First year students come to school not knowing what to expect, or where these next four years are going to take them. Career paths, social events, grad school, these will all be decided as the next adventures come to a head. How has this first year treated them and how do they plan on going forward with the experiences they already have? Luckily for you reader, five current first years weigh in on their career plans, their favorite professors, advice, and most importantly the questions they still have about NC State.
Part of what makes NC State so amazing is the community and social environment provided by the University and the many organizations within it. These activities and events can really impact the way a student perceives their adventure through college and how they go about balancing school and life. The most exciting moment for Ava McCormick, an Anthropology major, is meeting new friends that have similar hobbies and spending that quality time with them! As a senior who faces graduation in a few weeks, my friends have made my time here at NC State that much more fulfilling. The friendships built will last a lifetime. For Emily Crute, a Criminology major, the best moment was going to the football games AND watching both our men and women’s basketball teams make it to the Final Four! The strength of the pack (our fanbase) was so electric and in her own words, “It helps me realize I chose the right school to attend.”
The excitement of NC State is surely one of my favorite things about attending this school, but the professors and the courses I have taken revolutionized my educational journey. Interacting with new professors can be scary, however the professors in our department have raving reviews about their attentiveness and care for students. Sadie Struble, a criminology major, credited Professor Schnieder, who teaches Social Deviance, with interesting lectures and open to feedback from students, which is amazing! Professors, like students, are constantly learning and being flexible with schedules and lectures is a great way to connect with students and make them feel heard. Emily Crute listed several, showing signs of an impactful first year in our department. She loved her criminology, social deviance and sociology classes. They’re perfect for her major and keep her the most intrigued during lectures. My favorite professors have to be Dr. Ferzli, Chris Schell, and Shriver. They stand out because they make the class entertaining but also teaching us everything we need to know for their classes. Jason Tellez connected with Virginia Riel as she cares about her students outside of class and responds to emails as soon as she can! Responsiveness is so necessary, especially during those 1 am panics.
The career goals of these students represent the variety and dimensions of being in our department, there’s so many different paths to go down and you’re not restricted. Valeria Lastra, a criminology major, wants to work in the federal government! Emily Crute wants to be a crime scene investigator, and is hoping to get an internship at the Raleigh crime scene lab before she graduates! Sadie Struble wants to go into local law enforcement, and our department has tons of alumni who have gone into that field.
The biggest question the responders had was how to find internships and where to look. Luckily for them, our department has plenty of internship resources available, including a person that helps them find one for their course requirements. Reach out to advisors who can direct you to different staff members, professors, and even third party sites to find internships. Specifically, look at https://www.doa.nc.gov/divisions/council-women-youth/state-internship-program for more around North Carolina!!
Finally, what do they wish they knew on their first day at NC State:
Valeria Lastra – Don’t be so scared, everyone is in the same boat!
Sadie Struble -Don’t be afraid to talk to your professors and ask questions!
Ava McCormick – Don’t be afraid to try new things! You may find a new interest. Doing labs in my Physical Anthropology made me realize that I am very interested in human osteology, which I never would have expected before I took that class.
Emily Crute – I would want to tell her that everything is going to be okay and that this isn’t highschool anymore! A grade doesn’t define you and professors are more understanding than you realize. I would also tell her to get more involved around campus because you can make long-lasting friendships that way!
Jason Tellez -Relax and that your classes aren’t as stressful as long as you don’t procrastinate.
The Department of Sociology and Anthropology has so much to offer, if you ever find yourself afraid of the unknown, think about all of the people that have felt the same way. You will figure it out, the same way these first year students will, make sure to take care of yourself and get out there and have fun. Whether it is the first or last year of your college experience, give yourself a chance to expand your horizons and learn something new.
This article was written by Olivia Fiser, Student Ambassador
