Mae Ling Gorin ’26
Mae Ling Gorin knows how important it is for underrepresented voices to be heard on campus, so she’s dedicated her Kenyon career to creating spaces where that can happen.
“I plan and manage a lot of events for all of campus that encourage underrepresented populations to speak about their experiences,” said Gorin, a sociology and psychology double major from Massillon, Ohio.
She does this through a variety of roles, serving as co-student house manager of the Crozier Center for Women; president of the First-Generation Low-Income Group (FiGLI); a senior fellow in the Office of Admissions; and a member of Student Council’s Student Life Committee.
This month, Gorin and her Crozier co-student manager, Ashley Martinez ’27, have been busy doing that work by planning a host of activities for Women’s History Month. These include a screening of the 2019 version of “Little Women” on March 20, a trivia night at the Village Inn, and a partnership with AVI involving activities and sweet treats.
She took a few minutes to talk about her love of Summer Sendoff, the importance of going to the gym, and why there’s no better song for a stroll down Middle Path than “Walking on Sunshine.”
Besides Gambier, where is your favorite place in the world to be?
Montpellier, France. This place (where I studied abroad) will always have a place in my heart as I experienced a different culture than the one I grew up in. I miss the sunny days and how bustling Place de la Comédie was when the weather got to be a little nicer.
Why did you come to Kenyon?
After looking at Kenyon over the summer and before my sophomore year in high school, I never went on another college tour again. When it came to actually applying, I did not hesitate for a moment. When I was getting acceptances to other places, none of them felt fulfilling. After changing to be Early Decision 2, I remember sitting on the floor of my mom's bedroom and opening my acceptance letter. It is one of my favorite memories that explains why Kenyon was always the right choice from the beginning.
Fill in the blank: My experience at Kenyon would not be the same without ______.
Opportunities. On this campus, there are so many amazing people that I have gotten to know through the opportunities that I have taken. From having the opportunity to start my Kenyon career off by enrolling in KEEP (Kenyon Educational Enrichment Program) and all the way to being offered the position of co-housing manager. I would not be anywhere close to where I am today without the opportunities that I have been given on countless occasions.
What is your favorite Kenyon tradition?
Summer Sendoff! I love how lively campus becomes. There is so much to love — from the food trucks, the student bands, and the performer that has one or two top hits.
What Kenyon class would you love to take — again or for the first time?
I would love to retake my special topics class that was called Group Dynamics (PSYC 291). I got to take that class with some of my favorite people and learn about the psychology behind how groups function. We got to take a deeper look into how we also functioned in group settings through a murder mystery game and in our presentation groups.
If there was a soundtrack to your Kenyon experience, what song would be on repeat?
“Walking on Sunshine” by Katrina and The Waves. All of my experiences have helped me grow as a person and this song helps me remember some of my best memories that I have been able to have on this campus.
Where do you find satisfaction outside of your studies?
The gym! I love being able to do something that helps my mental and physical health but also be a reminder to women and femme-identifying people out there that the gym is not a scary place. Things are always scary when you start something new, but it is also part of the experience.
What is something interesting that you have read recently?
In one of my classes, we have been talking a lot about narratives and the way they are written to invoke a certain style to make the audience feel a certain way. That being said, I am always interested when the "New York Times: In Short" pops up in my inbox since the entire style of The New York Times is written in a narrative format that is supposed to draw you in by the title alone! I love the summary from The New York Times, but I find it interesting how much it is able to draw in readers and make them click on other hyperlinks to make them stay on The New York Times page for as long as possible.
What new skill would you like to learn?
I would love to learn how to play the piano! The piano break in “Chiquitita” by ABBA more specifically.
What is the best piece of advice that you've ever been given?
"We don't grow when things are easy. We grow when we face challenges"
The Kenyon Ten is an occasional question-and-answer feature that highlights students, faculty and staff.