Makayla Reed, ‘26
she/her
- mnreed@middlebury.edu
Hometown: Middletown, DE
Languages: English
Major: International Politics & Economics
Main Extracurricular Activities: Middlebury College Activities Board, Tavern (Omega Alpha) Community Service Oriented Social House, Peer Career Advisor at the Center for Careers & Internships, Tour Guide Coordinator, PALANA multicultural social house
Favorite study spot? The Grille (even though I do more talking than actual studying there…)
Favorite food in the dining hall? Ross orange chicken
Favorite Vermont spot: Yogurt City in Middlebury—no one makes lemon green tea like they do
Favorite academic experience: Art Creation Through Breath, my first J-term class, has been one of my favorite classes I’ve taken at Middlebury. We would start each class with a 15-minute guided meditation, which we would then reflect on in our breathing journals. The class focused on connecting our art (singing, dancing, poetry, etc.) to our breathing, and we even had a showcase at the end of the term in the concert hall!
Where did you study abroad? In the spring of my junior year, I went on exchange at University College Utrecht in the Netherlands, and it was by far one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Not only did I become close friends with people from all over the world, but I also embraced Dutch culture (I miss my bike and stroopwafels dearly), and travelled to 15 countries while I was there, including spending a night in the Moroccan desert and skydiving in Switzerland!
Why did you choose to attend Middlebury? I could write a novel about all the reasons I chose to attend Middlebury. From the accessible study abroad programs and diverse student body to the emphasis on work-life balance, the encouragement to explore and lean into your interests, and even the opportunity to live in such a beautiful area. Middlebury checked all my boxes and then some that I hadn’t even thought to consider when applying to schools. One aspect that particularly stood out to me during the application process was how different my alumni interview for Middlebury felt compared to those for other schools. I had such a positive experience being interviewed by an alum in my area; I could tell she was genuinely interested in who I was as a person and that she had truly enjoyed her time at Middlebury. She was a wonderful reflection of how warm and welcoming the Middlebury community is—and, in the end, that’s what really drew me in.