First To Get A BA In Her Family – Emma From UCF

Being the first in her family to pursue a bachelors, Emma discusses her discovery of the college process.

Transcription

Kamila
Hey college kids and welcome back to my podcast who cares about college. In today’s episode, I’ll be interviewing Emma from University of Central Florida, make sure to subscribe and enjoy

Emma
Hello, my name is Emma rohrich. I’m a political science major with a minor in environmental studies and international global studies at the University of Central Florida and I currently serve as the sustainability and innovation coordinator for UCF Student Government.

Kamila
So, take me back to high school, maybe this was middle school for you, how important was education for your family? And how did that influence how you approach the college process.

Emma
Um, so my dad did not go to college, he owned a tugboat company. And my mom got her aa from a state school in New York. And then she worked for NBC. So neither no one in my family has, has a bachelor’s degree, or at least my immediate family. So it was something like I knew, obviously, like, I was gonna go to college, I was gonna get a degree, but I didn’t really have like a dream school what I would say like most kids do, like I originally because I’m originally from New York. And then I moved down to South Florida when I was in middle school. So originally, like, my only goal was I wanted to go back to New York and go to school there. I thought maybe like NYU just like as a reach school. But as I go through like high school, I started adapting Florida a little bit more. And I realized, like the in state schools are really much cheaper. And I was already a Florida resident, so it just became much easier to stay in state.

Kamila
When you were in high school, and maybe just throughout your life. Did your parents were your parents really involved with your with you getting good grades and making sure that you did like extracurriculars that were meaningful? Or were you kind of left to your own devices to figure that out?

Emma
I would definitely say that I was pretty independent. Like I kept up with all my own grades and everything. I didn’t really need much like hovering over anything. And all like extracurriculars I got involved with, were pretty much on my own accord. I did swimming, marching and and student government, which ended up being a lot, but I ended up just doing it on my own, just because, I mean, obviously, I had felt like I intend brides to swim practice, and then whatnot before I could drive. But yeah, ultimately, I just been was on my own.

Kamila
And one thing I was wondering, because I just recently figured out that Florida residents, as long as you keep your GPA up to a certain point, and you have volunteer hours, you’re eligible for this Financial Aid Scholarship. And this like applies to all Florida students. So were you focused on that? Did you know about that? And was it like your goal to get the scholarship? It’s like the bright futures, right?

Emma
Yeah, Bright Futures is a big thing here. Pretty much like a lot of people I know, have their whole tuition paid for by bright futures. So yeah, I did like I did over 100 volunteer hours in high school, which is one of the requirements do you have to have a certain as at AC t, so I actually had to retake it one time just to meet the requirement for that. And they had the GPA is pretty easy. I think it’s like a 3.5. So that was easy. That was the easiest part of it. But yeah, that is a big deal for in state residents. That’s why a lot of students decide to stay and sage because it’s a lot cheaper.

Kamila
Yeah. So starting from freshman year, all the way to senior year. What kind of classes did you take? So I guess, beginning freshman year, and then did you increase the rigor with with by including APS IVs or honors classes?

Emma
My freshman year, I actually only took honors, no, we were able to take I think AP Human Geography but since I’m the oldest child, my mom’s understand the AP score, and she’s scared me checking them because she wasn’t sure if I do well. So she kind of like tried to be away from them. But sophomore year, I think I took um, I never took an AP class I think I took I cannot remember for laughing I definitely after freshman year, I definitely started taking APS because my sister got to high school and she took them because we realize that you’re more than capable of doing it. So yeah, I definitely, um, senior year I started taking dual enrollment at the local community college. I wasn’t taking as many AP classes. But because DC was just I got more classes done in a short amount of time. But yeah, I definitely increased rigor every year.

Kamila
Yeah. And in by the end of high school, how many? Let’s talk about dual credit a little bit later, but how many AP credits did you have to maybe transfer over to college by the end of senior year?

Emma
I definitely had more than 30 because I’m actually graduating a year early. I’m pretty sure I had I had almost like half my age, actually, probably one half.

Kamila
So did you take the you probably took AP tests, because that’s how you get credit. And what was your average score on those AP tests?

Emma
I pretty sure I got a four on every single AP except AP stuff. I got a one. Just wondering that. And I’m still bad enough. You okay.

Kamila
Yeah. And so in high school, did you? So you’re saying that you’re not very good in STEM? So, in high school, did you know what you wanted to pursue later in life? Or did you just knew you? Did you just know that you were not going to do something STEM related?

Emma
Um, no, I actually had no idea I knew like, science, I actually pretty much enjoy I just math, which was really not my thing. So that’s not a little bit all over the place. I originally applied to UCF as an English major. And for a while, I thought I wanted to do like writing publication everything. But it was kind of like scared me because I knew like how uncertain that kind of career would be. And then, senior year, I led like this community gardening project, while I was in student government, as part of my volunteer hours for futures, and I got really into like horticulture and like the environment, everything. So it really got me thinking of doing fear in that. And then I finally figured out like, once I got to college freshman year, I was like, wants hearing aids, arboretum everything I want to do something like environmentally related. And then personally, because I know I’m like better at social science that I political science is the best way to do that, because it is the best way to like advocate for the environment.

