Major Keys to Success: The Class of 2020 Edition
The academic year is almost over, most college decisions are in, and high school seniors are ready to embark on their college journeys. Coming to college is a major transition, whether you live a few miles or a few continents away from campus. So, taking inspiration from DJ Khaled, I decided to compile a list of major keys to success for the Class of 2020, brought to you by 20 current Vanderbilt students. In no particular order, here goes!
____________________________________________________
Name: Logan Keller
Class of: 2017
Major/Minor: Political Science, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Spanish
Campus Involvement: Alternative Spring Break, Original Cast, Commons RA
“Don’t be scared or upset when your original plan for your four years doesn’t go the way it does. Almost nobody’s plan does, but the growth you experience and the new opportunities/people you will discover are worth every failure.”
____________________________________________________
Name: Ryan Coyne
Class of: 2018
Major/Minor: Human and Organizational Development, Psychology
Campus Involvement: True Life Director of VUcept, Commons RA
“Talk to upperclass students! We are all so excited to have you here and love helping you figure out all the different parts of our awesome school. Don’t be afraid to ask us questions!”
____________________________________________________
Name: Pranjal Gupta
Class of: 2016
Major/Minor: Chemical Engineering, Chemistry
Campus Involvement: Former President of South Asian Cultural Exchange, Vice President of Tour Guides, President of American Institute of Chemical Engineers, VUcept Lifer
“For the first-year students entering Vanderbilt in the fall, cherish these moments. Time flies by faster than you know it, so take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way. I live by the motto, “He who hesitates is lost.” Don’t hesitate on any opportunity for personal growth. It will be worth it.”
____________________________________________________
Name: Raven Delk
Class of: 2018
Major/Minor: Communications of Science and Technology, Corporate Strategy
Campus Involvement: VUceptor, Tour Guide, Project I Am
“Vanderbilt is a place where you will encounter people from all walks of life, and everyone has a unique story. Listen to those stories and learn from those people, even if they may think differently than you do. These are the moments that help you grow!”
____________________________________________________
Name: Jackson Parker
Class of: 2017
Major/Minor: Political Science
Campus Involvement: Tongue N Cheek Improv Comedy, VUcept, The Slant.
“Spend as little time inside of your dorm room as possible! It’s hard to meet people in there.”
____________________________________________________
Name: Rebecca Chong
Class of: 2016
Major/Minor: Multicultural and Diversity Studies, Human and Organizational Development
Campus Involvement: Tour Guide, Greek Life
“My short term advice would be to do something your first semester you wouldn’t have done in high school– whether that is taking an interesting class or joining a seemingly random organization (sign up for Diwali!). My long term advice would be to invest in people. From faculty to peers, Vandy is filled with amazing human beings. Take the time to talk to them, to get to know them, to invest in understanding people different than yourself as well as similar.”
____________________________________________________
Name: Alice Li
Class of: 2019
Major/Minor: Neuroscience, Music Performance
Campus Involvement: The Vanderbilt Hustler, Alpha Epsilon Delta pre-med society
“Stay open to meeting new people and trying out different classes and activities. Also, Kissam has pumpkin pancakes on Thursdays.”
____________________________________________________
Name: Queen Stevenson
Class of: 2017
Major/Minor: Communication Studies
Campus Involvement: Opinion Editor of The Vanderbilt Hustler, Vice President of the African Student Union.
“I know that you were student body presidents and everything else in high school, but when you arrive, don’t feel the pressure to lead every organization. Don’t pursue leadership positions for the wrong reasons — for the prestige, or the social capital it gives you, or the weight it gives your resume. Find a couple things that truly interest you and lose yourself in them in a healthy way. Being “well-rounded” isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, especially if you have dozens of meetings every week and you enjoy none of your involvements anymore, while stringing others along at the same time!”
____________________________________________________
Name: Jad El Harake
Class of: 2018
Major/Minor: Biomedical engineering, Computer Science Engineering Management
Campus Involvement: Commons RA, VUceptor, Tour Guide
I think a crucial part of freshmen year is recognizing that everyone around you wants you to be successful and happy. Upperclassmen, professors, other first-years, etc… Never feel like you can’t ask for help or talk to someone about anything that comes up; it might be intimidating, but it pays off to reach out to other people! You also come out of the experience with a couple of new friends :) “
____________________________________________________
Name: Katherine Gelfand
Class of: 2019
Major/Minor: Medicine, Health, and Society
Campus Involvement: Service Commissioner of East House, Alternative Spring Break
“Explore Nashville as much as you can – we live in such a cool city and there’s so many fun things to do off campus! The great restaurants, cool coffee shops, free concerts, and beautiful parks are just a few of the things you should check out. My friends and I went to the Live on the Green music festival, the Grand Ole Opry, Wild Horse Saloon, and so many great restaurants this past year, and going to all these fun places are some of my favorite memories of freshman year.”
____________________________________________________
Name: Adithya Sivakumar
Class of: 2018
Major/Minor: Biomedical Engineering & Medicine, Health, and Society
Campus Involvement: VUceptor, Vice President of Internal Affairs (South Asian Cultural Exchange)
“The campus has countless opportunities to display your passions, and one of the most important things to do in those first few weeks is to find what your passions really are. You may come in as someone who thinks they are super-ready to follow a certain path in college (cough-cough me), but find that you’re really interested in another journey (#deep). You got this!”
