I Am Stanford: Alex Enrique

A little bit about myself: I have lived right outside of Charlotte, North Carolina for my entire life. I enjoy outdoorsy activities, travelling, shopping, and baking sweets for my friends. My sister recently graduated from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is one of those quietly brilliant types as well as one of my inspirations. My other “familial” pride and joy is my dog, Chloe, whom I admittedly treat like a mini-human and spoil to death. I keep in constant touch with my family, including Chloe, of course, over Skype. I’ve become a constant user of Skype and other methods of communication in my attempt of bridging the 2700 mile gap! I value my time with friends and family above everything, and I love making new friends every day. Stanford is full of the most interesting, talented, and multi-faceted people. To get to know someone’s story, all you have to do is ask!

While the academic opportunities at Stanford are beyond incredible, I believe that the people make Stanford’s community the safe, comfortable, and inspiring place that it is. I remember the anxiety that meeting my roommate gave me throughout the summer, but then on Move-In Day, I arrived from SPOT and opened the door to my room and saw my parents already setting up my room with my beloved roommate, and best friend, Rebecca. As we talked and unpacked, it couldn’t have felt more normal or reassuring to have someone going through this crazy transition with me. As she and I explored the hallway, we met international students, varsity athletes, software engineers, and expert musicians. All of us thrown into this situation together, with something different to bring to the table.

Later in the year, I found my place among Relay for Life, a club that raises money for the American Cancer Society, which allowed me the chance to make a difference in lives outside of Stanford. Other friends of mine became a part of the Stanford Solar Car Project or became a major presence in ethnic and cultural communities. There are many places for each Stanford student to belong and thrive.

Academically, I pursued many different areas of interest during my freshman year. My courses spanned many different fields, including anthropology, economics, philosophy, and computer science. Freshman year is the best time to find passion in new subjects as well as cultivate the knowledge you may already possess in others. Stanford is unique in that it allows, and encourages, two whole years of exploration before having to select a major. You may surprise yourself as you delve into new territories. Allow yourself the time to find your passions. Currently, I am entertaining the thought of majoring in Public Policy and possibly concentrating in healthcare, education, or discrimination. I will continue enjoying courses in psychology, anthropology, and philosophy. I also enjoyed taking advantage of the athletic classes Stanford holds. I would have to say that cardio kickboxing was my favorite way to get some exercise and a break from my studies. Some other classes that Stanford offers are golf, equestrian, swim, and yoga lessons and classes.

Road bumps happen. Obstacles arose for me that I didn’t expect. I found myself wondering if I was prepared for the academics and if I was meant to be at Stanford. One valuable lesson changed my entire attitude about my ability to succeed at Stanford: it shows strength to ask for help. Our school is full of resources that are available if you seek them out. The peers in my classes may have seemed like they were gliding by, but I found that they needed the help just as much as I did! So I learned not to take myself too seriously and to seek out help when I needed it. Four years may seem like a long time, but my freshman year flew past at the speed of light and I’m certain so will the next three years. Take advantage of being in college and having the freedom to explore. My favorite times last year were spent taking a weekend beach trip, visiting San Francisco, shopping at the farmer’s market Sunday mornings, tanning and playing sports on Wilbur field, and attending Stanford sports events. I have numerous memories already and a whole bucket list of other memories that I want to make.

I love North Carolina. It was a wonderful place to grow up. Similar to California, we have the beautiful beaches on the coast as well as thick forests in the Appalachian mountains. My favorite weekends were spent picking apples or taking on a hike in the nearby mountain range with my friends or my family. I am so deeply rooted in my North Carolina home that choosing Stanford was not a no-brainer. I wasn’t having the difficult decision of choosing between several Ivy League schools and Stanford; I had to choose between my home and a completely foreign place. I accepted my place at Stanford on the last possible day. An unexpected tragedy struck in August which made leaving home even more difficult, but come September, it was time to venture off on my own. Taking the plunge into the unknown is exciting. I have ventured into different academic disciplines, non-profit organizations, sports, and communities of people. I am thankful to have had all of the amazing experiences in this last year.

Although freshman year can be overwhelming at first, I came to realize that I was prepared and that I would be happy here. A few weeks into fall quarter, I remember calling my roommate late at night and letting her know that I was coming “home”. Just like that, my dorm, my school, became home.

Alex Enrique

Public Policy
Class of 2018

If you have a Stanford Story you would like to share, contact melissas@stanford.edu.