Ever since I was a little kid I always knew I wanted to do something out of the ordinary when I would become a grown up. Now that I am about to turn 21 years old and college graduation is in the near future for me, I feel like it is time to enact my dream of being a part of something bigger than myself. Throughout my high school years I loved learning about cultures and about the ways that different people around the world interact with each other.

 

I knew that I wanted to study people and societies when I got to college based on this love for cultural learning I had developed throughout my high school career. I did some research and talked to a few of my friends and colleagues about ways to learn about cultures and do something positive at the same time and the option of becoming a member of the Peace Corps repeatedly came up.

 

I did some research on the program and started leaning toward the program they offer in Africa helping out with the AIDS epidemic. I felt like this would give me good experience in helping out people in need and learning about the way that their society works in looking at how they deal with the AIDS issue.

 

Once I decided on the program, I felt like I should give my parents some insight about why it was I wanted to do this program. Just like I thought, they freaked out—they were definitely not into this idea. I explained to them the benefits for doing this program and I also explained to them that being a Peace Corps member is something very meaningful to me. They understood my compassion for doing this kind of work, but their main concern was for my safety since I would be living in a foreign country for a long period of time. The factor of being able to communicate with them frequently was an issue they brought up. I took all of their concerns into consideration and I started to feel confused about what I should do.

 

I thought to myself, “Could I really do something like this?” I mean, there is a two year commitment in addition to a 3 month training process. Would I really be willing to commit that much time of my life to a program? This question was one I debated about over and over again until finally I decided to weigh the pros and the cons. In doing so I came to realize that I need to take hold of my life and direct it where I want to go.

 

The experiences the Peace Corps could offer me would be invaluable and I decided that I am willing to take a risk in order to make change in Africa. I feel like taking this step would be a good choice for my future career goals. I am excited about the prospect of getting to fulfill my child hood dream of finally being part of something extraordinary.           

I recently had the humbling privilege to experience what job rejection feels like. The word “humbling” is the key word in this entry because it truly allowed me to feel what thousands of Americans are feeling in the current economic situation we are experiencing. I never had a hard time getting a job before, but that might be due to the fact that I have been employed prior to the financial meltdown.

I was applying to get a summer research position with the CNS on campus where I would get the opportunity to study the societal effects of nanotechnology—something new for a change. I went through the usual freak-out mode most people go through after they have their interview and wonder, “did I talk too much? did I talk too little? Maybe they didn’t like me?” These were the questions that were racing through my head for a week after the interview.

I was so set on getting this internship that I did not even think twice about the fact that I might not even get it. I had this mindset that I would automatically get the internship. Little did I know that times have changed. I always hear people say no one is hiring in this job market, but now that it has hit close to home for me I see that it takes a lot more than just landing an interview to guarantee a job or internship.

I feel as if the interview itself actually went well, but from this experience I have learned that you win some and you lose some. I learned that I need to keep a level headed mindset every time I apply to a job. Aside from these points I have also realized that it is important to use multiple resources when on the job hunt.

By multiple resources I mean being creative in what types of jobs and internships you apply for so that you can get the highest amount of offers. In my experience I applied to only a select few internships because I was neglecting the internships I felt were too easy to get. Now I realize that by applying to out of reach, medium range, and easily attainable internships or jobs. This way I could have more options when it comes to choosing what internship to take and having back up internships.

Now that the initial rejection has come and gone I have realized that not getting jobs and call backs is all a part of the career process. Determination is key and not giving up is essential in succeeding in any career. I learned that this persistence will ultimately pay off in the future and even though I might have learned this the hard way, at least I learned it. You have to face adversity to know the worth of what you do have. With that being said, I have now gained knowledge here and there about what it takes to make it in the job market.

Why are majors always so hard to decide on? Is it the pressure from parents and friends telling you to do this or to do that? There is always the, "Hey, you seem like you'd be a good bio major!" How would they know if I would be good at something if they are not me. So what I decided to do was to stop listeneing to other people's advice and to start listening to myself. I know that I wanted to learn more about social activism and ways that others have dealt with injustices. I never really knew what kind of major would deal with these types of issues. After taking Soc 1 in the fall Quarter of my freshman year I definitely knew I was going to be a Soc major.

