RACHEL HAHN, CLASS OF 2012
Rachel Hahn graduated from University High School in 2012 and is currently studying communications sciences and disorders and Spanish at Butler University. She was recently named one of the Top 10 women at Butler University, and she was selected to be one of eight Fairbanks Undergraduate Student Research Scholars at the university as well. Below Rachel answers questions about her college experience and how University prepared her for Butler and beyond.
What have you been up to since leaving University?
I have been studying communication sciences and disorders and Spanish at Butler University. In the years since I graduated from University, I have had the opportunity to do my own research with a faculty advisor, become an RA, serve on the council of students that advises Butler’s president and administrators, found a spiritual group for Lutheran students on campus, study abroad in Mexico, and have countless amazing experiences serving in Indianapolis community.
How do you feel University best prepared you for college?
Many high schools could have prepared me academically for college, and my classes at University definitely made the academic transition as smooth as possible, but I doubt another school could have given me the confidence and leadership experience that would allow me to make the absolute most out of my four years of college. At University, you are encouraged to pursue what you love and become the best version of yourself. Coming to college with that mindset pushed me to get involved with organizations that matched my passions or start a student organization if it didn’t yet exist. Because I was able to gain leadership skills at University, I have been able to feel confident leading very large groups of people for causes that I care about. This has enabled me to give back to the Butler community through residence life and student government, and the world community through my leadership of service trips and community education.
Do you see that the core values you learned at University still apply to your life now? How?
The core values of University are human values, so they definitely still apply to my life. I actively pursue excellence in academics, and I take responsibility for my actions. Also, as an RA, I model and teach mutual respect, support, and trust and stewardship in my unit of freshman students. That is such a key to creating a positive community. I value diversity in many capacities, and I am thrilled that it is such of a focus in so many of my activities at Butler. Creativity is essential to creating unique ideas for my speech pathology clients and the student organizations I lead.
Please share your best University memory.
Some of my favorite memories at University were just regular classes with fantastic teachers and peers (like AP Spanish Lit with Sra. Bollinger, or any of the classes with Mr. Priest). But I have to say my all-time favorite memory was the Jazz and Rock Drumming J-Term! I discovered a new passion for drumming in that class (I still drum today!), and it was such a joy to make music all day with amazing people!
Do you regularly volunteer or do service work? If so what do you do?
I aim to orient my whole life around service, so I spend a significant amount of time each week doing service work! Career-wise, I can’t wait to serve individuals with communication disorders as a Speech Language Pathologist, and I have had the opportunity to volunteer with many of the people I will someday serve through Butler’s Speech and Language Clinic, Community Screening Program, and Aphasia Community. I volunteered as a camp counselor at Bradford Woods (a camp for kids with disabilities) for one summer, I volunteer with Riley Hospital, and I spend time tutoring children learning English at IPS schools. Also, I have had the opportunity to lead three Fall Alternative Break trips for Butler students doing work with rural poverty in Appalachia. I also have traveled to Guatemala as a Medical Translator for Doctors with Timmy Global Health!
Check our Featured Alumni page often for profiles on University High School graduates like Rachel.