Kamila
And this is true. So let’s go back to your high school transcript before we talk about your extracurriculars and such. So can you tell me what you did to prepare for either the LSAT or the AC T?

Emma
Honestly, I don’t think I really studied for the AC T, I only took it once. It’s just kind of dry out LSAT, I had like a test prep book. So I went through by myself a little bit. And then I did like the Khan Academy, I think they had like this program where like you in your PSAT score, and then they would help you with all the areas that you like you didn’t do well. And so I did that for a little bit. But I honestly didn’t really study as probably as much as I should have for

Kamila
it. Yeah. And in the end, in the end, what was the score that you sent out to the schools?

Emma
I think it was like the top. It was really like the top amount for bright futures. It’s like a 12 or something.

Kamila
So you just met the requirement? Yeah, it Okay. And do you regret not studying for the LSAT more? Or do you think it’s fine, because you still got the scholarship in the end?

Emma
Honestly, for the schools I was applying to wasn’t really a huge deal. So that’s why I wasn’t like too concerned about it. So not really, I mean, if I wanted to try a little bit harder, I could have gone to like maybe a more prestigious school. But I enjoy UCF and I feel like in grad school, I can make up for it.

Kamila
So let’s move on to the more exciting stuff, which is the extracurriculars. What you told me the main extracurriculars you did. So can you tell us again and then elaborate on each one and what you did what role you had in those extracurriculars?

Emma
Yeah, so I started off doing marching man, I didn’t consider being a marching band. Because I did band throughout elementary school, middle school. So that was just something like I naturally thought to stick with I really enjoyed music. And I was like, I would say, I was like, naturally, like, kind of challenge it up a bit. So I knew it was like something I was good at. So I was gonna keep with it. And then I did swimming. I honestly did say, not really quite sure why I didn’t enjoy it all too much. But I, I was not very athletic prior to high school, but swimming definitely got me in shape. And it taught me like now I work out like regularly. So it’s not like a thing. But it was very rigorous. Like we had morning practices for three, four times a week, and then practice after school and then I’m watching my practice after that, and then we did homework. So it’s certainly interesting. Now it’s also like the natural National Honor Society, student government tryam, which is like music honor society. And that’s

Kamila
okay. And what like, I understand that those especially band and swimming were big commitments. So with band, did you? I’m not exactly sure how band works or orchestra works because I’m not musically talented. But did you were you like a band captain or like some sort of section leader?

Emma
Because I did swimming. I wasn’t really able to dedicate the time to be any sort of like leader for that and I will say didn’t really have an interest in doing it because insert government has already taken leadership positions there so I didn’t feel like I had to.

Kamila
I see and then with swimming did was that was also time commitment. But did you like go to competitions? And I guess like kind of outside of the regular like, sports person did you go to competitions? Did you win like some sort of awards for your swimming and maybe for your school as well?

Emma
I got varsity every year, since freshman year, and then I also made it to regionals two years, but I can’t say I broke any records. I definitely like placed placed in like the top numerous times, but nothing nothing like exceedingly, like impressive.

Kamila
Yeah. Okay. And the one I’m most interested about is SGA. So you said you held some leadership positions? Can you tell us a little bit about that?

Emma
Yeah, so sophomore year, I think sophomore year. So we are actually super presentative, which was my first year in the junior year a junior class secretary and and senior SEC plus president.

Kamila
Really? Okay, can you tell us, first of all, how you found out, or at least how you joined SGA to begin with? And then how you climbed yourself up in the ranks to become president senior year?

Emma
Yeah, um, sophomore year. So, in my school, you can only do it since sophomore year, I do as a freshman. So it’s actually something I didn’t really think that I would be interested in. And then my friend kind of was like, hey, you’d be good at this, like you should run and then like, you have to like run a campaign, then students vote for you. And then somehow I made it in school to the same not sure how, but I got in just as representative. I didn’t hold any office. I think there was like, three representatives. But and then I’ve just really, really liked it, I realized that I kind of had like, I was very dedicated to it. I have put a lot of time into it. Even for everything else going on, I’d still kind of prioritize it, especially like after some season ended as he put more time to everything. And then junior year. I ran. I ran for officer position. I honestly not sure which one. I don’t remember. I think it was like my supposed to end up being Secretary, because the other kids in their head are already held officers officer pins a sophomore year. So that made sense. And then senior year, I just I think I just kind of proved that I was the most dedicated to it. And I put like more time into it more than a lot of the other students and senior government. So I was able to kind of climb higher, a little higher. And I eventually got president.

