Ella Cooper ('26)

How have you been involved in Carillon?
I was in the iGive community during the Fall 2022 semester and have chosen to continue with the optional continuation of the course during the Spring 2023 semester. I am now serving as a Carillon ambassador beginning this semester.

How do you feel carillon has helped you adapt to the college environment?
Carillon has helped me adapt to the college environment by allowing me to take classes with the same people who live in my residence hall. More specifically, I was able to foster relationships with many people in my classes because I had met them within my building, some of them actually living on my floor!

What is the most valuable thing you have learned from your Carillon experience?
The most valuable thing I have learned from my Carillon experience has been improving my interview skills. Both of my Carillon Community courses, IDEA101 and PLCY215, have stressed the importance of understanding and executing necessary interview skills. Now I know what it takes to thrive in this aspect of a professional setting.

What did you gain from your extracurricular experience in Carillon
Although this is my first semester serving as a Carillon ambassador, I can already see that I will be able to learn a lot about some of the other communities that are more unfamiliar to me. I will also be able to hear from other ambassadors/Carillon leaders about their unique experiences.

What advice would you give to someone considering joining Carillon? 
My advice would be to give it a shot! Joining Carillon has enriched my experience at the University of Maryland a great deal and has provided me with a way to make a large school feel smaller. It has allowed me to create and foster friendships with other individuals who share similar interests as me, and who I otherwise may not have met!