Rosa Gerdts ‘20 is a recent Blake graduate and plans on joining the class of 2024 at Pomona College. She enjoys eating her mom’s mole poblano and listening to good music — often best practiced simultaneously.
Q: What is the most surprising thing about you?
A: I wear sunscreen daily, even during the dark and arduous Minnesotan winters.
Q: What is your idea of a fruitful day?
A: I wake up at 9am, eat a delicious breakfast, listen to music that makes me smile and spend time in the sun.
Q: What are your three favorite smells?
A: The smell of earth after it rains (also known as petrichor), basil and the Home Depot
Q: What is the first thing you think of when you wake up in the morning?
A: “I wonder what I should eat.”
Q: Who is your hero?
A: My mom, who has taught me what it means to be courageous through example.
Q: If you had a theme song, what would it be?
A: “I’m Only Sleeping” by the Beatles
Q: What did you want to be when you were small?
A: I always imagined I would grow up to be a teacher. No subject in particular — I just always loved school and had the most amazing teachers to look up to. Magician was also a competitive contender.
Q: What is the best gift you have been given?
A: I was about 10 years old when my dad gave me a hot pink iPod Shuffle for Christmas. This glorious square inch of technology included five or so Beatles albums, which I listened to every possible chance I could.
Q: What do you miss most about being a kid?
A: I miss being read to. My oldest sister used to read me novels before bed, and my school librarian would always start class with a story. There’s something deeply personal and soft about storytelling — it requires imagination, an expressive reader and a perceptive listener.
Q: Do you collect anything?
A: I have been collecting vinyl records since the seventh grade and am now an owner of 108 alphabetically organized albums. My favorites include: “Aja” by Steely Dan, “Lucille” by B.B. King, “American Pie” by Don Mclean, “American Beauty” by the Grateful Dead, “Either/Or” by Elliott Smith and Weezer’s Blue Album.