California Lambda Kellie Hamrick was born in Guam, a U.S. island territory in Micronesia. She affectionately calls herself “a military baby” since she was born on the military base there. Her family then moved to the mainland and she grew up in Palm Springs, California. Kellie knew she wanted to go to college, but the decision to attend University of California, Riverside (UCR), was easy due to its proximity to her hometown as well as the diversity of thinking the University boasts.

In high school, Kellie was caught up with the things she believed other people wanted her to say or do. But college was her opportunity to learn the type of person she wanted to be and debut it to the world through the comfort of a university setting. Kellie ties this development back to the Pi Phi core value of Personal and Intellectual Growth. It was the ability to find out who she is that enabled Kellie to become more confident and secure in how she represented herself to others.

At UCR, Kellie has filled her schedule with classes on ethnic studies and history, but is most excited to chat about the people she has met on campus. She was excited her peers did not have the same background, religion or story as she did. Kellie truly delved into knowing and understanding these diverse individuals more deeply. Not only did she gain a greater knowledge of others, but Kellie also began to realize more about herself and the type of woman she wanted to be.

Kellie sought out leadership opportunities and pushed herself to apply for these roles. “I really can be a leader,” thought Kellie. That is the beauty of a college community: the opportunity to surround yourself with unique individuals and grow into the best version of yourself.