We're asking some of the people you might encounter on the UMBC campus, including students, faculty, staff and alumni, to answer a few questions about themselves and their experiences. These are their responses.
Name: Avanti Mehta
Hometown: Clarksburg
Major: I'm majoring in Anthropology and Biology, with a Spanish minor
Q: How long have you been at UMBC?
A: Third year- I'm a junior.
A: The sooner you laugh at your mistakes, the better. We're all in college so it's only natural that we're going to make a big mess of things at least once...a month. I make a fool out of myself or find myself in a sticky situation much more often than I'd like to admit, but I've learned that the best way to deal with my mistakes is to realize I may have misstepped, go to the friends and family I've made on campus for help, and then try to move forward. I recommend laughing at some point in that process because it really does help to know that the importance of many situations lies in how you respond to them!
Q: What is one way you have worked with others to make a positive difference at UMBC or in another community?
A: So one of the best things about being a Tour Guide is that I get to work with people that are head over heels for UMBC, rain or shine. Sometimes it feels monotonous to give a tour each week and say the same thing every time, but every once in a while I'll talk to a student that really appreciates the tour experience they had when they were deciding on a school to attend. Actually, in the past year I've had a couple new students actually tell me that I was their tour guide last year and that I in some way affected their decision to come to UMBC. That feels amazing! I think it's a really cool way to leave an impact because by sharing why I love UMBC to prospective students I might actually be giving them a reason to fall in love with UMBC themselves.
Q: Complete this sentence: "I am a big fan of __________"
A: My mom actually got her Ph. D. at UMBC, and there's a copy kept on the fifth floor of the library. I really like studying on that floor because in a way being close to the culmination of all her hard work makes it easier to believe that I too can accomplish something great if I work hard enough and believe in myself. Also, it's in Molecular Biology so I hope to one day be able to read it AND understand it.
Hometown: Clarksburg
Major: I'm majoring in Anthropology and Biology, with a Spanish minor
Q: How long have you been at UMBC?
A: Third year- I'm a junior.
Q: What is your current title (job or student organization position)?
A: I am a student-coordinator through the Shriver Center for the site EBLO- Education Based Latino Outreach. I am also the Vice-President of Chapter Development for Phi Mu, Phi Gamma on campus. I also TA for the Honors College each fall, and I have been a Tour Guide for almost two years. I also coached at STRiVE this past winter and had a blast!
Q: In 12 words or less, what role(s) do you play on campus?
A: Student, Sondheim, volunteer, optimist, friend, betta fish owner (his name is Gazpacho!)
Q: What aspect of your UMBC role(s) do you enjoy most?
A: I absolutely adore being a volunteer, because it is such a big part of who I am and it has brought me close to so many of my best friends. One of my favorite things about UMBC is how easy it is to step out of your comfort zone and lend a helping hand. In my time here, I've been able to volunteer with 5 different organizations- one of which I now lead- and I even got to go to Panama last spring break to provide medical care abroad. Being a conscientious member of the community is so important at UMBC and I think that's something that really binds students together and is one of the reasons we can make such an impact!
Q: What is the most important or memorable thing you learned in college/have learned at UMBC?
A: The sooner you laugh at your mistakes, the better. We're all in college so it's only natural that we're going to make a big mess of things at least once...a month. I make a fool out of myself or find myself in a sticky situation much more often than I'd like to admit, but I've learned that the best way to deal with my mistakes is to realize I may have misstepped, go to the friends and family I've made on campus for help, and then try to move forward. I recommend laughing at some point in that process because it really does help to know that the importance of many situations lies in how you respond to them!
Q: What is one way you have worked with others to make a positive difference at UMBC or in another community?
A: So one of the best things about being a Tour Guide is that I get to work with people that are head over heels for UMBC, rain or shine. Sometimes it feels monotonous to give a tour each week and say the same thing every time, but every once in a while I'll talk to a student that really appreciates the tour experience they had when they were deciding on a school to attend. Actually, in the past year I've had a couple new students actually tell me that I was their tour guide last year and that I in some way affected their decision to come to UMBC. That feels amazing! I think it's a really cool way to leave an impact because by sharing why I love UMBC to prospective students I might actually be giving them a reason to fall in love with UMBC themselves.
A: TEA, my fish Gazpacho and being a goofball!!
Q: Do you have any UMBC stories, little-known facts about UMBC, favorite spots on campus, or anything else you’d like to share?
Co-Create UMBC is a blog for and about UMBC, written by David Hoffman and Craig Berger from the Office of Student Life. Join the Co-Create UMBC group on MyUMBC. Like Co-Create UMBC on Facebook. And follow David and Craig on Twitter.
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