The University of Minnesota is home to nearly 50,000 students majoring in over 50 different fields of study. The campus currently has over 1,000 student organizations, 25 sports clubs, and almost any intramural activity you can think of. There are countless amounts of volunteer opportunities on and off campus, and a variety of unique work places and internships. So, how does one stick out in the sea of people? I was able to meet one special student, Andrew Sako, to learn about what makes him unique. As a pre-law student, Andrew was involved with volunteering opportunities, interning for Hennepin County, and studying for the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT). His service to our campus community deserves recognition, and I am honored to be a part of the Gopher community where students, like Andrew, aid in the success and unification of our campus.

Meet Andrew

Karina Puent: What makes you a unique student?

Andrew Sako: I would say that my passion for volunteering makes me a unique student. Even though it may feel difficult to make a positive impact in the world as a college student, I believe that volunteering my time to help others is a way that I can make that difference. I’m a camp counselor for Camp Kesem, a student organization at the University of Minnesota that fundraises money to run a week-long summer camp for children who have been affected by a parent’s cancer. I’ve also been volunteering for over a year now as a legal counseling advocate for Tubman, Minnesota’s largest provider of domestic violence services, where I assist attorneys in providing legal advice to people dealing with a family law issue at a very low cost. This year I got involved with a student group called "Students Today Leaders Forever," and will be going on a service trip to Denver during spring break.

KP: How did you get involved with Camp Kesem?

AS: I got involved with Camp Kesem because I came across a Facebook post in my newsfeed last April for #WhyIKesemWednesday where the camp counselors spread awareness of the group through social media. Up until this point, I had never heard about the organization but as I started reading about it, my jaw dropped. When I was 10 years old my father passed away from lung cancer. Since then, I have always struggled with feeling different than everyone else and absolutely dreaded having to explain what happened to my father to others. I knew right away that I wanted to get involved and was lucky that they were still in need of male counselors even though the application process had been completed over a long time ago.

KP: What advice do you have for others who might be interested in pursuing Camp Kesem?

AS: I would check out our chapter’s website. It has information about us, links to our social media, and more. If you’re interested in the process of getting involved, you should send an e-mail to minnesota.volunteer@campkesem.org and they will let you know what steps you should take. We’ve finished our applications for the summer of 2017, but we will be having applications again in the fall for the summer of 2018. Also, even if you will be graduating in May of 2018, you can still be a camp counselor for the summer of 2018.

KP: What is your day to day life like? When do you typically get up in the morning? Do you prioritize work? School? How much time do you spend with Camp Kesem?

AS: On a typical weekday I get up around six or seven am. Depending on what time my classes start, I’ll try to get in a workout at the Rec Center either before or after my classes. Right now, I’ve been pretty busy because I’ve been studying intensively for the LSAT on top of my university classes, so that’s been my main priority during my free time. School and exercising are definitely what I prioritize.

Even though Camp Kesem is mainly about a one-week summer camp, I still spend plenty of time with my Camp Kesem family throughout the year. We usually have a meeting, volunteer event, or bonding activity at least once every two weeks.

KP: What is something you never go a day without doing?

AS: Something I never go a day without doing is exercising. I usually try to get a workout in at the Rec Center but if I’m having a busier day, I’ll try to fit in a quick workout at my apartment’s gym or make an effort to spend a decent amount of time walking outside throughout the day.

KP: At the end of the day, what do you always hope to have accomplished?

AS: I try to stay organized and have a “To Do” list on my laptop with everything that I want to get done each day. As long as I’ve done everything on my list for that day, I am happy.

KP: Do you recommend Camp Kesem to others?

AS: Absolutely. Joining Camp Kesem was without a doubt the best decision I made during my time at the University of Minnesota. Also, you don’t have to have been personally affected by a parent’s cancer to become a camp counselor. We all come from different backgrounds, but something we all have in common is that we hate cancer. Joining Camp Kesem really helped me grow as a person because it’s such a judgment free zone and you can just be yourself. To assist with this, everyone gets their own camp name. Mine is Taco. I used to be a pretty shy person but now I have no problem singing camp songs about llamas in front of a lecture hall filled with 300 people. Camp Kesem truly is a life changing experience.

KP: What other interests or hobbies do you have that people might not expect if they don’t know you?

AS: Something a lot of people might not expect is that I enjoy playing the piano. I took lessons when I was younger but picked it up again last summer after not having played for several years. Right now I’m trying to learn how to play the piano rendition of "Titanium" by Sia.

Fast Facts

Hometown: Bloomington, Minnesota

Year in School: Taking a gap year between college and law school.

Major: Political Science

Favorite Movie: Montana of 300 and Vince Staples, but my all-time favorite rapper is definitely Nas.

Favorite Subject: Law. I absolutely love learning about the different rules and tests of law and reading past court cases. Last semester, I interned for a Hennepin County District Court judge which gave me a deep understanding of the processes of the district court system. I’m also doing research with the Political Science department on the legitimacy of international courts which has been cool because I’ve been able to learn a lot about international law.

Thank you again, Andrew, for being a figure on our campus that many of us strive to be. I wish you the best of luck with law school and your future endeavors!