What is it like to be an undergraduate student right now? Are there any trends or challenges in academia that have particularly impacted your experience?

I believe being a student right now can be a very overwhelming experience. There is so much information accessible to you as a student, which is great, but at the same time, it can feel very intimidating. As a student you might feel that you have to be good at a larger number of things, like AI and computer languages, that seem to be constantly changing but thankfully there are a lot of resources available to students that can help diminish the unsettling feeling the constant change in technologies might bring.

Many students have diverse interests. How have you managed to integrate your academic pursuits with your other passions or interests? Do you believe this is an important aspect of your future work/life self?

I believe balancing my passions and my academic pursuits is definitely one important aspect of my future work/life self. I love concerts, planning events, talking to people and organizing things, which is a big part of why I wanted to go into marketing.

Figuring out how to make a career in which I can further explore my passions while also growing professionally is important for me to ensure I’ll be satisfied with my future professional choices.

Can you share the role mentors or advisors play in your academic journey? Any specific advice from them that profoundly influenced you?

Throughout my academic career, I’ve been lucky enough to have more than one mentor and advisor that profoundly influenced me. One of the most relevant pieces of advice I got that has stuck with me is, “reach out to people”. Everyone likes people who are interested in what they are learning and go after what they want. Mentors, or people you want to have as a mentor are, more often interested than you would think and always willing to sit down and share advice, reach out and talk to them. This has encouraged me to get to know my professors more and not be shy to ask questions which in turn, has led me to network with amazing people.

Maintaining a balance between academics and well-being is crucial. How have you managed stress and found time for self-care throughout your studies?

For me, a big way to balance self-care and studying has been creating a routine. With an outlined and pre-planned routine, I can optimize my free time and schedule in time to exercise, meet with friends and just have leisure time while not falling behind on my academic obligations.

Given the diverse nature of education today, how has exposure to different cultures and perspectives influenced your academic and personal development?

In my experience, being exposed to different cultures influences you academically and personally because it expands your horizons. I was born in Brazil and moved to the US later in my life and that made me realize how much you can learn from other cultures. When you immerse yourself in another culture, you find out about different job opportunities, about a new and different way to do certain things and you get to meet people that are different from yourself which is really transformative.

What motivated you to intern abroad, and how do you hope this experience will influence your future self?

For me, a big inspiration for studying and interning abroad was my family. My mom lived abroad for many years and, ever since I was a kid, has always mentioned how important and transformative it was for her to learn more about other cultures. Because of that, I had always wanted a chance to experience life abroad as well. I hope this experience will allow me to get a broader understanding of a different global market, of a different way of living and of skills that I can apply to future jobs and professional experiences as well.

Looking ahead, what are your aspirations and goals, both academically and personally, what is important to you post graduation?

Post-graduation it would be important for me to find a job I enjoy in a place where I can see myself growing both professionally and personally. Ideally, I would like to go abroad for a while and work for a multinational company in which I could be employed in different locations throughout different stages of my career.

For students aspiring to make the most out of their undergraduate years, what advice do you have based on your own experiences?

Try as many different things as possible, especially in your first year. If your university has clubs and organizations that you are allowed to participate in, be it in sports or academics, give it a try, you never know who you are going to meet. Joining an event planning organization on my campus allowed me to meet people who were dual majoring and that showed me a path I hadn’t thought of taking before and it opened up many opportunities for me.

In addition to that, make use of your professor’s office hours if they have them. Getting to know faculty can help with understanding the class and content better while also help with learning about careers and future opportunities, all that in addition to helping you build a strong network.

Reflecting on your academic journey so far, how has this experience influenced your perspective on your education and future career aspirations?

My academic journey has allowed me to broaden my career expectations. Getting the opportunity to study in the US has been important for me because it has allowed me to get a better understanding of the different possible career paths I could take and it gave me the chance to be a part of different organizations, like the American Marketing Association, that have allowed me to meet people with inspiring careers.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers, perhaps a piece of wisdom or a lesson you’ve learned during your academic journey?

It’s something that might seem basic, but I feel it’s really important to reiterate: ASK QUESTIONS AND NETWORK WITH PEOPLE!

Do not be afraid to ask questions if you have them – don’t ask questions just for the sake of asking, but if there is something you are curious about or don’t know or would like to discuss with one of your professors, ask!

Most professors and professionals, in my experience, are more than happy to have conversations, so don’t be shy to ask questions, get to know your professors and build connections. You never know who you’ll end up meeting and what they can teach you!