This month we are switching up our blog post to an interview post. Our interview is with Ana Hernandez-Wong, our GEAR UP Communications Specialist/student worker. Ana is originally from South Carolina and attends college at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR).
Have you enjoyed your college experience at UNR? What did you like best?
I have definitely enjoyed my time at UNR. As a former transfer student, I was afraid that I was going to miss out on a lot of opportunities but the community that UNR has to offer counteracted that feeling. The courses at UNR and the professors that conduct the courses have exceeded my expectations. The professors themselves are very understanding of every student’s circumstances. Overall, what I like best at UNR is the student body and the different events they organize to bring all of us together.
What was the one thing you wish you knew before attending college?
The concept of college is very intimidating and overwhelming. I wish I knew not to put so much pressure on myself to be the perfect student. It’s okay to do the bare minimum if it means that you are not putting your mental health at risk. I also wish I knew that professors and instructors are there to help you succeed. I’m the type of student that will figure it out on their own until I can’t. In sum, I wish I knew that you didn’t have to be the perfect student to succeed.
What is your favorite part about working for the GEAR UP grant?
I’ve loved learning about the different jobs that STEM provides and the immense amount of scholarship opportunities high school students have. I’ve also been able to learn how to use different software’s to better our social media skills. It’s been a pleasure to work for the GEAR UP grant.
What is your favorite sandwich?
My favorite sandwich is an Italian sub!
What do you miss about South Carolina?
I miss the food and the weather. The variety of foods in South Carolina is endless and it never disappoints! The weather can be bipolar, but I do miss the thunderstorms during the night because I love falling asleep to it.
You are now heading into your senior year in college, what do you plan to do after you graduate?
After I graduate, I plan on taking a gap year to travel and enjoy post-grad life. I’ll also be moving back to South Carolina where I’ll be going to law school to pursue a career as a lawyer.
Do you have a favorite book or movie? If so, what is it and why is it your favorite?
My favorite movie is Fantastic Mr. Fox because it’s such a comforting movie for me. When I’m feeling overwhelmed or stressed, I tend to watch that movie to calm my nerves.
What advice would you give to incoming college freshmen?
Enjoy every bit of the next four years. Time flies and next thing you know you and your friends are graduating moving to different states to pursue their careers. Another important piece of advice I would like to give to incoming freshmen is to ease the transition from high school to college. High school and college are two different environments so taking the time to get used to it is okay!
Tell us a fun fact about Ana!
One fun fact about me is that I used to have dyslexia when I was a little girl and had to take therapy to better my understanding of words and I’m a lefty. All in all, anything is possible!
