Hello fellow Beavers! My name is Marigold Setsuko Holmes and I am excited to be serving as an Intern for the College Student Service Administration (CSSA) Campus Days 2013 in the Dean of Student Life’s Office.
A bit about myself. I am Japanese on my mother’s side and a mix of European origins on my father’s side, with roots in Missouri (though I’ve actually never lived there). But mostly, I identify as a Navy Brat. My father was in the Navy and I spent most of my childhood on Navy Bases in Japan. After graduating Nile C. Kinnick High School on Yokosuka Naval Base in Japan, I moved to Seattle to pursue an undergraduate degree at the University of Washington (go Huskies!)
As an undergrad, I got really involved with Residence Life, serving on the Residence Hall Student Association as Hall Rep then National Communications Coordinator for two years. My senior year, I served as Director of the PACURH Region on the National Board of Residence Halls Student Association. These experiences paved the way for my passion in Student Affairs. When I wasn’t busy being involved in the halls, I volunteered with Circle K, played soccer, sang for the University singers and of course, I studied a lot too. I was (and still am) interested in so many things – I dabbled a bit in Architecture, did a lot of experiments in Chemistry courses, enjoyed solving problems in Math, but eventually settled on English as a major, specializing in British Lit (Chaucer and Shakespeare are some men from my past).
When I graduated from the UW, I was fortunate to be hired as an Academic Advisor at my Alma matter. I advised undeclared majors for two years, before moving to the Economics Department to advise undergraduates Econ majors, all the while collecting more purple and gold in my wardrobe. Just as my wardrobe was nearing explosion, I was given an opportunity to work in Japan with the Japan-U.S. Educational Commission (Fulbright Program Japan). I had never heard of this organization or what they did, but was intrigued by an opportunity to live and work in Japan. When I think about it now, it must have been fate. When I showed up to the interview, my future boss turned out to be a fellow Husky and we hit it off right away. But more over, I was struck by the Fulbright philosophy and the role that this flagship international exchange program has played in promoting world peace through educational exchange.
I loved every minute of my 16 years (!) with the Commission, but all good things must come to an end, and with a drive to further my skills as a student affairs professional, I moved to Corvallis in September to pursue a Master’s Degree in CSSA. The first quarter was quite challenging, especially since it had been nearly 20 years since I was last a student. But I have learned so much and am enjoying every minute of this journey. I feel very lucky. Not too many people get to take two years off, to do what they want!
As you may have already guessed from the path that I have chosen in life, I am very passionate about education, especial educational and cultural exchanges and the promotion of mutual understanding among peoples of the world. After completing my Master’s Degree,
I hope to return to international education. But in the mean time, I am looking forward to absorbing as much knowledge as I can through the wonderful experiences that the OSU community has to offer. I am really excited about my internship with the Dean of Student Life’s Office. I am already learning so much, and best of all, I get to do what I love most, work with people (prospective CSSA candidates, OSU professionals, and fellow students). It will be a very busy two weeks until Campus Days, but with my fellow CSSAers, I hope to make it the best Campus Days ever, so that every candidate will want to come to OSU, and even more people will apply to the program next year!
P.S. My purple and gold wardrobe is slowly morphing to orange and black. Go Beaves!