Despite knowing that I felt a calling to study Sociology I also knew I would have to plan my career very seriously becasue like most humanities majors, the pay outlook may not be as high if you do not strategically plan a path to get you to where you want to be academically and financially. The type of deep understanding that I was able to gain from this class and all other Soc classes I have taken at UCSB really solidified my decision to declare Sociology as my major. I never thought I would find a major that deals with issues I think about daily. The funny thing was that understanding the course work just came naturally to me because type of issues that are taught in Sociology classes deal with issues I have felt passionate about my entire life. I feel this comfort level is definitely one of the main factors that frequently keeps me interested in pursuing a degree in the field of Sociology.                        

I definitely had a hard time when I was trying to convince my parents that this would be a suitable major for me to grow in. Their concerns mainly dealt with the job outlook for this field. For them, they only saw me being able to be a professor or do research work if I majored in Sociology. ONe thing that helped win hem over a little bit was telling them that are way more options available for careers than becoming a professor—especially since I am planning on doing graduate school after my academic career here at UCSB.    

Sure there are setbacks to this major...just like there are to all majors....such as trying to figure out what the heck I am going to do with a B.A. in Sociology after college since the major is so broad. However, the thing I have found helpful about this "broadness" is the fact that having such a wide-ranged foundation can play into one's own advantage when applying to graduate school because there are many programs that Sociology majors can qualify to study in such as: public policy, non-profit management, social worker, etc.

The cool thing about the Sociology Department is that its like a tight-nit community. This has been extremely helpful for me because of the fact that I have been able to get to know the professors and advisors on much more intimate level. This is definitely rare to find in other departments on our campus. This also allows for awesome accessibility to great resources, such as research opportunities within the field. Doing the research on majors realy helped me choose my major and I am very happy with the result so far.              

The beginning of this quarter brings forth new opportunities. I am very excited to explore the aspects of sociological research in the research methods class I am taking. I feel like this research experience will help prepare me for graduate school because the skills I will gain from this course will apply to research I will conduct while in grad school. Grad schools look for relevant coursework as well as research experience in order to help them determine whether or not students will be able to succeed in their programs.

I started to ask questions in class about how this course could help out in grad school and it sparked discussion amongst my colleagues in the class that I was not expecting. Another good thing is that the instructor for this course is a graduate student so building this relationship with her has helped me gage the importance of student-teacher relationships. I strongly recommend talking to professors and forging friendships because they really do have great advice to give—especially if someone is thinking about going to grad school.

In my decision to take a research methods course I have found that conducting research is actually fun and not as bad as most people make it out to be. I could see myself in graduate school doing research that inspires me. Being an undergrad student one of the leading research universities in the world has allowed me to build a good foundation in conducting research and now that I see graduation coming up in the horizon I feel that graduate school might actually be a good option for me.

I plan to make more research intensive classes during the rest of my time here at UCSB. The reason I decided to do this is because it will allow me to build my portfolio in terms of research experience and it will also allow me to compile samples of my research work. In the application process for gaining admission to grad school, some institutions request that students submit writing samples to help the assess a students writing ability and thinking processes. I know that in order to gain admission to the schools I want to go to I would need to have stellar examples of my research experience and my intellectual capacity.

Another step to take in planning my graduate school career is researching the programs I want to gain admission to. I have found that some schools require applicants to take certain courses before applying to their programs, so by researching those requirements now I will be able to plan ahead and complete these requirements in time to be eligible to apply in the winter of my senior year.

The planning process for grad school is just as important as the planning process was for college. Taking the time out to do this planning now in my junior year will be beneficial to me in the future, and I hope that my experiences in the research methods course I am taking can allow to me gain the skills I will need when in grad school.

So it has been a while since I’ve written a blog and that is partly because of the time I spent back home during break reflecting on the past quarter. Before I left for break I was informed that I did not get the REU research internship in Delaware. I was literally crushed when I found out because I was looking forward to researching AIDS during the summer but I learned that things do not always work out the way you want them to and I am okay with that—I realize rejection is just a part of life.

