By Mimi Danicic ’13
May 29, 2013
“Nothing ventured, nothing gained”: a timeless philosophy, especially for Laura Lake. The Winona State senior is involved in more than her fair share of activities on and off campus.
As you might expect of someone with that credo, Lake graduated this spring with a double major in political science and public policy. She was also active in WSU’s American Democracy Project, which organizes a number of events and projects to prepare students to be active and engaged citizens in their communities.
When not focused on academic work, Lake spent hours rehearsing for and performing in the Winona Symphony Orchestra and WSU Chamber Orchestras. After practice, it was off to the Women’s Resource Center of Winona, where Lake volunteered for ten hours a week as a crisis advocate for women and children who may have experienced domestic or sexual violence.
And when her fellow students retired in their dorms, Lake was on call as assistant hall director at Lucas Hall, supervising a staff of four resident assistants and seven desk assistants.
Lake wasn’t busy just to be busy. By filling her calendar, she says she practiced valuable skills. “Even something as minor as time management is a skill you need to just learn by doing.”
Her endless workdays were also good for her resume. She believes her broad interests may catch an employer’s eye and give her a competitive edge in the real world. “You can never be too involved, as long as you know your limits.”
Looking into the future, graduate school in Chicago is next on the list for Lake. There she’ll prepare for what she excitedly describes as her perfect job: company director for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, coordinating fundraising and writing grants.
With her “nothing ventured, nothing gained” outlook, Lake’s dreams are within reach.
