[Editor's note: This is part 1 of 11 in a series of Aquinas College student profiles being published on the Aquinas website throughout the spring 2012 semester.]

Graduating in May 2012, senior Anne Parks said that she knew she wanted to come to Aquinas the moment she saw how many opportunities there were both inside and outside of the classroom. AQ was the only college she applied to, something that unsettled her parents. "My parents wanted me to stay home for a year and go to a community college. They were wary about me excluding other colleges but I knew Aquinas was the place for me," the dual English and community leadership major said. She remembers her first campus visiting as having been quite short due to a blizzard and bone chilling temperatures. Luckily her parents' chilly attitudes were warmed by the sense of community they found at Aquinas. It is through this community Parks believes she has found success both academically and personally.

“Anne represents what makes Aquinas students exemplary,” said Associate Dean of Student and Professor of English Dr Jennifer Dawson. “During her time at Aquinas, Anne has never been content to watch from the sidelines but has been an active force on campus. She is someone who leads by example and draws other people to work with her because of her enthusiasm, sense of humor, and work ethic .”

In her four years at Aquinas Parks has had a hand on just about everything. From Student Senate to CYBIAC, CAVA and Casa Hogar, to being captain of the women’s lacrosse team for three years to acting as coordinator for Student Action Committee (SAC), Parks has sought to become involved in as much as possible. She said that, as a freshman, she only thought that she would learn to be independent but soon found that education doesn’t just happen in the classroom.

Having applied to AmeriCorps and Teaching for America, Parks plans to work for a non-profit organization and put her Aquinas degree to good use, particularly on the east side of Michigan near her home town of Flint. “I know this will be a tough and not always pleasant lifestyle, but it is what I feel I am called to do," said Parks.

As someone who gave her all and experienced everything, Parks would like to be remembered for her drive to be involved: a drive that is quite obvious in her history of service and leadership such as participating in Model United Nations, service learning retreats, being a student athlete, going to Catholic Workers Houses, and still having time to assume the responsibilities of Director of Diversity for Student Senate.

“She was an excellent SAC Coordinator who built a community among the club members, and motivated and helped to educate them so that they could better serve the world,” said Director of Campus Ministry Mary Clark-Kaiser. “ Her idealism, her commitment to justice and peace, and her faith serve as a role model for other students.”

Having sacrificed sleep, study time and perhaps some of her sanity along the way, it is obvious that Parks knows, looking back at her time well spent, that she has made the right decisions in seeking out and creating life-changing experiences.

Her favorite memories are all with friends, whether it was pulling all-nighters or putting aside writing a paper to debate about gay rights or humanitarian law. Parks said that she knows that her papers may have suffered for this love of experience but in 10 years, what grade she received won’t matter, what will, though, is the memory of drinking tea while debating human dignity.