Nicolette Brownstein

COL ’17
Age: 19
Hometown: Vero Beach, Fla.
Major: Undeclared

What do you do?
I tutor for D.C. Schools project in the adult program; I’m on the events committee for GU Women in Leadership; and I’m the new undersecretary for campus living in GUSA.

What do you find most frustrating about Georgetown?
The biggest thing that bothers me is when people I know don’t acknowledge me when we pass each other on campus or on the street. I’m sure some people are busy and just don’t notice sometimes, but there’s definitely been instances when I’ve been flat-out ignored. Also, it’s not weird that I went to public school. People think it is. It’s not.

What do you like most about Georgetown?
Whether it be in the classroom or from another person, I feel like I learn something new every day. Even though it’s a cliche, the people — the students, the teachers — make Georgetown. I came from a very large high school, and that usually wasn’t the case. Some people had no goals whatsoever. So being in a place where everyone has a goal, especially when that goal is to make the world a better place, is refreshing. I also love that people are so aware of what is going around them not only in the state and in the country but in the world.

Will you donate to Georgetown and why?
As of my experience now, yes I would. I wouldn’t be here without the help of scholarships and the generosity of alumni, so I feel the responsibility to pay it forward and help kids attend a school they might not otherwise be able to financially. 

What are your plans after Georgetown? Does this question annoy you?
It kind of annoys me. I have an idea — I know I want to go to law school and work in international development — but ultimately I don’t have any exact plan, and that’s okay with me. 

What do you hope Georgetown will help you accomplish?
I hope it makes me a well-rounded and balanced person. I hope it equips me to contribute to the world and make it a better place for someone else. I think that’s the ultimate purpose of everyone — to help someone other than yourself. 

Do you feel you fit in at Georgetown?
I think it depends. I fit in in that I have similar goals and ambitions to everyone else. Sometimes I don’t think I fit in socially — my idea of a great time isn’t necessarily the same as what the average college kid’s idea of a good time is. I think I’ve found my niche here, but I don’t think it’s on par with the average.

What’s your favorite class you’ve taken at Georgetown?
My first favorite class was “Medieval Renaissance Dramas” with Michael Collins. He was an incredible teacher with an interesting subject. I loved going to see “Romeo and Juliet” at the Folger Shakespeare Library as part of the class requirement. My other favorite class has been “International Relations” with Matthew Kroening. I had an incredible TA, and the class really made me intent on pursuing a career in international affairs.

Where are you from? Compare and contrast it to Georgetown. Where are you more comfortable?
I am from Vero Beach, Fla. It’s a small resort community on the east coast of Florida. Obviously, it’s much warmer there, and there’s the ocean, which I do miss. It was a great place to grow up and I’m grateful for the opportunities it afforded to me. At the same time, I was ready to leave. Being at Georgetown and in D.C. offers a larger wealth of opportunities. I love being able to go to the monuments and visit the museums. I think another large difference between Vero and D.C. is that D.C. has a lot more diversity — Vero is a very conservative community and a lot of people have similar backgrounds. Here, everyone has a different story. 

Is there anything I should have asked that I didn’t?
You should have asked me for my spirit animal, everyone else at Georgetown has.

Interview by Lauren Seminack