“And the universe said the light you seek is within you and the universe said you are not alone” – Julian Gough
Hi!! My name is Ava Gillery and I’m originally from Marietta, Georgia (just outside of Atlanta). I’m majoring in Mechatronics and Robotics Engineering and I hope to graduate with my Bachelors in Spring 2028. Now I know you’re asking, ‘Woah if you’re from Georgia, why did you come all the way up to Illinois?’ And my answer for you is, it seemed like fun! I’ve always loved traveling and getting to explore new places. SIUE not only has my major and many opportunities for me, but it’s also a whole new area that I’ve never been to or lived in before. I see it as a new adventure and I’m excited to jump straight into it!
Now onto the actual stuff about me. Listening to music is one of my favorite things to do in my spare time. For me, music is a way to feel my emotions in a positive sense. If I’m sad, I can listen to ‘Everyone I’ve Never Met’ by Leith Ross. If I’m happy, I’ll listen to ‘Foreverever’ by Leanna Firestone. If I want jazz, I’ll listen to ‘I Wish You Love’ by Laufey and so much more. Music helps me to express myself and even though I can’t sing or play any instruments (trust me, I’ve tried), it’s still an outlet for me to listen to other people who feel the same way I do. If you ever want any music recommendations, here’s my Spotify!
Another thing I love to do is read! Being able to insert myself into the scenarios that the characters in a new book get into is so fun to me. While I don’t necessarily have a ‘favorite’ book or book series, I just finished the ‘The Naturals’ series and I 100% recommend it to anyone who likes found family, murder mystery, and Criminal Minds vibes. For more book recommendations, here’s my Goodreads!
