Kira Waldhalm, '27

Hometown: Harrisburg, SD
Languages: English, Mandarin
Majors: Chinese, Geography
Minor: Political Science
Main extracurricular activities: Debate, Middlebury College Activities Board, Student Government Association

What’s your favorite study spot on campus? My favorite study spot on campus is Le Chateau! I love the European architecture style of the whole building, and the inside is incredibly beautiful. Sometimes you get to hear someone playing piano as well! 

Favorite food in the dining hall? Korean BBQ at Atwater! It is really delicious and makes me always super excited to eat lunch after my Friday morning lecture.

Favorite Vermont spot? Favorite Middlebury location? My favorite place in Vermont is the Snowbowl, home to Middlebury’s own ski resort! Growing up in the Great Plains, I had never skied before coming to Vermont. It was super intimidating at first, but now I love going skiing in J-term! My favorite place in Middlebury is in front of the falls at Marble Works! I love getting boba from Yogurt City and then going on long walks around town.

Did you study abroad? I studied abroad at Capital Normal University in Beijing, China! It was incredible to get to live in China and see famous places like the Great Wall and the Forbidden Palace. I also did an internship at the Boston district courts during my junior year J-term. Before college, I had never left the Midwest, so I am incredibly grateful Middlebury has given me the opportunity to live and work across different contexts.

What has been the best, most interesting, or most thought-provoking class you’ve taken at Middlebury? Last semester, I took Pan-African Philosophy, which was a super interesting class on political institutions, the lasting impact of colonization, and political allyship between different communities.

Now that you’re a senior, what advice would you give your younger self about college admissions or the transition into college? I would tell myself to relax a little bit. There’s always so much to keep track of going from senior year high school and moving out to college as you become an adult. It can be really overwhelming, but things will work out. Don’t be afraid to try new things and keep making new friends. It might take some time, but you will find your people eventually.

Why did you choose to attend Middlebury? I ultimately chose Middlebury because of its size, liberal arts curriculum, and financial aid. I liked that Middlebury has small class sizes that makes it easy for students to have close relationships with their professors, as well as allowing for better discussion. I also liked the opportunity to explore different academic disciplines and figure out what I enjoyed studying: I came into college intending to study political science but ended up as a Chinese and Geography major. Middlebury also offered me the best financial aid package out of the colleges I applied to. In addition to tuition support, there’s an array of financial supports designed to ensure students from all backgrounds can make the most of their Middlebury experience. Student Access and Support grants have helped me learn to ski and buy a new laptop for school. I’ve also received a grant from the Center for Community Engagement to sponsor an unpaid internship.