Lauren Bushnell

B.S. in Experience Design Management
Minor in Communications and Nonprofit Management
Graduating December 2021

I am an avid reader, prolific note taker, competitive runner, and I could spend hours on end walking through art museums. I love volunteer work, particularly with youth and special needs individuals, and am planning to be involved in nonprofit work in my future career. I love watching movies and have probably watched the Rocky series a good twenty times. I am very interested in business and the concept of creating positive experiences within the corporate and nonprofit business sectors. My greatest passion, though, is teaching. Nothing makes me feel happier or more fulfilled than working with and advising students—particularly on the collegiate level—and my dream is to become a college professor. If I could become Katherine Watson in the movie, Mona Lisa Smile, I will have made it in life.

What’s been the most significant plot twist in your life?
Growing up I never would have imagined myself as a teacher or making a career in the field of academia. Working as a TA for Honors 120 completely changed this for me and ignited a spark for teaching that I didn't know existed. Since then I have looked more in-depth into a career as a professor and, as a result, have had incredible teaching and work opportunities come forth. My entire career trajectory and college experience has changed because of one semester as an Honors 120 TA.

All modesty aside, what are you better at than 90% of people?
I am very proud to admit that I am pretty much an expert at quoting movies and TV shows. If I have seen it at least twice, I'll remember it. My greatest accomplishment in life is probably that I can recite word-for-word the entire 1998 Parent Trap, and I can tell you details about every episode of all eight seasons of Full House, including details about outfits and hairstyles. I'm also an expert bubblegum chewer and will stand head-to-head with anyone in a bubble blowing contest.

Why did you decide to join the Honors Program?
This question for me is less about why I decided to join the program, and more about why I stayed. I joined as a freshman because I liked the idea of being an honors student and the distinction of being in the program, but I stayed in the program based on the experiences I have had working with the program's incredible professors and being involved in the classes. I loved the unique way that the program approaches an undergraduate education and how involved the classes are. The biggest thing for me was the way that the program shaped how I think and approach all of my classes, which has profoundly influenced how I see education and learning in a way that I hope to reflect as a professor.

What has been your favorite part of your Honors Experience?
I can confidently say that joining the Honors Program has been one of the greatest decisions I’ve made in my time at BYU. I have loved taking each of the classes and taking part in various activities and events hosted by the program. I don't know if I can really choose one "favorite part" of my Honors Experience, but I would probably say that it has been the opportunity to get to know and network with incredible professors from all across campus. Not only have I been able to get to know my professors on an individual level, but taking Honors 320 required me to reach out to other professors across campus to research for my Great Question essay, which has led to strengthened relationships and mentoring opportunities. Being in the program has opened doors and introduced me to incredible people I never would have otherwise met, and I am incredibly grateful for that opportunity!

What is your next step?
I am currently finishing Honors 320, after which my next step will be to start working on my Thesis. I have several ideas in mind of what I want to explore for my Thesis Project and what I will need to do for research, but I still have some things to set in stone and can’t wait to get started!