After hearing the news I started to think about how other students must feel when they do not get jobs or internships. Learning to cope with the rejection is a touchy subject and I never realized how sensitive I was to it. I am glad that it happened though. If it were not for this experience I would not have been able to see a different side to the world of internships. I also realized that it was not the end of the world.

My tactic to deal with the rejection was to move on and look for a new internship—that is just the way to deal with these kinds of things sometimes. Almost by stroke of luck, I received an email from my Sociology advisor informing me that there was a research internship available through the same program funded by the National Science Foundation.

This is my second chance at landing an awesome summer internship. The program I am applying to is actually on the UCSB campus and pays the same rate as the REU program in Delaware. The subject for this internship is researching the different societal methods which affect and are affected by nanotechnology. I know—nanotechnology? What am I thinking applying to a program in nanotechnology?

Actually, I am glad that the subject is not one that I am totally familiar with because I enjoy learning about new subjects and tying them into what I already know. Nanotechnology seems like an up-in-coming and wide reaching field of study and I am actually excited to see if I can learn more about its affects on society—especially in this globalizing society we live in.

My goal for the next few weeks is to develop a comprehensive and innovative statement of interest for this program and brush up my resume to make it seem more professional. I know it will be hard work and I have already started doing some research on the field to get a better background on what I am getting myself into. I’ve set up an appointment with an advisor at Career Services to look over my resume and critique my application to make sure that I did not mess up anywhere—it’s always a good idea to get a second opinion.

If I can land this internship I will be more than satisfied with myself because it has been a seven-month long process so far trying to secure a summer internship, so at this point I sort of feel it is about time I actually get one that I am interested in. This should be interesting!

There are many exciting things happening in my life lately. I recently applied to an REU Program through the University of Delaware at the end of February. REU stands for Research Experience for Undergraduates and it supports active research participation by undergraduate students in any of the areas of research funded by the National Science Foundation. REU projects involve students in ongoing research programs or in research projects specifically designed for the REU program.

I definitely recommend anyone interested in applying for paid research opportunities to go onto the National Science Foundation’s website (nsf.gov) and look up REU programs within their related field. This opportunity to do research is open to sophomores and juniors from all universities nationwide. Since these opportunities are open to so many students, getting accepted to one of these programs is highly selective—but that is not stopping me and should not stop you from applying because you never know what your luck may be.

The program I applied to is through the Social Science sector and involves doing research on AIDS related issues like prevention and tracking methods. I am extremely excited to hear back by the end of this week if I get an offer to participate in the program. It is highly selective program-only about ten students from the United States are chosen each summer—and the benefits to this experience are invaluable. The program provides a stipend of $3,600, housing is provided, and meals are provided as well. In addition to this there are two field trips to conventions in Colorado and in D.C. Basically this opportunity seems like it would be extremely beneficial to my future career goals.

I would like to join the Peace Corps after graduating college and help out with AIDS issues in Africa so landing this research experience would be helpful in expanding my knowledge base of this pandemic. I truly hope to one day make the lives of AIDS victims much easier either trough developing new treatments or policy recommendations. I really hope to get this internship also because of the opportunity to become published. There is a possibility to get published by participating in this program because two of the ten student researchers are chosen to come back the following summer and present their research, while having their work published in a research compilation.

I think it is definitely worth it to take the time out to look up research opportunities while still an undergraduate because it not only helps with the courses you take but it also gives students an edge amongst other people applying for jobs after college because the hands on experience gained from doing research reflects a sense of determination and dedication to employers. Like I said before there are a ton of different fields within the REU program that have opportunities available for research so take the time to do your research on these. Here are some of the fields that have research opportunities with the REU program…

Good luck:

Astronomical Sciences
ATM
Atmospheric Sciences
Biological Sciences
Chemistry
Computer and Information Science and Engineering
Cyberinfrastructure
Department of Defense (DoD)
Earth Sciences
Education and Human Resources
Engineering
Ethics and Values Studies
International Science and Engineering
Materials Research
Mathematical Sciences
Ocean Sciences
Physics
Polar Programs
Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences

My experience in the UCCS program was extremely fruitful. Between the summer of my sophomore and junior year I participated in this research intensive program while beginning my first internship. I was very nervous to start this program because I knew I would be one of the youngest people in the group and I honestly did not know what to expect.

