Nick Merrill

B.A. in Latin American Studies
Minors in Global Business, Spanish
Graduating April 2021

“I was born and raised in Chicago. While I loved growing up near the city, I've fallen in love with the mountains and Utah since moving here to attend BYU. I love traveling! Through a study abroad program and volunteering with Humanitarian Experience for Youth (HEFY), I visited 15 countries in 2019. In my free time, I love playing soccer, running, hiking, skiing (especially at Alta Ski Resort) and cheering for Chicago sports teams (even when they disappoint me).”

What’s one item on your bucket list?
“Next on my list is a combined Greece/Italy trip.”

What sparked your interest in your major?
“Learning to speak Spanish on my mission and falling in love with the culture and people of Latin America.”

Why did you decide to join the Honors Program?
“I loved the idea of being able to study subjects from an interdisciplinary perspective. After taking my first Unexpected Connections course, Biology and Letters, I fell in love with the structure of the Honors Program. I have thoroughly enjoyed each class I've taken since.”

What has been your favorite part of your Honors Experience?
“Working as a TA for the Intro to Great Questions course and getting to work with incoming freshmen and students who are interested in pursuing the Honors Program has been my most cherished experience with the Honors Program.”

What is your next step in Honors?
“I'm starting to brainstorm what I'm going to write my thesis on now, and hope to make significant progress on writing it this summer!”