Kamila
Yeah, and what roles did you play and maybe just as a representative, secretary and class presidents. So what roles did you play in student government because I don’t have a student government at my school. So I don’t really know how it works and high school at least. Yeah,

Emma
my senior government was in charge of doing homecoming prom. Difference. We did like senior class events. So we did like your class luncheon. We did like a Christmas celebration party thing for them. We did like Teacher Appreciation breakfasts. So like before school in the morning, we would put on a little breakfast for all the teachers couple times a month, or a couple times a year. And we also saw like all the student governments within the state are like they’re a part of this organization called Florida Association of Student Councils. So we also got to go like conferences and meet kids from like other student governments, and then you’re able to kind of compete for projects you did and so that’s why here I ended up doing the community garden project. It was a lot of community service as well. Like we went on community did a lot of things so I led the gardening project as community service project and that I think that one second and like the state level competition,

Kamila
that’s That’s amazing. So in your you didn’t Did you do common application?

Emma
Um, no, I didn’t do common app. It was like, remember what’s called

Kamila
okay, but I’m sure you have to like write some sort of essay. So did you What did you send her your essays around? Was it the impact you had in your student government or was it other extracurricular so what did you focus those on?

Emma
Um, so, actually, surprisingly enough, one of them the one I got, I wrote for UCF. In bands I my band director made me play oboe which is known as an oboe. It’s very difficult instrument to play. And it was quite a challenge. So I kind of wrote it just like lighthearted essay about that. Kind of like, like a little metaphor of how oboe playing sex life is honestly pretty cheesy, but other ones I wrote about moving like from New York to Florida. And then yeah, I did. I think I think when I say I did mention, like student government leadership and everything like that, that didn’t have big word of high school, but you

Kamila
see, and so this was specifically for University of Central Florida. But that were all your essays for like the other Florida schools relatively, like kind of the same.

Emma
Yeah, I think I think I only wrote, like two or three essays, because most of the prompts are pretty similar. Yeah. Yeah. I’ve had like, it’s Oh, sorry. You see, I’ve had like an application of its own, like, all the other Florida schools had its comp like their own combat thing. But UCF had applied separately. I’m not sure why.

Kamila
Oh, yeah. Yeah, some schools have their own separate application. Yeah. So how did you end up making a college list on which colleges you wanted to apply to? And how did you kind of tackle that because some people do this thing where they apply to a couple reach schools, a couple 5050 schools and then a couple safety schools. So how did you tackle that?

Emma
Um, so I guess my kind of like reach goal, which wasn’t really too much of your school was us. Which I honestly was not like, too keen on going and we just kind of have to proceed like a Florida us was like the most prestigious school. And then I apply us apply to the Fashion Institute technology actually, which is kind of funny now. So I’m not doing anything relevant to fashion. But here, a lot of my family went there, because they’re all like they’re all from New York, they live in the city. And when I was younger, I was really interested in like fashion designer, like be a fashion designer does like when I was like much much younger. So I just kind of applied there just to see if I could get in if I had a drastic change in life plans I would go which I did get invited go obviously. And then I honestly I applied to you FSU UCF, and that was pretty much it, I kind of had an idea of where I want to go. And I knew where I’d get in. So I didn’t really bother, like, doing any rituals, because I didn’t really care to go to them.

Kamila
And one thing that interests me about the bright future, because I didn’t know about this at all until like, I just heard about it recently. And I think it’s an amazing program. So if you didn’t, I guess meet the requirement, or perhaps you decided to go to another school that was not in Florida was was like finance a big? How would you say a factor in your family or like a driving factor for picking a college? Or where did you have a little bit more free rein?

Emma
I would say I definitely had free rein, like I wasn’t told, like you can’t go here because it’s expensive. My sister goes to school in California actually. So like it for her like she didn’t really care really stay and say I just kind of thought was like the reasonable thing to do. Like if you could save money, go for it. Like I didn’t have exact plan of what I wanted to do. So it’s not like I was going to school because I had like, this great program. So to me, it just kind of like made sense to me all like the most of the universities would be the same if I could get into them. So yeah, I wouldn’t say it was like a huge setback. I knew like we knew you’d figure it out eventually. And yeah.

Kamila
And how did you have from the schools that you did apply to which ones did you get accepted into differed from and rejected from?

Emma
So I for the US, they have like this thing called the PACE program. So it’s like you can only go online for your first year to our into your AI so I got to the PACE program for you f and then I got into FSU and UCF, and fit, but those schools I applied.

Kamila
Yeah. So and how did you choose which school to which school that you would go to? Because in Florida your tuition would be covered for all right. Yeah, yeah. So how did you choose?

