Stories Matter: Lydia Downs ’25 helps students connect, reflect, and grow

At the heart of Lydia Downs’ ’25 PLU journey is a simple but potent belief: stories matter. Lydia knows that stories shape who we are and who we might become. “Literature lets us step into lives different from our own,” Lydia says. “It helps build empathy, curiosity, and critical thinking.”

Lydia, who double-majored in global studies and English literature with a minor in Peace Corps prep, is now finishing her Master of Arts in Education — also here at PLU. There are parts about the future of her own story that have always been crystal clear. She has long known that she wants to be a teacher. “I grew up with three younger brothers, and from a young age, I stepped into that mentor role,” she says. “The sense of responsibility and joy I felt from helping others learn carried into jobs I held in high school and college.”

That same passion shaped her undergraduate capstones (yes, multiple captones!). For global studies, she explored Persepolis through the lens of democracy and censorship. For English, she created a teaching guide on banned books like Maus, The Handmaid’s Tale, and The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. “I was very interested in banned books and how they impact thought and education throughout our country,” she explains.

This year, during her student teaching at Henry Foss High School, Lydia found herself teaching both Persepolis and The Handmaid’s Tale. “It was a funny coincidence and full circle moment,” she says. “My mentor teacher’s curriculum aligned with both of my capstones.”

For her graduate capstone, the concept is still percolating, but it will focus on a foundational teaching value, that “every student deserves to be treated as a human first,” Lydia says. “They’re all capable of hard things — and I want them to believe that, too.”

That human-first approach has shaped her work at the Parkland Literacy Center, where she’s worked since her first year as an undergrad at PLU. Through the Big Buddies program, she started as a mentor for elementary students at James Sales Elementary — then she had the opportunity to mentor the Big Buddies in a leadership role. “Ultimately, it’s about showing up consistently for these students who need someone in their corner,” she says. “It’s nice to see and participate in a community rooted in care and connection.”

One of her favorite memories was the end-of-year Big Buddies visit to PLU’s campus. “To many of the students we mentor, college can be rather abstract and unattainable. However, we allow them the space to see themselves on this campus,” Lydia says. “We end the day by giving them a yearbook with all of the photos we have taken throughout the year.”

From playing violin in the University Symphony Orchestra to running daily through blooming campus trails, Lydia fully immersed herself in the rhythm of PLU life. “I absolutely love to be outside,” she says. “Whether that is hiking, biking, running, or just admiring the flowers around campus.” And when the world feels overwhelming, she turns to music: “Sitting down to play an instrument can be incredibly grounding.”

As Lydia’s time as a student winds down, she’s eager to see a new chapter begin for her brother, Colin, who’s starting at PLU in the fall. “I am so excited to share everything that I love so much with him,” Lydia says. “This moment feels really special.”

Although Lydia feels nostalgic about her time at PLU, she’s eager to see what comes next—and the future looks exciting. The U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board have awarded her a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship for a teaching assistantship in Thailand.

As she prepares for her next step, one thing remains constant for Lydia: her belief in the power of stories. “Stories help us understand ourselves, each other, and the world we live in,” she says. It’s a belief she’s carried throughout her time at PLU. And as her own story grows, she’s ready to help others discover the power in theirs.