Students reflect on past year
This year has undoubtedly been one of much change and circumstance for Tech, which has witnessed, survived and cheered all manners of significant events.
What happened? A record high in freshman enrollment made for creative housing, as dorm rooms designed for two people crowded into triples. Luckily, Tech acquired the Village this spring, which should help resolve future space issues. John Stein was appointed Dean of Students. The Library East Commons, Klaus Building and Fifth Street Bridge projects were finally completed, though more construction opened up elsewhere. WREK faced talks of commercialization and airtime takeover by PBA. The Athletic Association, mired in a sea of financial troubles, raised the student athletic fee. Star football player Calvin Johnson made a big catch-a spot in the NFL draft. Notables Maya Angelou, Barack Obama and Al Gore all visited campus.
At the heart of all this are the students that make Tech what it is. At right, they offer advice and share some of the experiences that made this year significant for them.
Freshmen
Name: Daniel Grim
Major: Computer Science
Head start: Being prepared for the worst from the first week of the first semester is the best [way to start the year]. I knew Tech was going to be hard so I worked from the very beginning, whereas some of my friends slacked off.
Diversity reigns: If you take the effort, you'll meet many like-minded people from different cultures and backgrounds. I love the diverse community at Tech, especially since my high school lacked diversity.
Name: Michael Wilk
Major: Mechanical Engineering
New beginnings: It was a challenge for me [to start Tech] because I was away from home and my close friends. I used to be an introverted and shy person in high school and never really felt the need to change that. But when I came to college, I actually saw myself become an extrovert and make new friends. Today, my friends at college would never believe I used to be an introvert.
Work first, party later: I was a little disappointed to know how minimal our social life is...but we've come here because we know that all our hard work will pay off someday.
Sophomores
Name: Melissa Watkins
Major: Electrical Engineering
Football frenzy: The Notre Dame game was a lot of fun, with the whole campus coming together and showing a lot of school spirit. Also, being in the band, I got to play for the actual ESPN videotaping of the game. That day was even more special for me because my parents flew in from Texas to see the game and visit.
Juggling act: Be aware of how much you can handle as far as work and extracurriculars and everything else. I realized this year that doing everything is not actually physically possible. It's important to do what you love instead of just building a resume.
Name: Shannon Zambetti
Major: Civil Engineering
Eggs in the Easy: It was really cool going down to New Orleans and getting over 500 students to build a playground in one day and host an Easter egg hunt. It was incredible to see how much damage is still down there but it was also really exciting to see the kids.
Live it up: Be spontaneous. Don't get into too much of a routine your sophomore year. Don't let the fun of freshman year get away.
Juniors
Name: Kristen Cargill
Major: International Affairs
Car trouble: A bad experience this year at Tech was when I ran out of gas at 4 a.m. and the Tech police had to pick me up in a Little Red Riding Hood Halloween costume.
Smart move: Contrary to popular belief, dropping a class on drop day isn't for the lazy or the weak-willed but for the smart who don't want their GPAs to drop. There isn't any reason to rush to graduate. You should enjoy your time here. You have the rest of your life to make money.
Name: Dhaval Patel
Major: Electrical and Computer Engineering
On the job: My co-op at Lutron Electronics helped convince me that I'm in the right major. I loved my work so much that my boss was actually worried I'd burn out. I came back to school this year with a new sense of confidence as I could relate to what I studied and understand its application.
Social scene: People tend to stick to their social cliques. It's really difficult to come out of our little social circles and try to meet new people and keep long lasting friendships with them.
Seniors
Name: John Chin
Major: Industrial Design
Passport stamp: I'll never forget my experience studying abroad in Sweden. It gave me a perspective of my place in the world and I feel like it will always stay with me.
Family guy: Now that I'm graduating, I might not have as much time as I'd like to spend with my family. We all get so wrapped up with our academics and get into our own world that we forget about the people that love us most.
Name: Karan Chopra
Major:Electrical and Computer Engineering
Tech tips: Although senior year can get really crazy, I'd advise seniors to go ahead and do the activities they regretted not having done throughout their years at Tech. It's never too late [and] Tech offers a really wide variety of opportunities for students.
Departing words: It's a bittersweet feeling to know that this is my last semester at Tech. This past year has been a very satisfying experience for me, as I've ventured into trying new things, meeting people from diverse backgrounds and translating the dream of GT IDEA into a reality.
