The purpose of this column is to highlight a Northeastern student each week. Our goal is to shed light on students who may otherwise not get an opportunity to share their story. Each week will showcase a different student’s unique traits or passion.
Writing these student spotlights is one of my favorite things to write because I get the opportunity to have really meaningful and genuine conversations with people. I get to learn so much about someone and what they’ve done or what they’re striving to do in just one conversation. It’s eye-opening and humbling to acknowledge how much you can learn about someone’s story and background when you engage in sincere interactions.
I sat down with Taylor Kimbrough, a second year finance major with an international relations minor. Kimbrough didn’t hesitate to get a head start on becoming an independent adult. She studied abroad in China after receiving a scholarship from the Department of State the summer before her first semester at Northeastern. She got the opportunity to delve deep in Chinese culture by living with a host family and practicing the language in everyday interactions.
Kimbrough had to adjust to different environments in quite a short period of time. She left her hometown of Albany, NY, which she has a special connection to. Kimbrough said, “My Dad was a police officer for 21 years and I was always involved in community programs for kids, so I’ve always been engaged and attached to where I live.” The foundation she created for herself in her community allowed her to step outside of her comfort zone and travel to China before starting a new chapter of her life in Boston.
“When graduating high school, the first thing on my mind wasn’t Northeastern, it was studying abroad in China,” she emphasized.
Her ties to China still continue as she’s used Northeastern’s Dialogue of Civilizations program to combine her Northeastern education with Chinese culture. Her Dialogue was called Chinese Language, Society and Culture where she visited a variety of business companies, Government entities, and took classes at a University. Studying abroad has helped Kimbrough navigate the tough journey that every young person goes through in figuring out who they really are. It helped her become more confident in who she is as a person and in speaking Chinese. These weren’t the only perks for Kimbrough. While we all meet and connect with new people when coming to college, meeting people abroad is different.
She stated, “Going abroad with a group of people just really brings you together and I’m still friends with all the people from my dialogue … [they are] good people that you actually want to stay in touch with.” Kimbrough has a genuine passion for traveling and experiencing different environments and cultures.
Traveling isn’t the only thing that contributes to Kimbrough’s unique independence that most second year college students haven’t figured out how to achieve yet. She’s also a twin. Although that may give the impression that they’re dependent on each other, having the right balance of consistent support has forced her to do things on her own. Her parents allowed Taylor and her twin sister to figure things out on their own, knowing that they’d always have each other’s back if they needed it.
“As I’m growing and developing, it’s nice to have someone to live with and buy groceries with,” she explained about going to school together. They grew up with each other, attended the same high school, attend Northeastern together, and play rugby together. It doesn’t get any better than having a partner in crime to do things with all the time.
While Kimbrough couldn’t imagine life without her sister, there is always a challenge.
“Sometimes it’s hard differentiating yourself … we’re so easily influenced by each other,” she stated. Finding your place in the world is already difficult in itself so it can be difficult when people always identify them with each other; they’re sometimes referred to as “the twins” rather than individuals. But, she wouldn’t want it any other way.
Kimbrough continued to explain that the thing that helps her differentiate herself from her sister is her major. After changing her major three times, she found that majoring in Finance fit for her.
“It’s so much more concrete for me … I also feel like people don’t realize you can work in so many different fields because every single company has to manage their finances,” Kimbrough elaborated.
Joining the Women in Finance club has contributed to creating a special experience for her at Northeastern. With finance being a male-dominated industry, Women in Finance allows women to get a leg up with support coming from every angle, even providing a mentor and mentee program. Kimbrough said that Joining Women in Finance is a good outlet because she is in a community where she can relate to and network with other young women. Sometimes it can be hard to find others to relate to, especially at a large, predominantly white institution like Northeastern. With Northeastern’s black students only making up 6% of the population, being surrounded by strong women who are determined to make something of themselves in Finance makes feeling comfortable a little bit easier for Kimbrough.
“Black culture in general is misinterpreted a lot of the time… I wouldn’t say it’s a struggle,” explained Kimbrough. “It’s just something that’s always in the back of my mind. Like okay, I’m not around people who are like me right now. It’s harder to feel comfortable when people won’t understand where you’re coming from.”
Kimbrough’s strength and independence has allowed her to adapt to different settings, atmospheres and cultures that most people at this age can’t do. Kimbrough has proven that when you take control of your own life you can create something of yourself you could have never imagined.