepted me and encouraged me to come out of my shell. I quickly gained a tribe of older brothers, sisters, and friends that showed me how to make the most out of my college years. Trinity instantly became a second home for me. Don’t tell my mom, but I haven’t been homesick once. I joined the Diversity and Access Team (DAT) so I can do that for others that come from similar backgrounds as me. The team provides me the opportunity to coordinate events, meet prospective students and show them the same sense of love and community that I was introduced to.
What is the biggest lesson you learned from your first semester on campus?
After my first semester on campus I quickly learned that self-care is more than just facemasks and a playlist. While I still enjoy facemasks, a good playlist, and some trashy reality television, self-care is having the self-awareness to know when you are overwhelmed and being okay with taking a step back. I learned that I don’t have to go to every single event or take up every single opportunity. There will always be other doors and it’s okay to let them close. I learned that I have the power to say “no”.
How has a liberal arts education fostered your thinking? What class impacted you the most?
A liberal arts education made me realize the interconnections between all subjects. I came to college dreading the fact I had to take some math class. I took Math 128: A class about the mathematical techniques in redistricting counties for representative elections. It was the first time that I was happy to go to a math class. I realized that interests are not as black and white as we make it seem. Taking the class was very liberating because it showed me that you don’t have to be this certain type of person to be good at math. While I won’t become a math major, I won’t shy away from those classes.
What legacy do you hope to leave?
I’m currently the President of Nest Artists, an artistic student organization that wants to promote all types of art on campus. I hope that long after I have graduated that there is student art all over this campus. I want students to have no reservations about showing their beautiful work. I imagine Nest Artists creating a climate of collaboration and community with other organizations to further beautify Trinity’s campus.
How has the city of Hartford impacted your college experience?
The city of Hartford promotes hands-on engagement. For my first-year seminar, Community Action, I’m working with the Hartford Women’s Commission. I’m researching police transparency policies to better the force’s engagement with the community. This hands-on experience not only gives me valuable skill but also ignites a passion in me for community issues. I am looking forward to studying Human Rights and political issues!
What is a random fact about you that people may not know?
I have a weird obsession with reality television. I’ve seen an absurd amount of reality TV and it is my way of destressing. I can recite iconic episodes vividly and recount major storylines with embarrassing details.
What brings you the most joy on campus during stressful times?
Stressful times on campus are typically experienced by everyone, so it easy to find solace in your friends because they understand your busy schedule and worries. Whenever I feel overwhelmed or super stressed, I try working through my issues with friends because they keep me grounded, accountable, and lighthearted. During my first final at Trinity I struggled and felt overwhelmed. However, my friends noticed that I wasn’t going through my normal routine and they invited me to study sessions and on-campus events.
What areas of campus makes you feel at home?
I feel the most at home in the Queer Resource Center and the Underground Café. The people in those spaces are so artistic, open-minded, and welcoming. I feel like I am the most like myself in these spaces because it’s safe. I know that no one will judge me, and the energy will always be positive. Whenever I’ve had bad days, I will go there just so the people there can put a smile on my face.
