I am Chandler Vaughan, a 21-year-old senior at Elon University, and I use she/her pronouns. For half of my life, I lived in Baltimore, MD, and the other half in Charlotte, NC. I never know what to say, exactly, when people ask me which of these places I'm from, but I usually say both, as each played a major roles in shaping the woman I am today.
Currently, I major in policy studies with minors in poverty and social justice and leadership. I didn't pair these majors by chance but rather through a personal reflection of my own values and interests. From a young age, I was involved in youth development and community-based organizations (Girl Scouts, Delta GEMs, Youth City Council Leaderboard) that exposed me to many other opportunities. My growing awareness of these new opportunities framed my intention when I began to choose my extracurricular activities and major/minor at college.
Additionally, I've always had a heart for exploring! For instance, before going to college, I travelled to Mexico, the Bahamas, and Canada on family vacations. All of the trips left a positive impact on me and encouraged my interest in experiencing diverse cultures. Thus, I chose a university that was ranked highly in terms of its study abroad opportunities. In fact, Elon is ranked #1 in this respect!
