Dancing Towards Change

Gillian Kelahan has been dancing since the age of three.

Raised in her hometown of Matawan, New Jersey, the senior sociology major utilizes her love of the activity to help her manage an anxiety disorder, which is common for so many young people in our country.

The pastime has obviously meant a great deal to Gillian as she has been able to overcome the ailment to become one of top all-around students at Washington College. “Anxiety has been something that I’ve had to deal with since high school and it often effects my learning ability in the classroom,” Gillian admitted. “It’s made it difficult to interact with other students and professors at times, but dancing is definitely a very important outlet for me.”

In fact, Gillian became the Washington College Dance Club President last semester and is excited about the direction of the organization despite the club being forced to interact entirely on Zoom this semester. “I took on the role because I wanted more students to become interested in our club and for us to collaborate with more groups on campus. We are looking to find as many choreographers to teach as many styles of dance as possible.”

Gillian began her freshman year as a theater major but quickly realized that it was no longer a career interest for her. Next, an internship with a kindergarten classroom in nearby Centreville made her rule out a career as a teacher; however, she did discover an affinity for working with families. That experience led her to her final decision to concentrate in sociology.

Another internship at the Kent Family Center in Chestertown last semester fortified her interest in the field. She worked under social worker Brianna Lentell, helping individuals build their resumes and gained valuable practice facilitating discussion groups. “I really learned about the citizens of Chestertown, which is something that I never would have done without the experience.”

Two classes, environmental sociology and chemistry of the environment, have stood above the rest for Gillian over her first three years on the Eastern Shore. “The first class focused on racism in our communities, a subject that is completely relevant and we had many really important conversations. The other one addressed climate change and it was very eye-opening for some of us that have been skeptical about the issue.”

Gillian is also an active member of the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority and currently holds a position as Co-Chair of Philanthropy. This year, she hopes to raise breast cancer awareness through events the campus community can attend virtually.

The public health and psychology minor plans on taking a gap year before enrolling in a post-graduate program after she graduates next spring. “I would like to find a job or an internship with a non-profit or a community organization," she explained. “I’m hoping next year will give me some direction in what type of grad school program that I would like to enter. My ultimate goal is to find a long-term job that enables me to help people of our country in some way.”

Gillian has been making great decisions about her future since the first time she stepped foot on campus.

“When I visited the campus on my recruiting trip it just felt good,” she stated. “Everybody I interacted with during my visit was very welcoming and greeted me with a smile. If you are looking for a place that will give you a community where everyone has the same determination in achieving their goals, Washington College is the place. Our professors have given us the tools to achieve our goals.”