____________________________________________________
Name: Rani Banjarian
Class of: 2016
Major/Minor: Physics, Creative Writing
Campus Involvement: VUceptor, Tour Guide, Melodore
“Right now, you’re all big fish. You made it in, of course you are. Everyone here is a big fish. Everyone was a star in the local communities. You’ll be in classes, sit across tables at lunch from, and join student orgs with people who are as accomplished, if not more accomplished than you. People who are as ambitious, if not more ambitious than you. It’s an incredibly humbling experience, a unique brand of positive peer pressure that empowers everyone to be and do better. Let that change you. It’ll be tough at first to feel like you’re the dumbest person in the room, but this space will teach you to appreciate and value all types of intelligence around you, but more importantly, it will teach you to appreciate and value yourself.”
____________________________________________________
Name: Abby Wei
Class of: 2019
Major/Minor: Human and Organizational Development, Elementary Education
Campus Involvement: Tour Guide, Inside ‘Dores Blogger, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, Begin with Books Literacy Volunteer
“Try out everything the first semester; go to the org fair, go to all the general body meetings for the organizations you think you would be interested in (I would even make a point to go to a couple you think you’re not interested in. You just might change your mind!). Then choose organizations based on how they fit you and your interests. Pursuing hobbies and finding new ones is an integral part of college life, so make sure your academics are balanced with extracurriculars!”
____________________________________________________
Name: Laurel Hattix
Class of: 2016
Major/Minor: Human and Organizational Development, Political Science
Campus Involvement: Head Resident of Memorial House, Committee Member of Hidden Dores, President of International Justice Mission
“You have no obligation to the person you were before coming to college. That isn’t to say abandon yourself entirely, but realize that you have an opportunity to go into spaces, create different relationships, and reconstruct the way you view the world — and that is such a gift. I always tell first year students when you go to organizational fairs or are trying to decide what to get involved in choose two things. Choose one that is comfortable, familiar — something that you already know makes you feel alive. If you loved debate in high school sign up for debate here. If you loved environmentalism activism find an organization that continues to foster that in you. But then choose one thing completely unfamiliar to you. Maybe you always wanted to try spoken word, but you weren’t “that” person at your high school. Maybe you want to play rugby, but you weren’t the “jock” before. You have four years to let go of the person you may have been “expected” to be, and four years to start stepping into the person you, and you alone, decide you want to become.”
____________________________________________________
Name: Nick Park
Class of: 2019
Major/Minor: Economics, Financial Economics
Campus Involvement: Vanderbilt Student Volunteers for Science, Phi Gamma Delta, ONE at Vandy
“My advice would be to meet as many people as you can during the first month or so. It’s uncomfortable at first, but you’ll end up appreciating those early relationships as your career at Vandy progresses.”
____________________________________________________
Name: Jackson Wiles Vaught
Class of: 2016
Major/Minor: Political Science, Human and Organizational Development
Campus Involvement: Vanderbilt Student Government, VUcept, Vanderbilt Programming Board
“Success at Vanderbilt is not one-size-fits-all. All too often it’s easy to get caught up in others’ definition of success and forget about what what makes you impassioned to make a difference; it definitely happened to me my first-year, at least! Instead, use your time at Vanderbilt to take advantage of all the wonderful opportunities that can help you determine how you want to leave your individualized, positive mark on the world.”
____________________________________________________
Name: Jacqueline Scott
Class of: 2016
Major/Minor: American Studies, Sociology, Vocal Performance
Campus Involvement: 2014 True Life Director of VUcept, Honor Council (2015 Vice President), Vanderbilt Chorale, Top 20 Outstanding Senior
“I came to Vanderbilt with a very specific idea of what I was going to do – be a singer. As my first-year progressed though I found I had other interests in what Vanderbilt had to offer and, because I was able to open myself up to those alternative possibilities, I had a college experience that was unexpected yet more fulfilling with each new interest or challenge. Come in with your goals and ambitions but also with a mind willing to change and embrace new interests once you’re a part of this vibrant community.”
____________________________________________________
Name: Amy Dam
Class of: 2017
Major/Minor: Human and Organizational Development, Spanish, Financial Economics
Campus Involvement: Treasurer of Multicultural Leadership Council, Community Co-Chair and Incoming President of Asian American Students’ Association, Chancellor’s Scholar
“Bring a mallet for move in day. Don’t be afraid to explore as many clubs as you want because in doing so, you will find the one that feels like a home away from home. The Randwich line is really not as intimidating as it seems if you just believe in yourself!”
____________________________________________________
Name: Ariana Fowler
Class of: 2017
Major/Minor: Human and Organizational Development & Medicine, Health, and Society
Campus Involvement: Student Body President-Elect, Co-Chair of Vanderbilt University Speakers Committee, Kappa Kappa Gamma (Diversity & Inclusivity Task Force Delegate)
“Soak it all in! The next few years are going to fly by- and in the best way possible. My best advice, and the advice that I believe was central to my success at Vandy, is always be open to new things. If you come into college with a narrow view of what your experience will be and what you are going to be involved in, you are only limiting yourself and the incredible experiences you could potentially have. Go to that interesting club meeting or sit in on that fascinating guest lecture. You’ll never regret learning something new and you never know who could become a good friend or close mentor.”
____________________________________________________
Name: Ryan Connor
Class of: 2018
Major/Minor: Political Science, Human and Organizational Development, Philosophy, Corporate Strategy
Campus Involvement: Commons RA, Honor Council (Executive Board), Deputy Director of First-Year Relations for VSG
“Learn from the people around you. Anywhere you go to college, you will be able to learn and develop skills in the classroom. However, if you take the time to interact and listen to those around you, you will find yourself learning more than you thought.”
____________________________________________________