Emma
I would say like, you see, UCF is actually the only school that I toured. I had never seen the UEFA FSU campus until I got to college. And I just felt like most familiar with it and FSU like, I would say kind of had like a negative, negative connotation around it, like, it was definitely known as like the party school. And I like that UCF was in Orlando, like is more of like a urban city. And there’s like more to do, or like Tallahassee is kind of like, like very country out there. And it’s not something I was really used to because I grew up in New York. So I just thought like, you get this more comfortable.

Kamila
Smoking, okay. And so you got into college and you pick the college that you’re going to go to what were your expectations of college itself before you actually went because you didn’t really have at least someone in your immediate family to tell you oh, this is what college is like, this is what you’re going to experience and such.

Emma
I would say yeah, I nervous I think that’s kind of the biggest reason I stayed in state because like, no one before had like gone and left like I was the oldest child so I was like kind of scared. way more home, I’d say which is, like a little bit embarrassing, but, um, I was, I was pretty nervous just because like UCF is it’s like the second largest school by enrollment. So it was like, I remember like, my English teacher was like, Oh, you’re gonna get lost in such a big campus. So, like terrified me, I was like, I don’t want to get lost it like, not like physically, but like this within the crowd, like, you’re just like one person out of 80,000 students. So that definitely pretty that really scared me. But I definitely I found, I found my niche here. And like, throughout my years, like I’ve definitely found, like, has been interested in what I’m interested in. And I’ve definitely, like, developed myself as a person. So I would say, definitely, college has not been exactly what I pictured it to be. But it’s definitely better than what I thought it would be.

Kamila
That’s good. And so when you went into college, you said you were kind of scared because of like, stuff that people told you. And you also mentioned how you weren’t really looking for any specific programs in such a kind of just looking more or less like in Florida. So were you really excited to go to college? Or was it just like another four years of education because some people are really, really excited. And they’re like, Oh, this is gonna be a completely new journey. And then other people are like, oh, I’ll just earn my degree and then get a job or get a graduate degree.

Emma
I was excited. I didn’t, I didn’t really see I was like, Oh, another four years. So it just kind of, to me, it was like protection, like, oh, another four years before I have to go into the real world. So that was like the biggest thing for me. Like, it wasn’t like I wouldn’t say something that I was looking forward to since like, the beginning of high school was just kind of like, Yep, this is next step. Here we go. Like kind of, like just going with the flow. Like, I was scared to move, but honestly, like, where I wasn’t Punta Gorda, like I didn’t want to stay there forever. And I knew that so it was good to leave anyways. So it wasn’t like a huge I would say it was a huge, the biggest thing is just leaving my family since I was the oldest sighs like personally.

Kamila
Yeah. And so you’ve gotten into college, and you’ve picked UCF. So arriving there your first time ever, like being there as a student? What did you do? How did you experience it? Did you go to orientation? Were you completely lost and confused? Like, how? What happened your first day are your first week there?

Emma
Yes, they actually do orientation, like they have different sessions, like months before the first day school just because there’s so many kids that they have to go through. But when I first got to college, it was kind of like, I was like a little bit of confusion because I knew like in high school, like I was just I did way too much like I was just that all the time, and I knew I guess college, I didn’t want to do the same thing I want to kind of like, give myself some free time, which I never really had in high school. So the first semester I volunteered in arboretum every week. I was I’m a part of there’s this program called Lead Scholars Academy at UCF. It’s like a selective leadership program. So I got into that and I think that and then an arboretum that was pretty much it I couldn’t really decide what exactly I wanted to do. So I started to kind of trying everything out I did a lot I am sports, my friends, which I need to do right before COVID ended everything but um, and yeah, and then the next semester after that I I got an internship with Burnden profit so that kind of like spearheaded everything else I did after

Kamila
and so Okay, so you got involved when you first came into college? So did you know that getting involved would help you? I mean, socially and like at least give you something to look forward to? Or did you happen upon it by like, accident just like oh, let me try this and then you figured out that this is like really the way to make friends and make the best of your college experience?

Emma
I definitely, I would say the biggest thing The biggest reason why I want to get involved is to make friends just because like UCF is such a big campus so in order to meet people you have to like go out and and like just meet people similar interests as you and then hope it kind of like sticks. So I would say I mean obviously I want to do it because it’s a boost like career and everything but I’d say initially it was just kind of like finding something look forward to to dedicate to fill up time because after a while I started realizing I hate free time that was why I didn’t have any school so it’s are driving me crazy when I wasn’t doing anything. And that’s why it definitely why I started getting involved in a lot more things.

Kamila
Yeah, and so coming into coming into college you weren’t like in in another state are like in another country in college, but you were still a good amount of distance from your family. So did you ever have the feeling of homesickness or did you ever feel like I this is terrible I wanted I just want to go back home that feeling of like loneliness because nobody knows each other. And as you say, UCF is a huge campus. So did you have that kind of feeling?

