Spring commencement is less than a month away, which means that many seniors will be leaving Iowa State and pursuing jobs and lives outside of college. Before they leave, three seniors have advice for underclassmen on academics, friendship and more.
Advice on social life
Veronica Capesius, a senior in public relations, said it is important to figure out how to recharge.
“I love people, I love communicating with people but I realized my social battery ran out and by the end of the day or end of the week I needed my alone time,” Capesius said. “Figuring out if I was someone whose bucket fills up around people or if it slowly drains around people was super important for me.”
Ryan Harrison, a senior in public relations, said his participation in Greek life helped him socialize.
“I joined the Farmhouse fraternity right out of high school, and I’ve lived in the house or with guys from my fraternity the whole time,” Harrison said. “My path might look a little bit different than anybody but I do think we have a great Greek life. I think you can’t go wrong with any of the houses in our Greek community.”
Addressing academics
Capesius suggested saying hello to the people in class.
“I had some teachers that forced us to do it and I made friends with the people around us,” Capesius said. “This compounded every semester… by the start of last year I was getting ready for my schedule, [and] I thought, ‘I’m not scared at all. I know a handful of people in all these classes,’ and that just makes it way less daunting to go to school.”
Harrison said professors are a great resource to connect students with opportunities to grow outside of the classroom.
“Get to know your professors,” Harrison said. “Professors are a great resource, not in the classroom but outside of the classroom, too. I’ve been connected to a lot of really cool opportunities that have helped me professionally grow thanks to some professors. I think having a personal relationship with them because they are there to help you.”
Consider study abroad opportunities
Bridget Cameron, a senior in biology, said studying abroad was more affordable than she expected and that it allowed her to explore the world multiple times.
“I recommend studying abroad somewhere, and the sooner, the better,” Cameron said. “I was able to do a couple of trips before I graduated, and they were the most life-changing experiences ever. The reason I waited so long was because I thought I wasn’t going to be able to afford it. But all the Study Abroad offices are super helpful, and there are a lot of resources available. I think it’s something every student should learn to do, because you grow not only as a student, but you get to see the world too.”
Get involved
Harrison said spontaneous activities can become the best memories.
“The things that aren’t planned that you end up getting asked to do at the last minute are the best memories you’ll make in college,” Harrison said. “Be spontaneous, be willing to do something that you’ve never tried before and take the opportunities that you didn’t have in high school. College is the time to fail and it’s the time to grow. So try to figure out a lot about yourself.”
Continuing to pursue activities from high school helped Cameron adjust to college life away from home.
“Stay involved in activities that you are passionate about or are used to,” Cameron said. “For example, I stay involved in my music that I did growing up. I play in the marching band and do wind ensemble. The reason I say this is because, apart from your academics, the adjustment to college could be very strenuous and stressful, and by being involved in some of those activities, you can maintain that sense of self when you’re not feeling so confident in a new place.”
Be present
Capesius stressed the importance of putting down your phone to talk to friends.
“Overall, just be present,” Capesius said. “Say yes to things. Know your limits, of course, but put your phone down and talk to your friends. Enjoy all the moments that you’re blessed with, because being a Cyclone is awesome, and you want to look back on this time knowing that you experienced it to the fullest.”
Though her plate was full at times, Cameron said taking every opportunity allowed her to make the most out of her time at Iowa State.
“Take every single opportunity that you can,” Cameron said. “I think at times I felt overwhelmed when I decided to do this, just because I had a lot on my plate. But I don’t regret it because I feel like I made the most out of my time here at Iowa State by doing that.”
Harrison said he wouldn’t trade his four years at Iowa State for anything.
“Take the chances,” Harrison said. “Don’t second-guess yourself. Trust yourself. You’ve gotten this far, and Iowa State’s a great place to learn and grow. I wouldn’t trade my last four years in Ames for anything.”
