I chose Colgate because I was looking for a school where I would have the opportunity to personally thrive. In the smaller environment that a liberal arts college provides, I felt I would have better access to explore not only my social and academic interests but also to learn more about myself. As someone who did not know what I wanted to study in college, I am thankful for the interdisciplinary nature of Colgate’s academics which helped me discern the opportunities for a future career that I could see myself pursuing.
When I first toured the school, the beauty of the campus combined with the students’ friendly faces helped me solidify that I wanted to call Colgate home for the next four years. Having now been at the school for almost three years, I have been able to create my own memories in these various picturesque locations as well as find genuine friends for life that have made my Colgate experience all the better.
You’re involved in a number of activities. Which one is your favorite?
While I truly love all the activities that I am involved in, my favorite has to be Link Staff. The Link Staff orientation program assembles a group of around 75 upperclassmen (sophomores to seniors) who will engage in mentoring 20-25 first-year students upon their arrival to campus. The camaraderie of upperclassmen “Links” is truly unlike any other I have experienced. It unites individuals from all walks of campus life who share a common goal: to help first-year students feel the same love they all have for Colgate and its surrounding community. Through weekly spring training and a week-long session in August before move-in day, this community is not only able to learn how to warmly welcome students to campus but also create friendships with students they may not have encountered on campus before. I have met some of the funniest, most unique, and most outgoing people through this program, and this is only one side of it.
I have also loved sharing my knowledge and experiences with incoming first-years: from teaching them about Colgate traditions to explaining how course registration works. Being a resource for students to come to if they have questions and knowing that I impacted their first moments at Colgate in a positive way is heartwarming. After participating in this program for 2 classes of students, I still keep in touch with most and always say hello to them on campus. My most recent group of “linksters” even has a group chat they text in when they spot me on campus! I have loved to see them grow from helping them explore many activities on campus to even being in the same organizations as them now where we have experiences from the same point of view.
Have you had a pivotal moment, a mentor, or a defining moment?
I think all three of these fit into one example during my sophomore fall semester when I was in office hours with my microeconomics prof., Jyoti Khanna. When signing up for this course, I had intended to major in economics, but sitting in office hours, I realized that it was not something I truly wanted to pursue as my major. I was skeptical if my desire to work in the business field would remain possible if I decided to choose another route, but Prof. Khanna was able to talk me through this decision and helped me realize that there are other ways of achieving my future goals.
I began exploring courses in computer science, sociology, and psychology to figure out what else I could study. After taking a few introductory-level courses, and speaking with students in each of these disciplines, I decided on a computer science major with a double minor in economics and sociology. I began to notice my interest in my courses had spiked, confirming that I made the right decision. I feel a lot more comfortable with my levels of commitment to each of these academic disciplines and have been able to translate this to potential postgraduate experiences as I am applying for internships and jobs in the tech-based business world. I am very thankful that my surrounding resources that aided my thought process including my academic advisors Vijay Ramachandran (computer science), Jyoti Khanna (economics), Carolyn Hsu (sociology), and my academic dean, Sarah Jones.
What’s coming up for you next year?
Next year marks an exciting transition as I will begin working as a senior admission intern for the Office of Admission! Following two years as an ambassador, I was ecstatic to learn I was selected for this new role as I feel I have garnered enough experience under my belt to contribute in a new way to the office. Alongside delivering informative tours and assisting prospective students with application queries, I will oversee a team of 50+ admission ambassadors, guiding their training and managing daily operations as a student management intern.
As part of my responsibilities, I will spearhead initiatives to promote the ambassador program, facilitate the hiring process, and ensure seamless onboarding for new recruits. Additionally, providing constructive feedback to ambassadors and overseeing tour assignments will be key aspects of my role. I will engage in strategic planning sessions to refine the campus visit experience, aiming to optimize every interaction with prospective students and families. I'll collaborate with admission officers in reviewing applications, and participating in crucial decisions regarding acceptance statuses. I am super excited to begin in the fall!
What advice would you give to future Colgate students?
The best advice I could give to future Colgate students would be to take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way because you never know what it may lead you to. At the club fairs, put your name down for anything you could be interested in and then figure out the few that you want to pursue that also work with your levels of commitment. If you are hesitant about taking a course outside of your comfort zone that you think would be intriguing, sign up for it! Oftentimes it will fulfill a requirement that you need to complete for graduation, and you may discover a new passion for a subject you would not have previously known. For example, I had never taken a sociology class until college, but I enjoyed my Introduction to Sociology class so much that I took it on as a minor. The intimate nature of the college fosters unique connections with faculty and professors, potentially opening doors for future endeavors, so I recommend exploring as much as you can, and figuring it out step by step!
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