Humans of USU: Sophomore wants to follow in grandfather’s footsteps
The Utah Statesman interviewed Gabrielle Mower, a sophomore in accounting from Texas.
The Utah Statesman: Why study accounting?
Gabrielle Mower: My grandpa is an accountant, and I just wanted to follow his footsteps. I love numbers.
US: What made you pick Utah State?
GM: I’m actually from Texas, and my grandma went here. I have a cousin that goes here. So I decided to apply, and I applied to a couple other schools in Utah. I really love Utah, and I came and toured the campus. And I got an in-city scholarship so I came here.
US: Had you been to Utah previously?
GM: I have a lot of family here. So, it’s like, it seems like home to me.
US: Do you enjoy outdoor activities?
GM: I love the mountains, but one of the things that terrifies me is hiking at night. I’m terrified of wildlife because I don’t really know what’s in the mountains. But I figure skate, so that’s what I do.
US: How long have you been figure skating?
GM: Since I was six. I’m 19. 13 years.
US: What got you into ice skating?
GM: I went one time with my friend, and then my mom just kind of put me in lessons. I started to do it, and I loved it.
US: Do you skate competitively or is it a hobby?
GM: I did for eight years, and now I just coach at Eccles Ice Center.
US: What fall activities are you excited for?
GM: Pumpkin carving. I’m excited for that. I’ve always wanted to go to a corn maze. I’ve never done that before.
US: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
GM: I’d probably go to like Italy or somewhere really cool with a lot of history, and just like cool sites and everything. Have you ever seen “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants?” Where they go in the second one, I don’t remember. Is that Italy? Greece, that’s where it is. That’s where I want to go. It’s so pretty. It’s gorgeous up there.
US: Do you have any hidden talents?
GM: I’m super organized. I’m really anal about being organized. My roommates probably hate me. Like, my clothes are color coordinated, always. I always write everything down on the calendar. I have to write it down, or first of all it won’t happen if it doesn’t get written down. I love to be organized.
US: Have you always been like that or did you start in college?
GM: No, definitely always been like that. My mom said since I was a little kid, like I had this container of beads, and I would take them and organize them by the colors.
US: Favorite holiday and why?
GM: Definitely Christmas. … Actually Thanksgiving is good too because there’s lots of food. But I think I love Christmas the most. Just like the feeling and being with my family, and waking up early, going downstairs with your siblings and everything. That’s probably my favorite.
US: How many siblings do you have?
GM: I have three. An older brother and a younger brother and a younger sister. …It’s fun. I feel like, being in Utah, it’s not one of the bigger families. Like, everyone has like ten kids when there’s four of us. But it’s fun. We’re all very different. I always say if God didn’t put us together as a family I doubt we’d be friends because we’re very different, but it’s fun. It’s an adventure.
US: Do you have any advice for freshmen?
GM: Learn how to study. My first semester was awful. I didn’t ever sleep. I wanted to do everything, and I didn’t know how to balance anything, and I did not study. I could have made a lot better grades if I studied. Definitely learn how to study. So now I have to pick up the pieces from my first year of college, and it’s a little more difficult.