True to senior fashion, we came up with this article idea a few days before our senior essay was due. Don’t worry though – procrastination also means that we put a lot of thought into it before actually writing! In this essay, we’ll each answer three fun questions about our college experience that we hand-picked because, when we read the questions, they induced the least amount of stress. As a result, we hope you find our answers fun, enjoyable, perhaps a little goofy, but overall, genuine. Here goes!
- Have you surprised yourself in college?
C: Many times over! I found myself much more outgoing than I was in high school, and I also tested the limits of how many things I could fit into my schedule while still having the bare minimum amount of sleep necessary to function. Both of these changes came with a good amount of nerves. I’m an introvert, so meeting and getting to know people is not always my forte. There were nights when my social battery was in desperate need of a recharge. But nonetheless, I’m tremendously proud of how many connections I made at Stevens, no matter how small. There are so many amazing people here, and I wouldn’t have gotten to know any of them if I hadn’t put myself out there a bit. As for the crazy number of activities, it was stressful managing all of these things, and in many cases making mistakes or errors. But I had my friends to fall back on in all of these moments, cheering me on and helping me learn from my setbacks. I am most surprised with how many people I worked with and got to know over my four years here. For those still here, I’m doing my Ph.D. at Stevens, so I look forward to seeing them around! And for the rest of us going onto new and exciting endeavors elsewhere, I wish you all the best and hope to keep in touch.
T: At Stevens, I was really surprised how easily it was able to blend in the right community. Coming from another state, I was pretty unfamiliar with the surroundings and city culture. However, it was so nice to be with a new group of people that I got extremely close to. Following my faith and my major, I was really planting myself in a spot where I got to grow closer to a new community of people that I have grown to love and respect. Although I’m moving to another state, I’ll always be connected to Stevens and the specific clubs I was a part of (a couple of shoutouts: Stevens Christian Fellowship (SCF)and the Biomedical Engineering Department). Working with those in the same major can be a huge opportunity to go through everything together rather than apart. I’ll never forget the work, emotional, and mental support I received from many within my own major. We will always be bonded by the countless nights, where we prepared for presentations or projects, but somehow always got through it. I’m moving back home to start my job, but I’ll always be keeping in touch with those that helped me reach this new and exciting part of my life.
- What are you most proud of in your four years?
C: I’m most proud of the impact I made on student life with my involvement in the Student Government Association (SGA) and Stevens Dramatic Society (SDS). SGA showed me the importance of advocating for my peers and fearlessly sharing my beliefs and opinions. Seeing the growth of this organization over the last two years and the positive changes it has created on campus has brought me an immense sense of inspiration, persistence, and fulfillment. Meanwhile, the determination SDS has for putting on amazing theater has given me an entirely new perspective on creativity, work ethic, and dedication. I am incredibly grateful for all the opportunities I’ve had with these two student orgs, and I can’t wait to see what they do next!
T: In the last four years, I’m most proud of creating my own community even though a year and a halfwere online. My ability to transition and still function in my positions at various clubs, such as The Stute and SCF. I was able to take up leadership roles, such as treasurer or editor, to make impacts within these organizations and was able to create the next “generation”. It feels good to know that I welcomed and trained new members in what it means to be part of the organization. I know that these young members will continue to make the orgs stronger. These orgs always kept trust in me, and I feel pride in helping guide these orgs through the “Zoom era.” Knowing that I am able to adapt and get through the ever-changing world comforts me in knowing that I’m ready for what’s next.
- What goal have you achieved that felt really far away during your first year of college?
C: Getting a math degree! I started Stevens as a physics major with the intent to become a professor in physics. I saw this science as my calling in life, so a math degree was not something I was even considering. But in my first year at Stevens, I found myself enjoying the math courses the most, so I decided to add math as a second major at the beginning of my sophomore year. Over the years, I gradually came to realize that math brought me the most joy out of the STEM fields, and excitedly shifted my focus to math research opportunities and Ph.D. programs. Now I’ll be graduating with two B.S. degrees – one in math as a harbinger for what’s to come, and the other in physics as an homage to what got me to Stevens in the first place.
T: MY BME DEGREE! Laying in my bed on the first night of pre-orientation, I felt scared and alone. I was sleeping near someone I barely knew. I was scared — being so far away from home — scaredI’d never adapt. I’d never be able to succeed in an environment like that. Well, guess what? I even had to do some of it completely online. It’s done. All the assignments and all the exams are finally behind me. The key behind it was all the people around me. They drove me to continue to push and never give up. I’m going into a work environment that I’m familiar with, and I’m excited to apply my knowledge. The community behind me has got me to this point and I’ll never let them down.
