Fiona Hackett / The Mossy Log
Jonathan Moore ’29 spent his first weeks at Lewis & Clark bracing for the sense of otherness he had expected to feel as a transfer student. It never came.
“Particularly at LC, I look around and see a place and people that are happy to have me if I put myself out there,” Moore said. “I love that.”
Moore ’29 transferred from Bellevue Community College (BCC) and is starting out “functionally” as a sophomore in Fall 2026 at LC. Moore is studying mathematics after originally entering community college as a psychology major. Although the two fields share mathematical concepts and require deep thought and calculation, what Moore found most interesting was the subject of childhood development. From this realization Moore came to understand that one of his goals is to be a math teacher.
“I’ve gotten the sense from most of the students that I’ve met here that, you know, we’re all kind of unabashedly here to learn,” Moore said in regards to finding a sense of community among others who are “nerdy in the same way” he is.
Beyond math, Moore has a strong love for music theory. One of the most exciting experiences Moore had in his first two weeks on campus was connecting with other students who deeply care not only about music, but art in general, in an open, passionate and direct way. His favorite class this semester is Music Theory Fundamentals because of the many students who are there for the same reasons he is: to learn about music theory in a “more informed and intelligent capacity.”
More joy comes from the student teacher dynamic within the classroom. Moore’s favorite professors are Brett Paschal from Music Theory Fundamentals and Todd Watson from Brain and Behavior. Moore feels that both teachers share especially engaging and exciting material. In Brain and Behavior, Moore studies how the brain regulates and controls behaviors by learning about the complexity of the nervous system. Elements of music such as pitch, intervals, chords and rhythm are observed and discussed in Music Theory Fundamentals. Moore noted the smaller class size compared to what he experienced at BCC has made a difference for him. On top of that, some of Moore’s classes were online. In his current favorite classes at LC he feels like his presence is valued.
In order to be successful in class, Moore credits his laptop as his favorite school supply “a Windows something or other.” When not in class, Moore’s favorite spot on campus is the reflecting pool behind Frank Manor House. Another honorable mention is the bridge that leads to the Copeland and Platt-Howard residence halls.
“It’s a simple thing, but it just feels really cool to look down that bridge and the little lush green there,” Moore said.
When asked about what he would say to other transfer, nontraditional and/or international students here on campus, Moore says: “This might sound more than a little cliché, but I guess just don’t be afraid to engage with people and activities and make connections with people outside of class.” Speaking from his own experience, Moore notes, “I think that particularly for students of nontraditional, or slightly atypical backgrounds, be they transfer, international students, et cetera, it can be easy to get into one’s head and feel a sense of otherness from the campus or student body around you.”
When I asked Moore what the storybook title of his transition to LC would be, he pondered for a moment and then replied, “Little Fish in the Pond That Gets Bigger.” He added that not all the sea creatures on campus bite, “particularly at LC I look around and see a place and people that are happy to have me if I put myself out there. I love that.”
The 2026-27 New Student Orientation theme was “Becoming of This Place.” “‘Becoming of This Place’ symbolizes the growth and transformation of our students at LC, drawing inspiration from Oregon’s resilient evergreens and adaptable wildflowers to reflect how our community deeply connects with, honors and shapes the environment around us,” writes Oslo Van Brandt, a new student peer mentor.
In upcoming features of the Mossy Log, our readers will get to hear from conversations with students who fall into the categories of the transfer, nontraditional and/or international written by a first-generation nontraditional transfer student arriving at LC this year as a junior from a community college in rural Oregon. The intention of these features is to inspire those who feel like a dandelion sticking out in a field of grass and let them know they matter, their voice deserves room to be heard and that they do bring wisdom and goodness to the rest of LC’s student body.
If you are interested in having a conversation with the writer, please contact lc26-0762@lclark.edu.
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