brother and current Vice President of Delta Alpha Mu, reporter and writer for the Beaver Pride

I am currently washing dishes at the Pink Flamingo. I am looking for an internship related to my major.

Austin Mitchell began life on January 20, 2001, born to Edward and Aubrey Mitchell. Edward continued his clinical experiences as a nursing student at North Shore University Hospital, where Aubrey had given birth, and she cared for the infant Austin at home. Aubrey named Austin after the Catholic order, reflecting her English heritage and spirituality. His parents instilled in Austin a strong sense of culture and faith. Though quiet in his early years, this would later shape Austin's journey as he grew older and sought to balance modern life with family values and tradition.

The family rented a home between 41st Avenue and 41st Drive and around the corner from 41st Road in the Little Neck neighborhood of Queens, New York. Little Neck provided a serene suburban habitat, a striking departure from the bustling urban atmosphere of the rest of Queens. It had developed into a culturally diverse bedroom community, welcoming many Asian immigrants. Tony and Mariella DeRosa, the children of a Sicilian-American family, lived next door to Austin. Tony was close to Austin's age. The boys often teased Mariella, who was a few years younger.

After completing his education at NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing, Austin's father continued his career as a nurse anesthetist at UMass Memorial Health in Worcester, Massachusetts. The family purchased a home in the Indian Hill neighborhood of Worcester. When Austin moved to Worcester, he lost contact with his first friends. Before moving, Austin completed first grade and continued his elementary education in Worcester by enrolling at Bancroft School. As Austin progressed in school, his mother returned to her professional career by joining the faculty at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Before Austin's birth, Aubrey had graduated from Pratt Institute with a degree in packaging engineering. Austin began guitar lessons while at Bancroft. He would tune in to folk music stations on AM radio, attempting to learn the campy melodies on his guitar as he sang the quirky, comedic vocals. His fascination with folk music and the simplicity of the AM radio receiver served as the genesis of his interest in music and electronic engineering.

His subsequent academic challenge at Boston Latin School came after Austin completed his grade levels at Bancroft. He enrolled in the high school after excelling in a rigorous exam process. Every day, Austin commuted for over an hour, taking the MBTA Purple Line commuter rail from Worcester to Boston, transferring to the Orange Line at South Station, and finally arriving at Ruggles Station before finishing his journey with Bus #47. This daily trek gave Austin culturally diverse experiences as he observed and interacted with passengers.

Boston Latin School required all students to study Latin and Roman history. Austin learned this, along with traditional subjects, while continuing his guitar lessons. In high school, Austin experienced his first romance, kiss, attempts at lovemaking, and heartbreak. He had a few more romances and heartbreaks as he developed socially and made longer-lasting friendships. Austin finished high school among the top third of his class.

In addition to Roman and Greek mythology, Austin felt drawn to the stories of Norse mythology. He eventually discovered that both neighborhoods he grew up in started as Dutch-American settlements. This fascination grew as he learned more about the symbolic nature of these myths and their connection to the world around him. After graduating high school, Austin got his first tattoo across his back—Odin's ravens, Huginn and Muninn, perched on a tree branch. These ravens symbolize to Austin that Odin's ravens are watching as he progresses through life.

After graduating high school, Austin strongly wanted to deviate from the traditional path and discover his true calling before pursuing college. Seeking purpose and adventure, he volunteered with Cross Catholic Outreach, a humanitarian organization dedicated to constructing homes in Guatemala. Over two years, Austin participated in building houses from the ground up and acquired practical residential construction skills. He also became fluent in Spanish, learning from the locals as he immersed himself in the community and culture. Austin brought his guitar along to continue his talent and to connect with others through music. He also brought along his AM radio receiver, which he had rebuilt in high school from a simple tuning circuit into a superheterodyne receiver. The radio enabled him to pick up distant voices and stations, connecting him to a broader world beyond the hills of Guatemala. Volunteering in Guatemala increased Austin's sensitivity to different cultures, gave him time to decide about his future, and boosted his confidence.

After returning to the States, Austin enrolled in Woodcrest University in the fall of 2021. On his first day on campus, he reunited with his childhood friend, Mariella.