A Young Alumna's College Tips

With the fall semester in full swing for undergraduates all over the country, I thought I might share some words of advice regarding those 4 (or 5) years of your life spent pursuing higher education. I've been reflecting quite a bit recently, what with my second big move since graduating and I thought my experiences and thoughts since leaving Georgia Tech may be of help to someone out there -- whether you are just starting off your freshman year or are a seasoned senior about to step foot into the professional world.

Freshie me and Buzz circa 2010

1) Be social. I'm wondering how many Tech students will scoff at this piece of advice. But I'm going to give it anyway. Skip studying one night. Go out to that party, that bar, that concert. College is the easiest time in your life to be social. All of your friends are right there. They are your neighbors and your classmates and you deserve to have time to unwind and be social and live it up. You won't get many chances like that again, so don't let every moment pass you by because you are studying. BUT still make sure you study, because that's important too, which leads me to my next point...

2) Study smarter, not harder. The hours sitting in front of a book do not always directly correspond to what grades are made. Your studying style is different from everyone else's and you are going to need to figure out what your style is to really succeed in your classes. Try different things and see what works best. Use all of your resources at your disposal (professors giving access to old tests, tutors, study groups) but only use them if they are beneficial to you. For me, I started shining once I found a study group. For you... well I don't know! Go out there and find it out!

3) Your first industry job may be awful. This is mostly for seniors, but it's good to hear earlier on as well. Your first job is more than likely not going to be your dream job. The catch-22 that forms with needing experience to get a job but not being able to get experience because you can't get a job -- yea, that applies here. I'm not saying take whatever job gives you an offer first, but it's okay if you settle. It's okay if you're not exactly where you want to be when you start off your career. Just don't forget where you want to go. Once you forget where you want to be, that's when you are truly stuck.

4) You really do know best. This doesn't not mean not to take advice from anyone, this simply means that you are the one living your life. You know yourself better than anyone else can and you know what's best for you. Go ahead, ask everyone for advice. Solicit advice from mentors, parents, friends, labmates, classmates, sorority sisters, fraternity brothers, even this blog post (!), but ultimately the decision you make should be yours, and yours alone.

5) Don't sweat it. It is going to be okay. That grade, that class, that lab, that professor, that job interview -- it doesn't define you. If you get knocked down, it will be okay. Get back up, dust yourself off and keep going. All of us get knocked down. All of us had that one thing in college that felt like the end of the world. (If you were me, there were many times things felt like the end of the world.) But we all made it! You can do this. And if you ever feel otherwise, just remember that there is always help to those who seek it.

Top Moments of 2014

Last year was the biggest year of my life thus far -- there were so many life changes! I wanted to reflect on what I thought were the top moments of 2014 for me and ring on the New Year in hopes that 2015 could try to beat it!

1 || Graduating from Georgia Tech

An accomplishment, that at points, I never thought I would achieve. It was one of the most surreal moments of my life to walk across that stage and accept my diploma. 

2 || Living with Elizabeth and Working for Georgia Tech

The summer of 2014 was the best summer I've ever spent. I not only got to live with one of my best friends, but I also go to work for and with some of the most amazing people I have ever met. There's not a day that goes by that I don't think about the times Elizabeth and I shared in that gorgeous apartment off of Ponce and the wonderful growth I experienced working at CAE.

3 || Moving to Pennsylvania and Starting a New Job

At the end of the summer, I packed up all my belongings and headed out on my new adventure! Starting a new job and moving 700+ miles all in one blow was a huge step for me, but one well worth it.

4 || Attending Biennial Conclave

Daniel and I got to attend our second Alpha Chi Sigma Biennial Conclave together. We met at the last Biennial and to be able to go back was so much fun.

5 || Adopting Opal

Daniel and I became fur-parents in November and it's been an interesting experience so far, but I wouldn't give up our little furball for anything. 

Going through pictures to put on this post made me realize just how much I loved the past year. I grew so much as a person and was able to experience so much life. I only hope that 2015 helps me continue my adventure of life.

Hope you had a Happy New Year!

I Got Out!

                      Accepted to Georgia Tech -- 2010                                Graduated from Georgia Tech -- 2014

After four long years, I graduated from Georgia Tech last Saturday! I can't believe it. The three days surrounding graduation weekend were a blur--I had a final Friday, walked on Saturday and then moved into a new apartment on Sunday. Also within this past week I have started a new job and continued to get settled in said new apartment.

Graduation day was a blast. Even if waiting around to walk was a bit of a drag, it was nice to see all my biochemistry friends and take pictures before the ceremony.

Hannah and Elizabeth

Nishida and Elizabeth

Kelly and Elizabeth 5-eva (obviously)

Kelly and Patrick #tbt

After the ceremony I was able to meet up with my family and Daniel, and of course, take even more photos. (I love having all the pictures taken with people I love)

The fam

Grandma

Foot pop kiss photo with Daniel <3

After all the photos were taken, we tried to go to Mary Mac's but there was an hour wait, so instead we wound up at Sun in My Belly. It was gorgeous and so yummy!

It was a great graduation day. 

I can't believe how far I have come as a Yellow Jacket. I wound up making Deans List my last three semesters at Georgia Tech--a feat I never thought possible for me. I'm so thankful for all the people who helped me through my time and how I grew as a person while in college. So many of my experiences--the good and the bad--have permanently shaped me as a human being and I wouldn't give up my time at Georgia Tech for anything.

After all the late, stressful, tearful nights, I am a Georgia Tech graduate. And I'm damn proud.

Snapshots this Week

1 || Neil deGrasse Tyson at Georgia Tech. Literally the best talk I've attended. It was so refreshing to be in a theater full of scientific minds being spoken to by one of the most well known scientific minds of the day. I also didn't expect to laugh as much as I did. I got an autograph and picture with him at the end of the night as well! 

2 || Graduation Countdown. This past week we hit the month mark until graduation. How scary! A little less than a month and I will never have to go back to school ever again! (unless I suddenly decide I should go to grad school later on in life)

3 || Tech's 'T' is still missing. They may have found the T but they still haven't put it back up on the tower. So we get to still see the coolness that is the missing T. Apparently, though, the student responsible stole it off the wrong tower.

4 || Favorite Photo of the Week. Yes it's a selfie, but I just loved how my outfit and look of the day came across in this photo. I think it perfectly showcases how I felt wearing white capris and the top I bought over Spring Break. Also red lipstick makes anyone feel fierce.

5 || These Girls. The fact that we are still friends after having graduated high school four years ago is insane to me. I love these girls so much and I don't know what I would do without them. We got together last night for our biannual party and I think this time our costumes were on point for the "Ruin your childhood" theme.

UberXtra Credit

UberX is one of the coolest (and cheapest!) ways to travel in Atlanta. Forget worn out taxi cabs and creepy taxi drivers--UberX is is comfortable and easy to use. It's the absolute perfect ride for college students to use on a night on the town.

The especially wonderful thing about UberX is that it can be 'called' to you from an iPhone application! No more awkward conversations about how to get to where you are, the GPS in your phone helps the driver find you.

The greatest thing of all is right now UberX is having a great promotion that allows all Georgia Tech students new to Uber get a free $20 towards a ride if they sign up using this link: https://get.uber.com/college/UberXtraCreditATL1


That means you can travel out on the town with a ride on them!

Another plus of signing up, or getting you friends to sign up with you, is that if GT reaches 1,500 users before February 11th at 11:59 pm the entire campus wins a week of free UberX! #uberXtracredit

Let's get campus a week of free UberX! I know it'll come in helpful on all those nights the Stingerette is "currently experiencing an unusually high number of trip requests" and you need a safe ride home.