Many interests

When she came to Iowa State, Chantal Roberts had no specific major in mind. "I was interested in way too many things," she said.

She possesses a strong interest in international issues. Having traveled to more than a dozen nations and lived overseas three times has given her a keen interest in globalization and a desire to help people in need in developing nations. But she was unsure in how to pursue her interests.

Open option
Chantal entered Iowa State as an open option student. This allowed her to start college and explore her choices for a major. She worked with her open option adviser in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

"She really talked me through things," Chantal said of adviser Lynn Sandeman. "She helped me choose my classes."

One of those classes was on renewable resources (for example, growing corn to create ethanol for fuel). The course opened her eyes to a lot of possibilities.

"I thought of all these ways I could help people, then I thought of food," Chantal recalled. "It all begins with food. I thought that would be a good way to help."

Chantal chose to major in agronomy to study crop rotation and yields. "I want to go to a lesser-developed country where they may not use the land as profitably as possible."

Dutch home away from home
Her mother is Dutch and her father is a college professor who does research abroad. As a result, Chantal has lived in Holland three times. She has ventured throughout Europe and she also has been to India. "I love traveling," she noted.

Chantal also is an intern for the Iowa Resource for International Service. IRIS is an Ames organization that fosters international education and development through rural initiatives. Among her duties Chantal has helped find host families for students from Nigeria and Tanzania.

Gaffer's Guild
A new hobby Chantal discovered on campus is the ISU Gaffer's Guild, the university's glass blowing club. "It's been wonderful. You take a course to learn how to do it and from then on you work with a partner to make all kinds of things."

Members make bowls, vases, ornaments and even fishbowls. Chantal is still learning the craft, however. "Only about 50 percent of my pieces survive," she laughed.

Chantal Roberts
Freshman
Agronomy
Ames, Iowa

 

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www.openoption.iastate.edu

 

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