Emma
I definitely say like the first semester I feel like a little bit of loneliness just because the burnout I was in I didn’t have this room it was kind of like for for smaller suites and one little like, kind of get farmer type thing except it wasn’t like it was really just like a hallway and then four separate rooms. So there’s like no one there like I had to talk to you all the time or like really like socialize with and my other roommates all like brushed and we’re in sorority so like we didn’t really ever hang out. They’re always like our shorties and everything. So that was like a little bit tough because I did want to be friends with my roommates like the normal college experience, but that never really happened. But it definitely just took time. And then like the homesickness part, I was like, You see, I was three hours away from where I was from. So I did go home for like, certain event like my sister’s a year younger than me. So I went home and she was in theater. So I went home for like a lot of her, like theater productions, because it was your senior year, so I didn’t want to miss them. So I would say like, I wasn’t really able to be homesick too much. Just just because I did go home quite often the first year but I do the first year I kind of stopped going home.

Kamila
Yeah, so you said that you’re the mothers for and I kinda understand how the UCF like dorm system work. So there are four of you. And you said the other three girls decided to rush. So why didn’t you do? Why didn’t you decide to do that? Or were you like, not sure. Like, why not decide to do sorority?

Emma
Um, I thought about it, but I don’t know, I just kind of I knew that I felt really, like fit into that kind of thing. I also, like just talking like, when I talk to my roommates about it, like they were to explain like all the activities they did and what what the day to day consisted of, and it just didn’t interest me really, like, it just seemed to be like a lot of events that I don’t know, I wanted to do something productive. That was like, going towards something like the greater good. And that’s why like I ended up working for like nonprofit everything, but like, I don’t know, sorority just seemed to me like you’re paying for friends. So I wanted to be more like have a genuine experience. Like I just something I was interested in. And I met these on the way. It wasn’t just like, oh, Russia sorority and then now they are forced to be my friends.

Kamila
Yeah. So I have a question about how sororities work. I’m not familiar because obviously, I’m not in a sorority, but is there a distinct culture like that separates people who are in sororities and fraternities from the other people who are not in Greek life? Is there like, kind of separation? Like you can’t really mix with each other and certain events and such? So? Is there do you feel that kind of difference? Or do you do you have like friends and sororities and you guys still hang out or something?

Emma
Um, I would definitely say I would say like, just naturally, like, there’s kind of a divide just because like an amazing Greek life kind of associate, like everyone they know is in Greek life. It’s like, just kind of too different. I like in city government, a lot of people sitting around are in Greek life. So that’s kind of like the biggest place that they mingle, like non Greek in Greek. But other than that, like I feel like other otherwise, it’s like, kind of hard for a Greek and Greek to kind of, I don’t know, I mean, honestly, I’m just saying this from my own personal experience, like outside of doing government, I don’t really encounter too many people that aren’t Greek life, but that’s also because I’m not Greek life. So it’s just like, I don’t know those people. But I would definitely say like, is definitely a big thing. I don’t know. Like, I feel like it’s a big thing at UCF, like, a lot of people fresh. And it’s definitely like a lot of constrained government. But I wouldn’t say it’s like, a big deal. Like, oh, like Greek life, don’t talk to them, or whatever.

Kamila
Okay. And so you said you didn’t want to? I guess the Greek life didn’t appeal to you after you heard your roommate after you heard your roommates talking about it. So what exactly did they do in Greek life that didn’t appeal to you? Like, I’m completely new to this? I have no idea about sororities, fraternities or anything.

Emma
So when my roommate was explaining to me, it just seemed like every Sunday, they had like chapter meetings where they go over kind of like decorum and what’s going to be happening or whatever. And then like, there’s like a lot of like, mandatory socials that you had to go to, like different bars or restaurants, or like, during weeknights, which just seemed kind of crazy to me. And then I know, like, my roommate was talking about how they’re doing like this dance or Lip Sync Battle, which I guess it was a fundraiser. So it’s for a good cause, but that she had like three hours of Lip Sync Battle practice every night for like two weeks. And I was just like, I would not want to do that. So that was definitely the biggest thing that like sent me over the edge.

Kamila
Yeah, okay. I see. Interesting. So how, if it wasn’t a sorority, how did you occupy your time? How did you occupy your time? And I think you mentioned some sort of nonprofit work. So could you talk about that kind of stuff? You did?

Emma
Yeah. So first, my first semester, I definitely just full time like volunteering at the arboretum gardening and everything which led me to there’s a nonprofit in Orlando called ideas for us. And they kind of do, they do like environmental action. Like we did a lot of shoreline rescue stuff like that. So my first, my first my second semester, my first spring semester at UCF as a grant writing intern, so I would go to the Orlando office downtown, just like 20 minutes away from UCF. And I’d help basically like fill out grants and stuff for the nonprofit. So they can have income and they can afford to do different projects. So it was really good experience, I definitely learned a lot and it definitely like spearheaded everything else that I was going to do, because, like, I started getting experience within like environmental fields, and I started learning more about getting more interested. So then I after, during my internship, I picked up the Environmental Studies minor, I was activated switching my major to it, honestly. But it would have just taken more time, I wouldn’t have been able to graduate your early like I was already on track to do so and is ultimately a sign of the same thing because like environment studies major it has the policy track that you can do so is like just flipping it. Um, but yeah. Then after, after my internship, I also I just another thing on campus, I was a peer mentor for freshmen students. So there’s like a class that freshmen is gonna take. And then the peer mentors are assigned to each class and you kind of like help guide freshmen throughout their first year. So I did that, like the summer after my freshman year. And then I got involved in like, offices, stainability initiatives, and then and then eventually, government right, and sustainability work. And I continue to do it now.

