Meet Future Student Cate Harris
Hometown:
Burlington, NC
What school will you graduate from?
Western Alamance High School
What is your intended major?
Sustainable Materials and Technology
Why did you choose NC State and the College of Natural Resources?
Ever since I took AP Environmental Science, I realized the imminent need for more sustainable resources and products. I’ve been interested in creating a more sustainable lifestyle for myself, but I’m ready to help make sustainability more mainstream, hopefully. In the fall of my junior year, I came to tour NC State. Not only did I tour the general campus, but I toured the College of Natural Resources with a current student. Seeing first-hand what I would be doing as a student within that school made me so excited for the future. That excitement grew, even more when I was gifted a plant-based plastic keychain with NC State’s logo (and it has been a part of my keys since). I was able to see all of the materials and resources I would have access to and a glimpse of the knowledge I would gain. Ultimately, the choice was extremely easy!
What activities did you participate in during high school? What was your favorite and why?
I played varsity volleyball in high school and was involved in many volunteer-based clubs, such as the National Honors Society and Interact Club through Rotary International, and fundraising clubs, such as Western Alamance Dance Marathon and the Kids Helping Wish Kids Club. My favorite was probably the Kids Helping Wish Kids Club because I was the president of it for three years. We fundraised for Make-A-Wish Foundation to help grant wishes of kids with chronic illnesses, and being able to plan our annual fundraisers was always so exhilarating. Some other clubs I was involved in were DREAM Team, where varsity athletes came together to bring awareness to substance abuse to the community, and Warrior Buddies, where students helped with Exceptional Student Education by befriending fellow students. My favorite extracurricular outside of clubs was my involvement in YoungLife. It gave me such great friendships while also allowing us to work together and reach out to others to continue to grow that community.
What are you most excited about as you head to NC State?
There are really three reasons for my excitement! I’m a sociable person, so I can’t wait for all of the new people I will meet, but also I’m super excited for the classes I will take, especially as they go deeper into my major! The last reason, and possibly the actual most exciting, is that my sister will be a senior at NC State, and we will finally be living in the same city again!
What are you most nervous about as you head to college?
While my future classes excite me, they also make me a little nervous. I know they will be challenging, and while that can be scary, it makes the class more fun!
What would people be surprised to know about you?
I love baking. I do it for fun and as a stress reliever. One of my favorite things to do is bake my friends and family their favorite desserts for their birthdays. I feel as if this hobby blatantly reveals my enneagram type (2w1).
What are you going to miss from home?
The biggest thing I will miss from home is my family. We have a close relationship, and it will take some time to get used to not seeing them every day, but I will also miss all of the land and scenery I get to see daily. I live further in the country, surrounded by woods, and every drive is filled with fields, cows, and farms. Not being able to go to the backyard and begin a hike to the lake will be weird! However, I definitely won’t miss having to drive 20-25 minutes to Target!
What is your favorite quote?
“When one chapter ends, a bridge appears, and then you cross that bridge and make lemonade out of a molehill” -Winston Bishop of New Girl.