Can you reflect on your time and experiences at CSU and how it benefited you?
My time at CSU taught me that there is no perfect path to take. I went into college with the idea that I would get my Bachelor's degree, then go straight to graduate school, get a career job, find a partner and settle down, and have a family. Although these milestones are still goals of mine, I learned through talking to professors and older students at CSU that sometimes the best way forward is to dive into the unknown and follow the things that interest you. Apply for the random internship that your advisor sent to you, even if you aren’t sure about it. Take a gap year to travel. Hike 500 miles across the state. Volunteer for the non-profit you support. Some of my most treasured experiences post-graduation thus far have come from seizing these opportunities.
What advice do you have for current students or recent grads?
The career services and emails from advisors, and the general community through Warner College have helped me astronomically both in undergrad and post-graduation. I got my very first lab and fieldwork job from an email my freshmen year, and that led me to pursue fieldwork all four years of college and make invaluable connections that led me to even more opportunities. Although the options may seem overwhelming come graduation, as cliché as it sounds, the best thing to do is to follow your heart. The connections and experiences that follow will be with you for the rest of your life and guide you into a career that you love.