Kamila
So you’re you’re joining of student government did that come like naturally? You did it in high school? And then you’re going to do it in college? Or did you say maybe I’ll take a break from it, and then just ended up joining it? So how did you transition from high school to college? And did you notice any bigger difference in how student governments run in high school vs. College

Emma
and knew that I, but I got to college, I figured like I did mind you student government. It was just kind of like for freshmen. It’s not like they had like this one program that’s freshmen can do but wasn’t like actual student government. So I was just kind of waiting a bit. And I knew that like in college was much more competitive than it was in high school. And it was much different than it was in high school. It wasn’t like homecoming and prom or anything like it was actually like dealing with the school budget and doing actual, like, real initiatives. And so, last fall, so the beginning of my sophomore year, I was able to sit on the Sustainability Council for student government, and I was kind of like the vice chair. So I was basically shadowing the person who held the position that I have now. And I was basically learning everything about like sustainability initiatives on campus. And I was learning like, how they are done and everything. And then that’s why this year like the executive branch, so I don’t know if this is worth explaining where you want me to but the ways were explained all us at UCF and most called the city of Riverside, most colleges that I know is like there’s supposed to mock like there were like the US government. So there’s executive branch, and then an executive cabinet, which I’m on now. And then there’s Senate. So each college, like each individual college gets their own mountain of senators, and then you can run for a Senate seat. And then there’s judicial, so you can run for judicial seat and that covers like Student Conduct and stuff like that. So executive branch had the position as a dis sustainability coordinator. And then she ran like Zeus neighborly counsel underneath her. So that’s what I ended up doing my sophomore year. And then after learning from her, and like, learning the ropes and everything I was able to get to her position the next year after she graduated, which was really, really cool.

Kamila
Yeah. And can you tell us a little bit about your role in student governments as the coordinator for sustainability?

Emma
Yeah, so my, my role kind of covers like a really wide array of things because sustainability and innovation innovation kind of can mean anything. It’s a it’s definitely a lot of different things have fallen under it. But so I’d say that like the biggest projects I’ve been working on have been I have a lot of different gardening projects going on. So at UCF, we have like a remote campus called the Rosen campus, which is like the school of hospitality that it’s about now it’s like 45 minutes away from the main campus. Honestly, I’ve never been there but we’re working on doing a garden. It’s going to be the rose and diversity garden. And our goal is to have the culinary students be able to help like grow the garden and grow their own food to be able to use and cooking classes. So it’s kind of like a farm to table type thing. And then in the process like it’ll help boost like education around like sustainable farming and agriculture and also like ecotourism, which is like a huge thing, especially like in Florida. So that was that’s definitely like a very exciting initiative. We also just opened a downtown campus in downtown Orlando so we’re working on putting like tower gardens in the residence hall because since in the city it’s kind of hard to but like actual like full blown community garden but the tower into kind of like, it’s like a barge tower made of PVC pipe, and then you just kind of like grow the greens or for whatever like in little slots. And then there’s LED lights and a little sprinkler. And it’s like perfectly to do like urban farming. We’re working on it’s like some of those in there. And then also, like I cover I’m working on like sustainability, curriculum integration integration. So I’m trying to get like sustainability taught in like all this is because it is applicable to every discipline, especially like as students are preparing to go into the workforce where sustainability will continuously become more important. For like mental health, we’re working on like mental health campaign, we’re bringing in like, guest speaker that reached out to us, and especially like now is like COVID. And everything, we’re definitely trying to emphasize that a lot, a lot of fans are starting to feel like, really, like overwhelmed about everything going on. And yeah, and I also cover like health and health a little bit, I have to sit on the Student Health Advisory Committee to help out with that we’re doing like an anti smoking campaign to help students be aware of like, the negative effects of vaping, and smoking and everything like that. So it’s a very, very wide range.

Kamila
Yeah, that is a very wide range. And so your major kind of major and minor minor kind of perfectly tie into what you’re doing. I mean, you’re an SGA, which goes with your political science major, and then minor in environmental sciences. So how did you happen upon your major? Because you told us how you how you, I guess, selected your minor, but how did you happen upon your major.

