Student Profile: Katie Meloche
At Ghost Ranch, Muskegon junior Katie Meloche not only defined her passions, she also found her voice.
“I had no clue what I was walking into, and I didn’t know anyone at Ghost Ranch,” she says. “I’m shy, but I found myself speaking out. People listened to me, and I came back to Alma with new friends.”
While she and her new friends share a similar passion for their interests, Meloche says the fact that these interests differ among them didn’t matter at Ghost Ranch.
“What made the Ghost Ranch experience so valuable is that while we discussed specific issues, we still supported each other when we disagreed,” she says. “We were all genuinely excited about what each and every person wants to accomplish.”
As an international business and Spanish double major, Meloche is particularly passionate about social justice issues related to the United States/Mexico border. She says she wants to serve those who are misrepresented.
“I care about people to an incredible degree,” she says. “I recognize that there are people in the world much less fortunate than myself, so my goal is to empower and encourage people to improve their lives.”
Meloche, an avid tennis player, has already begun paving this path by volunteering at an inter-city program in her hometown that uses the sport to get children and teens off the street.
“My motto is ‘love equals you before me, always,’” she says. “This is something I spent a lot of time thinking about at Ghost Ranch. The Center for Responsible really has been a catalyst for all of my passions.”
