Growing up in Custer, South Dakota without many good friends, now Junior Allison Hosman remembers turning to books for comfort. In second grade she began reading the Harry Potter series and frequented the library so often that the librarians had memorized her number. To this day Allison continues to revisit the series every year and wears a Harry Potter tattoo with pride for the numerous ways it’s shaped her identity.

“This kind of generosity and devotion to helping others defines her importance to the Gustavus community.”—Robert Kendrick

“It wasn’t the hero aspect of Harry Potter but his humanity that really inspired in me the idea that no matter how bad it gets, that never gives you an excuse to make poor choices. Even though it gets really difficult sometimes, it’s important to do the right thing, not for anyone else but yourself,” Allison said.

She tries to exemplify this lesson in the various groups and organizations she’s involved in on campus such as Building Bridges, the Women’s Awareness Center, and even as an Anderson Scholar, utilizing what she can to make social change.

“Ally’s passion regarding social issues is the most prominent aspect of her personality, in my opinion. Every week in Building Bridges we discuss different aspect of rape culture, which is a heavy topic to discuss over and over again but Ally never gives up; rather she becomes more involved and passionate in order to find solutions to these difficult issues,” First-year Eliza Long said.

As an English major and History minor, Allison toys with different possibilities to continue perusing her passion for social change in the future. Right now she’s torn between the idea of being a professor or teaching English abroad.

“I’d just like to continue to help people. Specifically I love what you can learn from literary theory. I think literature can do a lot for people. You can put yourself in a character or situation that can become real for you in the moment and can teach you how to be or not be a good person,” Allison said.

Not only does she strive to do good on campus but also in her personal life. Specifically, it’s very important to her to be a source of support for those who need it.

“My FTS-ers from last year praised Allison’s supportive role as Collegiate Fellow and how she helped them settle into campus life and find the support networks they need. This kind of generosity and devotion to helping others defines her importance to the Gustavus community,” Assistant Professor in English Robert Kendrick said.

When she’s not working to better herself and the community, Allison likes to read, watch movies, and take pictures.

“Besides being a gifted English major and a fellow sex-positivity feminist activist, Ally is a phenomenal photographer. A huge chunk of the pictures you see on the Gustavus website and in the Weekly were taken by Ally,” Junior Caroline Pokryzinski said.

In her time left at Gustavus, Allison hopes to continue to learn more, promote social change, and help people realize the importance in finding a balance between working hard but also taking time for yourself.

“School is hard, life is hard, and being a human is hard. Taking time for you isn’t selfish. It’s important to be healthy. Get more sleep, read a book because you want to. Be kind to yourself,” Allison said.

While Allison recognizes that she still has a lot of growing that she’d like to do and many things she’d still like to accomplish, those who know her have no doubts that she will continue to make an impact on those around her in the future.

“Ally is a valuable member of the community here and it is evident that her work will not stop when she graduates. She will continue to work to obtain justice for those who don’t have a voice and I am incredibly confident that she will accomplish even more amazing things,” Long said.

-Jaurdyn Dobler