Emma
Um, so because I’m just getting over my high school, I kind of knew I really liked like, the leadership role and everything. And I really enjoyed, like social sciences, history writing. And like that kind of aspect of it. And like, to me, like close clients was almost like, like, it’s a lot of writing, it’s a lot of writing. Yes. So I knew it still have a aspect. But I also really wanted to do something very important. And like that I like I’ve known like, for like, since before high school, like I wanted to do something that was like very closing, like great change and to being a positive impact on the world. So I knew that political science that the best way to change any things from top down, like through the government, passing the legislation. And as I got more involved in environmental and I realized, like, a lot of if I’m issues can be passed through, like the government, everything, and like, a lot of government systems could be changed and to help the environment. So that’s why it kind of like clicked in my head, like, oh, like, if I want to advocate the best way to do that is through like a government or nonprofit position, position that perfectly aligns of political science. And I really liked I really enjoy like history and learning how like systems work, like I love any kind of like, even like economics or anything, I just like knowing like learning how the world works. And political science is like, perfect way to do that. And Environmental Studies is like my own personal interest. Like I like learning about nature and plants and like how we can protect the environment. So that’s where like environments days minders perfect. And then they just, again, like you said, they complement each other very

Kamila
well. Yeah, they did. That is true. Yeah, because it works out perfectly with your extracurriculars. So one more thing I want to like, one more major thing I want to talk about is, you seem like a very busy person. So first of all, you’re graduating a year early. And actually, let’s talk about that first, before we talk about, you know, your how you balance your time in school. So graduating a year early. What was your intention with that? At least? Did you know you were going to graduate early in high school? Or did you realize you could once you were in college? So how did you decide to graduate one year early?

Emma
Once I started taking a lot of dual enrollment classes, in high school, I kind of realized, like, I have a lot of credit, I would have a lot of credit going to college. So I knew that it was definitely gonna be something that would probably happen. And so I kind of just counted on it. And then like my first two years, like freshman, sophomore year, I was just kind of thinking like, do I want to graduate a year early? Or do I want to, like postpone it? So that was like a big thing. And I also was thinking, like, do I like grad school law school? Like, how is this gonna play into it? So I would, I would say like, once I after, like, sophomore year, like, I looked at, like, my night and I saw like thought is like what they used to calculate, like, how many credits you have left to graduation, I realized I only had like, a little bit more than 30 credits left, so I could graduate within the year. I was like, Okay, well, I guess this is happening, because I was just like that, to me. I just seemed like, why postpone it like I decided I want to go to grad school. So I figured I might as well graduate a year early, do two years of grad school and then I would ultimately have both degrees in five years instead of six. So it just seems like the most efficient option eventually.

Kamila
Yeah, that’s amazing. And Can you tell us a little bit about your grad school plans? Like, are you thinking of branching out of Florida, and kind of the schools you’re aiming to and what you want to get your graduate degree in?

Emma
Yeah, so my graduate school list is definitely much bigger than my undergrad, I am not the only place I’m flying in Florida is us because they have a natural resource policy program. So that I want to do like environmental specifically like environmental policy, because there are a lot of good grad programs for that, I’d say like my top choices, the University of Washington in Seattle, they have a dual degree program. So you get a master’s in environmental science, CES and forest management, and then also a Master’s in Public Affairs. So it literally takes like my major minor, and you get two masters out of it. And that’s three years. Then UC Davis, the University of California, Davis is a huge environmental school, they do a lot that goes toward sustainability. So they also have an environmental management program that I’m applying to that was definitely a top choice of mine. And then I would say definitely, like my retreat school is Boston University. They have like, its global policy, and then a specialization environmental policy. But I went there over this, I went to Boston or with summer, monsoons in my family, and I went to the campus, and it’s just so cool. And obviously like, okay, like, little fun fact, like AOC is like my idol. Like, I love her. So and she went to BU for economics, that’s like, like my top school, but. And then I also applied to a couple schools in DC they have they have environmental, like policy management classes. And if I want to work in the government, obviously, DC is like the most prime place to do it. So playing George Washington University and American University in DC. So yeah, definitely branching out of Florida. I definitely much more for IMPLAN like going into grad school than I did for undergrad, which is, which is good. And I took the GRE study for the GRE much more than safe LSAT.

