Since 1889, a number of University of Idaho alumni have done great things after they graduated.
To name a few, there was Lawrence Chamberlain, who became the dean of Columbia University, Dean Thornton, who was a Boeing executive, Michael Kirk, who helped create Frontline and Bobbie Thomas, who is a style editor for NBC”s Today Show.
The UI class of 2016 is soon to be the most recent addition to the legacy.
People before the class of 2016 have done great things, and now it is time for graduating seniors to follow in their predecessors” footsteps. With a UI education, leaving behind a legacy isn”t difficult.
Education isn”t just what is learned in a classroom or a book. It isn”t that simple. While going to college, especially at UI, it is important to make connections with peers, professors, administrators, alumni and community members. This is the era of networking and college is the perfect time to do that.
Students have access to UI alumni all over the country. From Sharon Allen, who was named one of Forbes “100 most powerful women in the world” four times, to Brian Oswald, a leading professor in fire ecology silviculture and range management. There is a whole world of people out there to connect with and that is possible with help from
UI alumni.
Alumni aren”t the only ones who can help connect students to great job opportunities or internships. Professors are an excellent resource for connecting with professionals in specific fields of study and those professors can become academic advisers who take on students in research projects or help with graduate school applications.
Students who are still on campus should take charge of their education. There are the occasional complaints about advisers or advising season and how those times of the year aren”t beneficial, but a student has the opportunity to make the most of those situations.
Professors in the field are more than willing to help students and become advisers. All students have to do is ask. This creates an entirely different situation from the college assigned adviser, who only meets a student twice a year.
Students shouldn”t just passively accept a situation that makes them angry or annoyed. They are paying to get an education and so they should make the most of it. Mold the experience into something that fits, and ask for help, because there are plenty of people at UI who want to help students.
Students have the power to shape the course of their education and demand excellence from advisers, professors, the university administration and themselves.
Students only have about four years on campus – to make connections, to get involved and to become a part of the Vandal family. Seniors have used those four years already, but those behind them should be more than willing to step up, no matter how many years they have left.
It”s time to create a legacy of excellence.
– CW