Unique Perspective: So Sarah, tell us about your first year experience?
Sarah: Do you have all day? HAHAHA! Long story short, my first year, overall, was good but I definitely had my ups and downs. Not only was I first-generation college student, I struggled academically and found myself being anxious and nervous all the time because I did not know what to expect. I didn’t come from an academically rigorous high school and in the past, I could just memorize things to get by or had easy teachers. I never really developed study habits and I would learn very quickly my first semester that I needed to acquire some fast! On the flip side, I embraced the social life experience to the point where I was more of a regular at fraternity parties than the library. Not having great study skills and being too social almost cost me my academic scholarship. Going into the spring semester with my GPA on the line, I knew I had to buckle down and get my act together. I ended up joining a sorority, which would turn out to be a game changer for me. I now had sisters to hold me accountable for my actions and newfound support system that I could rely on for help. This semester was a total 180 for me. I hardly ever had anxiety, I learned to balance my time better and I made the Dean’s List! Needless to say, I learned a lot my first year, which would contribute throughout the remainder of my collegiate experience.
Wow! You certainly had an interesting first year experience. How would you best sum up the remainder of your time in undergrad?
When I graduated in 2016, I left feeling satisfied with the education I received and friendships fostered. I know it sounds cliché but, I learned a lot about myself, especially through the various leadership roles I held in both my sorority and the Panhellenic Council. I witnessed first-hand that the power of hard work pays off and the beauty of success when everyone works together towards a common goal. Don’t get me wrong, just like my first year I had my ups and downs but thankfully the successes outweighed the failures. Because my undergraduate experience was positive, it inspired me to pursue my Masters degree in Higher Education, which I obtained at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in May 2020.
You mentioned in a previous question you joined a sorority. How did joining a sorority impact your life, both during your undergraduate experience and after?
Joining a sorority changed my life, I know that sounds corny, but let me explain. For once, I felt like I was a part of something that was bigger than myself and a place where I could just be me. My sisters embraced my weirdness and supported my ideas no matter how crazy they may have seemed. I thrived in this type of environment and learned I was capable of doing things I didn’t think were possible. The skills and experiences gained through my positions continue to play a role in both my personal and professional life. Because of my positive undergraduate experience, especially within the fraternity/sorority life community, I pursued my Masters degree in Higher Education. I also continue to give back to my sorority serving as an Alumnae Advisory Committee member. I am forever in debt to my sorority and I am grateful I joined nine years ago.
Hindsight is 20/20, is there one thing you would do differently during your undergraduate experience and why?
Only one thing? HAHA! I get asked this question a lot and my response is the same. If I could turn back time and redo something, it would be taking on the different opportunities outside of the classroom to gain experience in both my field of study and in life. As a first-generation college student, you feel at a disadvantage because you don’t know what to do, the value of outside experience and the list goes on. I only completed one internship during my time in undergrad and although it was great, I wish I knew the value of experience then and completed more during the summer months or the academic year. My lack of experience would come back to haunt me while I began applying for jobs. I learned quickly how much of challenge I had before me and that’s the moment I realized the value of experience in ones’ field and that you can’t just rely on a college degree to land a job.
Any piece of advise you would give to current undergraduates?
Yes! Don’t be afraid to take on different opportunities that will help you in the years to come. Whether it be study abroad or several internships, any experience is better than none. The graduate school application process and career search is competitive and you want to look for ways in which you will stand out amongst the rest of the candidates. I can’t say this enough but wish I would’ve known the value of experience while in school. I feel as though that definitely would have been a game changer and maybe my life would be different today…..but I am also a firm believer in everything happens for a reason :)