Kamila
So, I mean, that’s amazing that you’re doing all this stuff. And I want to go back to one thing I was wondering about, how did you at least balance the schoolwork you had, and then the SGA work you had? And then you did do like an internship at a nonprofit as well. So just in general, because you are graduating soon, just in general, how do you balance all of that your academics, the extracurriculars that you have an actual passion in, and then social life and just having time to do little hobbies here. And there

Emma
is definitely a challenge. I feel like a lot of times, like if I do you have free time to do something that I wanted, like, just outside of anything else, like I kind of feel like a little bit guilty, like, oh, you should be doing something else. And now I also I interned for a house representative as well. So I was doing government, my current internship, and then school as well. So it’s definitely like just scheduling. Like I have almost everything that I have to do, like on my computer calendar, like down to the hours. So it’s like, you just got to think ahead, like, Okay, if I have this to this day, then I have to get it done before this event, because I’m not gonna have time to do afterwards. So it’s definitely like, you have to be very proactive. And then some days are just like, ends up or like over the weekend. Like, I’m really just spending whole weekend doing homework, because I wasn’t able to get through the week, which like, Can sucks. But it’s definitely like, cause like, I don’t, I wouldn’t say like I have time to just like, do whatever I want, like some college students prefer to do. It’s definitely like full time, like just going going going like I usually like I’m on time clock, I leave around like four or five like normal job. So it’s definitely getting a lot of long hours. And

Kamila
yeah, and I have a couple extra like little questions before we end here. So with the bright future scholarship covering, it’s 100% of your tuition, right, because you met the requirements for them. Yeah. Yeah. So how much of an I guess? How much of an impact has that had on you? Do you feel like so much better than maybe some of your classmates who didn’t get the scholarship and are now going to pay student loans? So how much of an advantage do you think you are at right now, because you you’re not going to graduate with any student loans.

Emma
I definitely feel very fortunate that I was able to, like escape having to take out any loans or anything, I was able to have everything like set and I wasn’t like I did have like I a couple jobs or so after a couple of jobs during college. But um, so ultimately, like, I feel like I still would have worked as much as a regular student would have, but it’s nice not to have that extra burden. Like I it’s definitely made it a whole lot easier to get through college. So that’s really

Kamila
good. That’s amazing. And so we’re, we’re coming to you about an end here. So I want to ask you one more thing, and this is more of an advice thing. rather than like sharing your experience so, number one, can you give us advice for current high school students? They can be any year freshman, sophomore, junior senior year? What advice would you give them in high school now, either to do better in high school or prepare for college, whichever one you want. And then for current students who are either going into college or send us the beginning of the school year, they’re in college right now. So what advice would you give for those two groups of people?

Emma
So the advice I always used to give to the freshmen that used to peer mentor was always just like this, get involved. Because obviously, that’s what I’ve been doing and through, like, you just kind of learn through trial and error, like what you want to do what you don’t want to do. And I would say the biggest thing is like, don’t be afraid to quit, something that you don’t enjoy. Like, I I hate quitting things. Like I think like, I will literally stick it out, even if I don’t like doing it. But just because I feel like I have to but like, I think the best, like the best way to find out what you’re truly interested in is just like, keep trying things out until you find something that you genuinely enjoy and are passionate about. Because it can take a while, like, environmental policy is like such a niche to be interested in for career. Like I feel like that’s not something many people like going like, you know, most high school seniors probably aren’t saying like, Oh, I want to work with like environmental policy, environmental management. I mean, maybe now, like, as it’s becoming more of an issue actually, like, when I was in high school that sounds something like everyone wanted to do. So it just like finding like your little niche of finding what you’re enjoying, even like in your in high school, like you’re not too young to start like doing something for your community. Like I know, it seems like you’re kind of limited to your high school sports, your high school clubs, but you can still like they’re I know they’re like interns in Central Florida, that intern for like house representatives in high school. And like I was just I did a panel a couple months ago for this high school group called this zero hour, which is like climate advocate, C group, which is so so cool. Like they’re doing so much work than I ever thought I could do in high school. So definitely like it’s you’re never too young to get involved here before you start doing what you want to do now. So I definitely think that’s like the biggest thing.

Kamila
And and what would you give? What advice would you give for current like college students right now who are either about to enter college? Well, I guess a little bit later on, they’ll be entering college or that are already in college and don’t really know what to do or don’t really just they don’t know what they’re doing. So what advice would you give for them?

Emma
I mean, now I just feel so awful for them, because like it’s just such a bad time to start college. But I would definitely say like, just don’t take it. Just don’t take it as like a hinderance like, still try to make the most of it that you can still try to go out and find like, find what you’re interested in as best you can. Like, obviously, like you have to accept the circumstances. At some point, like maybe you’re not able to do exactly what you want to do. But just trying to make the best out of it. Like don’t let it ruin your first year because you’re not going to get it back. And definitely like don’t be afraid to like go into things by yourself. I think that’s awesome. Honestly, like the biggest thing like, don’t be afraid to like be the only person that you know somewhere. Like don’t only go to something because your friend is going to do something because you want to do it and you think that you’re interested in it. Because that’s ultimately like how you’re going to grow as a person.

Kamila
Okay, that’s really good advice. Thank you so much, Mr. for coming today.

Emma
Awesome. Thank you so much for having me.

Kamila
Thank you. Oh, have a I guess you could say evening. Have a good evening. You too. Bye. Bye. That’s it for my interview with Emma. If you enjoyed that, please subscribe so you know what other episodes are coming out but other than that, I hope to see you in the next one.