Students blog

So, you finally landed that internship you’ve been working so hard to get. You have done the hard part by getting the offer – now it’s time to actually start the job! Here are some tips I’ve learned on how to make the most of it.

Ask questions and be curious

Asking questions is crucial to optimize your learning during your internship. Employees understand you are an intern and are there to grow and learn. They except you to not know what you are doing at first, so don’t feel like you are being bothersome or asking to many questions. There is no such thing as a dumb question! Take advantage of your time and ask all the questions.

Take initiative

There will be moments during your internship where you don’t have much to do or are having to wait on people to complete something. Take this time to take initiative and show people how active and willing to learn you are. This skill is something employers look for and is a great time to put into practice.

Communicate with your manager

I’ve learned how important this is during my last internship. I found that the project I was working on was not what I wanted to do or what I wanted to learn. I learned that it never hurts to speak up and say something. I was able to communicate with my manager about what I wanted out of this experience, and she was happy to work with me on a new project.

Connect with other employees

Not only are you there to work, but you are there to learn about the company and see if it would be a good fit for your future. The best way to learn about the company is talking to its people! Set up coffee chats, talk with people in roles you want to learn about, and take advantage of being an intern. Learn about the pros and cons of the company, how people like living in that location, and what made them chose to work there.

Learn what you want in a full-time role

As a rising senior, it has been important for me to learn about what I want in a full-time role. What would be salary be? What are the benefits? Is there room for career growth? Promotions? Ask about entry level roles, company structure-- everything! This is a great way to learn about what you like and don’t like so you can take it into your full-time job search later.

However you chose to spend your internship experience, make the most of this learning opportunity! Even if it doesn’t turn out how you hoped it would, it’s a great resume builder and opportunity to learn about what to look for next.

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Have you registered for your classes next semester yet? If you are lucky, you will get all the classes you planned for. Other times, things might not go as planned. Here are some tips on how to plan the perfect schedule you might not have thought of before!

Select class times that set you up for success

People think that since they were able to wake up at 6am for high school, college will be the same. Let me tell you, it’s not! For some reason, waking up early in college is so much harder, so if you are genuinely not a morning person, do not register for 7am classes! Even if it is only 2x a week, you will regret it. Take into consideration when a good start time for your day is and build your schedule off of that.

Plan for lunch breaks

I like to register for classes that are back-to-back because I like getting all my classes out of the way, but I often forget about lunch! When this happens, I start losing focus and get hangry during classes. If this sounds like you, be sure to plan accordingly.

Have backup classes

Of course, we all hope to get our perfect schedule, but that does not always happen. There are 70k students at my school, so classes are bound to fill up fast! Sometimes you won’t get the section you want. Depending on your school, you might have a waitlist or be able to periodically check to see if someone dropped the class. Make sure you know the process and continually checking for updates. If you can’t get the class, have a backup plan for a class you can substitute in.

Vary subjects and/or level of difficulty

You don’t want to load all your challenging major classes in one semester. Mix it up with some of the hard classes and some of your easier classes or electives. If you are adding a minor or certificate, try to mix in some of those classes. You will be thankful to have some variance in what you are studying each week.

Set an alarm for registration

Make sure you set 1 or 2 or even 3 alarms before your registration time! One time I was out grocery shopping when my registration time came, and I had to do it from my phone. That caused me so much unnecessary stress. Make sure you are prepared to click that enroll button the second it’s time. You know everyone is doing the same so get ready!

By keeping these things in mind, registration can be made easier and less stressful. Research your classes, plan well ahead of time, and have a backup plan. If you do not get all of your first-choice classes, know it will be okay. Sometimes the unexpected can be better than what you had planned! Good luck!

I always thought meal prepping was strange. The thought of eating the same things every day for a week was somehow daunting. But after living in an apartment with my own kitchen, I quickly realized how convenient, easy, and simple meal prepping is! I love going grocery shopping now, scrolling through Pinterest to find new recipes, and cooking my own meals. It definitely saves me a lot of money. Before I was eating at Qdoba and Chick-fil-a every day. Now, I am able to eat healthier and cheaper. Here are some quick and simple recipes you can mimic (and adjust to your preferences) to start meal prepping. Maybe you will find a new love for meal prepping like I did!

Breakfast

Egg Cups

These are so yummy and easy to make! I make a ton of them at the beginning of the week so I can just grab a few and go on my way out in the morning.

Ingredients:

• 12 eggs
• Mushrooms
• Tomatoes
• Ham
• Spinach
• Salt/Pepper

Wisk up your eggs and pour them into a muffin tin. Chop up all your veggies and add your desired amount in each muffin cup. Add salt and pepper to taste and bake for about 15-20 minutes at 350 degrees. They should be firm to the touch. Enjoy!

