Taylor Barnard
Get to know Taylor
- Majors: Event management and Financial counseling and planning
- Class: Junior
- Hometown: Bloomington, Illinois
- Career goal: Working with the Make-A-Wish Foundation
- Clubs/activities: CHS STudy Abroad Research Team (START)
- Awards/honors: Dean’s List every semester since Fall 2016
- Favorite place on campus: Farm House Museum
- Most influential ISU mentor: The faculty and staff of MacKay Hall
- Favorite class: EVENT 379
- Why Iowa State: Dedication to education and opportunities for campus involvement
Taylor Barnard talks majors, squirrels, and studying abroad
Taylor Barnard has made the most out of her college experience with two majors, two minors, and one incredible study abroad opportunity.
Taylor is currently majoring in event management and financial counseling and planning and minoring in hospitality management and political science. But she didn’t always have a confident grip on what she wanted to do. Taylor came to her Iowa State University (Iowa State) orientation as a business major, but on the second day switched to the College of Human Sciences (CHS) to major in event management.
Taylor felt at ease with her choice. Iowa State folklore helped solidify confidence in her decision too.
“[When switching], I had that ease of picking the right major,” Taylor said. “Then I saw the [white] squirrel by MacKay, and I knew I made the right decision. It was like a good omen.”
Taylor is optimistic about her future no matter what path her career takes. She said that her majors and minors are preparing her for jobs ranging from political event planning to family financial counseling, and she enjoys having all the options.
“Either way, I’ll be able to help people, which is my main interest,” Taylor said. “I feel like the College of Human Sciences has allowed me to find my own unique experience here.”
To build on her unique academic experience, Taylor studied abroad in the Czech Republic last summer. She experienced the culture’s event management methods while traveling through the country’s major tourist destinations.
“It was a great time,” Taylor said. “I still talk with people I studied abroad with and look back on the photos. We all bonded so much over all those shared memories.”
Travel is a crucial part of life to Taylor. Her time studying abroad has made her Iowa State story rich with memories and understanding of other cultures.
“The world is so big, and there’s so many different perspectives and cultures out there. If you don’t appreciate them, you’re not living life fully,” she said.
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