Learn more about the AHA’s summer policy intern!
What drew you to humanism?
Freya Matheson, Policy Intern: When I was a sophomore in high school, I read “Cat’s Cradle” by Kurt Vonnegut – and was instantly hooked. I devoured every book of his that the school library had, and when those ran out, I bought even more. As I read his work, I began to absorb Vonnegut’s beliefs about the world. I learned he identified as a humanist: I had never identified myself with any formalized religion, so this intrigued me. I quickly realized that humanism was the secular community I had never known I was missing. I am so incredibly excited to be working with other humanists on bringing more people into the movement!
Did you grow up in a traditional religious faith? How did it impact you?
Freya Matheson
Matheson: I grew up Christian only in the sense that we went to church on Christmas and Easter. My family was never especially religious: My dad had gone to Catholic school growing up, and it had put him off the faith pretty thoroughly. That said, I was always a little jealous of my classmates who would go to Sunday school with their friends and sing in church choirs together. In retrospect, I can say I just wanted that kind of community in my life – even though I didn’t really believe in a formalized God or Heaven concept. Humanism has helped give me that, and I know it can do the same for others!
What are you studying?
Matheson: I am a government and economics double major at Connecticut College (I’m also minoring in Hispanic Studies!). At school, I am involved in the mock trial team and the theater department. Go Camels!
What book has influenced you the most?
Matheson: I’ve already talked about my appreciation for Vonnegut, so I’ll switch gears and say “The Great Believers” by Rebecca Makkai. It jumps between two timelines, but focuses on the AIDS crisis in Boystown, Chicago, during the 1980s. It is a brilliant, devastating portrait of heartbreak and loss. I have never cried that hard at a book, and probably never will again. I can’t recommend it enough – just make sure you have a box of tissues on hand.
If you could have dinner with any three people in the world (living or dead), who would they be and why?
Matheson: The first person would be Kurt Vonnegut, for reasons that are probably obvious by now. The second would be Tom Petty, strictly because I think I could persuade him to perform American Girl live (and who wouldn’t want to hear that?). To round out the group, I’d have to say Ottessa Moshfegh. I feel like we’d get along really well based on her writing, and I’d relish the opportunity to pressure her into writing a sequel to “My Year of Rest and Relaxation.”