Lunch/Dinner:

I make a 2-3 different recipes at the beginning of the week so I can switch up what I eat. Here are some of my favorite recipes to make!

Healthy Turkey Chili

• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 pound extra lean ground turkey
• 4 tablespoons chili powder* (I used McCormick chili powder)
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
• 1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes or crushed tomatoes
• 1 1/4 cups chicken broth
• 2 (15 oz) cans dark red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 (15 oz) can sweet corn, rinsed and drained

Sauté your onions on medium-high heat in some olive oil in a large pot of about 5 minutes. Add your ground turkey and cook until no longer pink. Then add all the spices and cook for about 30 sec. Add your beans, tomatoes, chicken broth, and corn then simmer at a medium-low heat for about 45 minutes. Serve with chips, avocado and sour cream and enjoy!

Teriyaki Chicken

• 2 T. olive oil
• 1.5lb boneless skinless chicken breast
• ½ c. teriyaki sauce
• steamed broccoli
• cooked brown rice
• salt/pepper

Cut chicken breast into small chunks. (Make sure to clean everything the chicken touches really well afterwards!) Season your chicken with salt and pepper. On medium-high heat, cook your chicken in olive oil for about 5-7 minutes until it is white all the way through. You can cut open the biggest piece and if it is not clear or pink anymore, its done! Add your teriyaki sauce, salt/pepper, and simmer on low heat for about 2-5 minutes. Serve with rice and steamed broccoli!

Vegetarian Fried Rice

• 1 T. olive oil
• 1 pkg. frozen peas and carrots
• ½ diced onion
• 2-3 eggs
• 4 cups of cooked brown/white rice
• 3-4 T. soy sauce
• Salt/pepper/sugar

Sauté diced onions with olive oil on medium-high heat for about 5-7 minutes until soft brown. Add frozen peas and carrots for 2-4 minutes until soft. Push everything to the side of your pan, and crack 2-3 eggs on the clean side and scramble until cooked. After the eggs are cooked, mix everything in the pan together. Add cooked rice and mix well. Season with soy sauce, salt, pepper and sugar to your desired taste and enjoy!

These are some of my favorite recipes to make at home. If meal-prepping still seems daunting, have a friend come and do it with you! I hope you try these recipes, and hopefully start meal prepping at home too. Happy Cooking!

The college career fair. One of the most stressful weeks of the semester for many students. Whether your upcoming career fair is in-person or virtual, it can be a daunting experience to think about. Prepare yourself well and you will be able to ace it! I had my first career fair experience last semester, and I definitely underestimated how much work it was going to be. With that said, I left the fair with 4 interviews the next day! How did I do this? One simple word: Research.

Research the Company List

Most schools will offer a list of companies that are attending the fair. Examine it ahead of time to develop a target list. Often, each company will specify what year(s) and major(s) they are searching for. Look for companies that are hiring your year and major. After this, narrow down your list even further by eliminating companies you don’t have a passion for. If you want to work in the food industry don’t invest your time at a medical company. After I completed this, I had about 10 companies in mind.

Research Specific Companies

Next, research each company on your target list. You can look on their website for information on their company values, news, accomplishments, and roles. Take notes, think of questions, and bring them with you. It is impressive to recruiters when students are able to ask them specific questions about an award they might have gotten, new initiatives they are implementing, or their core values. This part takes longer than you might want it to but completing this step shows initiative; recruiters will be more likely to remember you. This can be the difference between you and a similar candidate.

Research Yourself

This may seem a little weird, but it is important to research yourself. Know yourself. Refresh your brain on projects or classes that could relate to the job or internship. Think about the times you have succeeded and the times you have failed. Be ready to answer questions similar to those you would in an interview. Being overly prepared is better than being underprepared.

Research the Dress Code

Many career fairs have a business professional dress code that can be daunting to newcomers. Go to the fair in an outfit you are confident in! This is important even for virtual career fairs; you’ll want to look well-groomed for any video interviews. Pick out your favorite suit, blouse and shoes. Feeling confident is so important when walking into a fair full of people. Maybe even add a fun colored tie or hairbow that makes you stand out.

For in-person career fairs, check to see if your school allows bags or provides name tags. If your school allows you to, wear a nametag from work or a club. There might be alumni that recognize the organization.

Attending the Fair

After you research and prepare, the next step is to actually attend. Whether it’s an in-person or virtual event, this is the scariest part. For in-person career fairs, bring physical copies of your resume. If it’s a virtual, have your resume available on your computer desktop for easy access. Check to make sure your internet connection is stable and that your audio/video is working properly.

