Meet Stephen Childs, an incoming Southgate dorm resident from Naples, Florida. Stephen is returning to his freshman year at Duke after taking a medical leave last Fall. This interview is part of a summer blog series profiling one Class of 2018 member from each of the 13 East Campus dorms. Look out for the rest of the blogs on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays leading up to Orientation Week.
Major: Biology. Might want to be a paleontologist one day.
Pre-orientation: None
Summer plans: Working at a golf club and volunteering five days days a week.
Favorite type of weather: "Duke in November — with the leaves falling off the trees, and it cools down at night. In the low 70s during the day and high 50s at night."
Favorite book/literary work: 'The Bro Code' by Barney Stinson and 'A Short History of Nearly Everything' by Bill Bryson.
Spirit animal: Golden retriever. "I'm very approachable and I always am smiling. If you love me I will be sure to love you back."
Guilty pleasure: "I like watching Disney movies, like 'Frozen' in particular."
Impression from first trip to Duke: "I remember walking up to the Chapel and being blown away by the organ playing. I stepped in there for a moment and someone was practicing and it was just powerful."
What he will add to the Southgate community: "I regret not running for House Council. A pool table or ping pong table — I want to be sure to get that… I'm excited to be going into a Southgate triple with my buddies Andre Goode and Temur Khamidov. It also doesn't hurt that it's rumored to be the biggest room on East Campus. "
Things he's excited to try out at Duke: "Things I never did this past year: Exploring the city of Durham, going to Shooters, tenting for the UNC game, being a part of House Council. Not necessarily in that order."
What he's most nervous about at Duke: "Balancing being a Cameron Crazie and a crazy course load."
If he could be famous for one thing, what it would be: "Having East Residence Hall renamed after me."
Weirdest thing he plans to pack: Rubix cube
Essential dorm decorating item: "Flatscreen HDTV with Apple TV. I've been working over the summer to afford something like that."
Any last thoughts: "Realize this is one of the few times in your life when you start with a blank slate. Let's get off to a great start, beginning with O-Week!"
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