What’s the best advice you received while in college?
I know you will hear this a thousand times, but please, take it to heart sooner than I did: you have to stay organized and ahead of all your classes.
What is LINKS?
LINKS is a mentoring program for first-year multicultural students. Every student is given a peer advisor and is required to attend workshops, complete study table hours, and participate in community service. LINKS creates a diverse community that every member has access to throughout their first year and for the rest of their college career.
How did you choose OHIO?
My favorite teacher earned his bachelor's degree at OHIO and talked to me about coming here. It wasn't until my first visit here that I seriously wanted to attend OHIO, but during my visit I completely fell in love with the campus. The campus is such a friendly and vibrant environment with all the trees, the brick buildings, and students going about their days. I strongly recommend making a campus visit.
Have you had an opportunity to develop leadership skills?
OHIO offers a lot of leadership opportunities. Being a resident assistant has taught me countless leadership skills, and I am also a LINKS peer advisor for seven first-year students. Every student organization has a student executive board that is chosen from year to year, so if you get involved and stay active you could eventually earn a leadership position in any given organization.
Is OHIO a diverse campus?
There are a ton of culturally diverse organizations, clubs, and events. I think nearly every culture around the world can be found at OHIO. I know that some of the best events I've been to in my four years here have been put on by a multicultural organization. If you take advantage of the diversity OHIO has to offer, you will become highly enriched by many other cultures.
What’s your advice for a potential OHIO student?
Beyond staying on top of classes, I would advise first-year students to get involved as much as possible right from the beginning of your college career. Making connections with people is the second most important thing about college, right behind actual classes. If you make a ton of connections early on, you will be able to build on them for four years and who knows what opportunities may arise from all the people you meet; and that's students, faculty, and Athens community members.
How are you paying for college?
I pay for college in two main ways. I am a King-Chavez-Parks Scholarship recipient, which I received from the Office of Multicultural Student Access and Retention. I would highly suggest applying for as many scholarships as possible; even $100 will make a difference in this economy, and college is only getting more expensive. I am also a resident assistant. You can be a resident assistant as early as your sophomore year, and it is a great opportunity in leadership, community building, and programming. It also pays for 90 percent of your housing, just saying.