When talking with recruiters, I never start with a memorized elevator pitch. I usually start with asking how their day going. There is nothing wrong with a little small talk before getting to the job. As the conversation progresses, I’ll ask what they do so they can talk about themselves and the organization. Then, if they ask me about myself, then I’ll go over my resume and tell them about the organizations, leadership, and work positions I’m in at school. Something short and sweet. For this part, I have a rough idea of what to say, but not a robotic memorized speech. It should just come naturally!

Be Yourself

The career fair can be intimidating. By being prepared, you can feel more confident walking through the doors (or joining the Zoom link). No matter what happens, remember to be yourself. If a company turns out to not be a great fit, that is okay. You might also be surprised by organizations! Just be open and stay true to yourself. You got this!

I never really made my health a priority growing up. I played some sports and ate whatever my mom put in front of me. I didn’t think about how important it is to be proactive in staying healthy until I got to college. The dining halls can be full of junk and since I am no longer playing sports like I use to, I stopped being as active. While I never used to step foot in any gym, I have come to actually enjoy going to the gym to stay fit. Exercise, diet, and hydration are all important aspects of health and wellness. Here are six tips to help you stay healthy in college!

Fill your room with healthy snacks

Filling your apartment or dorm room with healthy snacks keeps you from snacking on junk. I know we all get the munches sometimes, so if you keep your space filled with healthy snacks, you will be forced to snack on them because you have nothing else! Eventually, you will start getting used to it and eating junk food won’t taste so good. This is an easy way to gradually change your diet and cravings without doing anything crazy.

Carry a water bottle

Always carry a water bottle with you! I’m sure you’ve heard it a million times, but drinking water is so important. It can help with weight loss, digestion, your skin, and your overall health. I used to never drink water, but I invested in a Hydroflask and it weirdly gets me excited to drink water. I try to fill up my water bottle at least 3 times a day.

Identify activities you enjoy

Figuring out what you like is so important! Being active doesn’t have to mean running 5 miles a day. I personally don’t like running. I found that I love weightlifting and strength workouts. I recommend trying out some classes at your gym like cycling, yoga, Zumba, HIIT, kickboxing, swimming – anything! You will never know if you don’t try.

Find a gym buddy

Sometimes it’s hard to stay motivated. Having a gym buddy definitely helps drag you out of bed and keep you motivated. It’s a great way to bond with your friend and stay active together. It is also less scary working out when you aren’t alone!

Stick to a schedule

You don’t have to work out 6 times a week, but have a schedule starting at maybe 2-3 days a week and stick to it. After keeping a regular schedule your body will get used to working out so if you skip a day, your body will know you skipped a day and you will get this weird feeling that you should go workout again! I can’t describe the feeling but start working out and see for yourself!

Just start

The hardest part of any fitness plan is getting started. For some it’s being lazy, for others it’s the daunting thought of just going to a gym. Getting into a healthy, active lifestyle is so important and you will be glad you started. Just go and try it! See what you like and go for it. Good luck!

Getting involved on campus has led me to some of my best experiences in college. I’ve gotten to meet so many amazing people and learned so many new things. I went into college with the idea of getting involved in everything, which resulted in me getting almost ‘too involved’. I was so busy that I didn’t have time to do homework, hang with friends, or even just relax. It is good to be involved, but you do not have to be involved in everything. You have to make sure you find the right balance.

Taking a chance

Let me start with saying, get involved! It makes college 100x better. Getting this advice from older peers, I decided to dive right in during my first year. I went to a bunch of general meetings and met so many people. From there, I decided what organizations I wanted to keep pursing. It is scary at first, showing up at your first club meeting not knowing anyone, but it just takes a “hello” to start a new friendship.

Not only have I been able to meet some incredible people, but I’ve had so many opportunities to grow and experience new things. I landed a leadership position my sophomore year, which was such a rewarding experience. I learned so much and am able to talk about it in job interviews. Getting involved can be scary, but the rewards are worth it. Don’t be afraid to take a chance!

Keeping up with the Jones

Recognize that there is a fine line between getting involved and getting too involved. My freshman year, I made a friend who was involved in so many organizations and working an internship, all while taking 21 credits. He would push me to get involved and be like him, and I started to feel the pressure. I went to many different club meetings that I was not invested in. I was just doing it to keep up with the everyone else. I soon realized that I wasn’t enjoying myself anymore. There is no point in getting involved with something if you aren’t passionate enough to grow from the experiences you are investing in.

I learned I needed to stop comparing my involvements to others and just focus on the ones I actually enjoyed. Even now, as I am taking on new exciting projects and positions for this semester, I am realizing there are still things I need to drop. And that’s okay. Do the things you want to do and stop wasting your time on things you think you need. There is no point in having an organization on your resume when you weren’t truly involved. Don’t worry about what other people are doing. You are going to make the most out of your experiences because you are involved with your passions.

Using time wisely

With that said, I suggest taking some time to reflect on the organizations you are in and where you are putting your time. Is there something more you want to do? Are you involved in too many things? Are you doing these things for yourself or for someone else?

You are going to enjoy college a lot more the quicker you recognize your passions. Allocate your time accordingly. Good luck ?

I couldn’t believe it was finally happening. After months of convincing my parents, filling out paperwork, and taking extra classes to make this possible, I was finally going to Australia. I was so ready to have the best semester of my life! As I began my study abroad journey in February, it quickly became one of the best months of my life. There was something about Australia; there was a certain charm to it that made me fall in love instantly. I had quickly made so many memories, and met so many people from all around the world, it was unreal. 

Then the virus hit. Something I would have never imagined would be an obstacle became a reality. I can’t even describe the emotions that went through my mind the week my mom told me to come home, but that week was one of the hardest weeks I’ve ever had to go through. After being home for 2 weeks now, I’ve had some time to process my experience. Maybe this will help give others some insight, too.

Okay, I know what you are thinking. Finals week is awful. And you are absolutely right! It’s basically just hours and hours of studying alongside all the sleep deprivation, and no time to breathe or have any fun. Everyone freaks out because their grades are in jeopardy and are all hanging on to their GPAs by a thread. But even though it seems like the worst week of the year, I find there are some good parts about finals week. I know that is a weird thing to think about, but just hear me out. 

We’re All in This Together

First off, it’s kind of a bonding moment for everyone. Although you are spending hours studying at the library, everyone is studying together. Everyone is in this together. Sometimes it is actually really fun studying with friends and trying to figure out content together. Some of my favorite memories in college have come from late nights in the library studying and I know you have probably experienced this, too. You can’t tell me study sessions with friends aren’t fun sometimes! 

Food and Fun

Then there are all the free food and events. Most college campuses know how stressful finals week is and provide some fun activities to help their students destress. One of my favorites is when we have people bring their dogs on campus for students to cuddle with. Don’t forget the free food! At my school, we have a tradition where all the dining halls offer a finals breakfast for dinner and it’s amazing. There is also always free food put out at the libraries or at random pop up tents around campus. 

The End

Finally, if you think about it, you don’t actually have school anymore! Although you need to study for finals, you don’t go to class anymore.  And some classes don’t even have finals!  During my last finals week one of my classes didn’t have a final and two of my finals were optional, so I didn’t end up having to take them. I know it is different for everyone, but at least you don’t have class anymore! 

Take a step back, take a breath, and recognize that there is some good in finals week. It can be a super stressful time, but in the end, everything is going to work out. Until then, just keep trying to find the little good things that come from what seems to feel like the worst time of the year. Good luck on finals. You got this! 

“Moving away is easy,” everyone said. I was told that a lot before I moved away for college, but it definitely was not true for me. As I began my college journey, I moved from Colorado to Arizona – a short yet drastic move. I had this fantasy that going to college out of state would be amazing. I would be able to get out of the cold, away from my parents, make a fresh start. Little did I know, it was not what I was expecting. I missed my state, I missed my family, I missed my friends, I missed so much about home I thought of transferring schools completely. This is what they don’t tell you about moving away from home and how I got through it.

A fresh start

There is something about college that you don’t know about until you actually experience it. It’s a fresh start from your old life, whether you want it to be or not. Moving to a different state was hard for me. Colorado and Arizona are different in climate, landscape, air, really everything. I didn’t realize how much I took for granted until I was actually away from home. 

While I used to hop in a car and drive to the mountains with friends, here I didn’t even have a car at college to go anywhere. While I used to wake up every morning to the mountainous horizon, here all I saw were red rocks and cactus. Everything wasn’t bad, it was just different. I wasn’t used to any of it. I had to learn to focus on what was there and not what wasn’t. 

A new support system

Another big thing I struggled with was leaving all the people behind. The support system I had been building up for the past 18 years was now miles away and I had to start over. The thought of this was terrifying, and when things weren’t clicking into place it was hard to believe that things were going to be good in Arizona. I questioned if I had chosen the right school, if I was doing the right thing, everything. I had to continue to push through and slowly I was able to build a new support system.

Change takes time

Though the first few months were hard, everything eventually started to fall into place and through all of it, I was able to learn a lot. I learned to value the things I have while I have them. I learned to cherish every moment with the people I love. I also learned that change takes time and adapting doesn’t happen overnight. Things will work out, even if you do end up transferring to a different school, things will work out. It just takes time. 

Through all of this I learned a lot about myself and this journey we call life. College is truly amazing, and I wouldn’t change my experience for the world. While at first I couldn’t, I can now wholeheartedly say I love college and where I’m at and I hope you will too!