The first step for me to take was getting an internship. I actually did not land my internship until the second week of the program, which is sort of rare since most of the other students in the program had secured their internships during the previous quarter. I ran around the state capitol with copies of my resume and hoped to get an interview.

This was definitely not an easy process, but I quickly learned the importance of networking and developing what is heavily referred to as “thick skin” in politics. I went through countless interviews after interview until finally I got an offer from a Legislative Assemblyman named Tom Berryhill. I took this offer because the prospect of getting first hand knowledge of the logistics behind how the California State budget is passed really intrigued me. Also, I wanted to learn about the way state politics works so I figured what better way to accomplish this than by getting into the action on the “battle field” as many like to call it.  

While interning in the capitol, I got the opportunity to do thorough policy analysis on bills in line to be passed. This was a great learning experience for me because things like as such are not taught in any classes you can take at a university. Also, I got the opportunity to see first hand how deals and pacts are made to get advocates for certain measures. This was really interesting to witness because it made the formality of politics much less daunting since I was able to see how informally certain things actually do get done. Getting this “behind-the-scenes” experience has really helped my cohorts from the program and I gain an edge on our fellow colleagues.    

I made friends with other interns and began to thrive in this politically-driven climate. I had never known politics could be so empowering until I began this program. There were a few of my cohorts from the UCCS program working in the capitol as well so the convenience of having more familiar faces was beneficial because of the networking opportunities that developed between my agency and their agencies.   I felt extremely lucky to have been able to grow in and learn through such an amazing program. The reputation held by the UCCS program at the state capitol is phenomenal and anyone interested in a political career should definitely consider applying to this program.

Aside from the priceless experience, I was able to gain unique confidence I doubt I would have gotten from any other internship—especially for being my first internship. I highly recommend anyone at least slightly interested in this program apply to the UCCS program or the UCDC program.

So what is involved when trying to decide whether or not to declare Sociology as a Major (or a Minor)? I know that for me the decision was easy because I wanted to learn more about social activism and ways that others have dealt with injustices. After taking Soc 1 in the fall Quarter of my freshman year I definitely knew I was going to be a Soc major. The empowerment I gained from this class and all other Soc classes I have taken at UCSB really solidified my decision to declare Sociology as my major.             

Personally, I never thought I would find a major that deals with issues I think about daily. Understanding the course work just came naturally to me because type of issues that are taught in Sociology classes deal with issues I have felt passionate about my entire life. I feel this comfort level is definitely one of the main factors that frequently keeps me interested in pursuing a degree in the field of Sociology.                        

On a different note, I had some issues when trying to convince my parents that this would be a suitable major for me to grow in. Their concerns mainly dealt with the job outlook for this field. For them, they only saw me being able to be a professor or do research work if I majored in Sociology. I informed them; however; that there are way more options available for careers than becoming a professor—especially since I am planning on doing graduate school after my time here at UCSB.           

Sure there are setbacks to this major...just like there are to all majors....such as trying to figure out what the heck I am going to do with a B.A. in Sociology after college since the major is so broad. However, the thing I have found helpful about this "broadness" is the fact that having such a wide-ranged foundation can play into one's own advantage when applying to graduate school because there are many programs that Sociology majors can qualify to study in such as: public policy, non-profit management, social worker, etc.          

One important thing to note about the Sociology Department is that it makes up a very small and tight-nit community. This has been extremely helpful for me because of the fact that I have been able to get to know the professors and advisors on an intimate level. This is definitely rare to find in other departments on our campus. This also allows for awesome accessibility to great resources, such as research opportunities within the field.                

All in all I've truly enjoyed my undergraduate experience thus far as Sociology major. The professors and advisors in the Sociology Department are extremely friendly and helpful when it comes to picking classes, finding research opportunities, and landing great internships. I highly recommend that any one interested in declaring this major come into the Career Services (a.k.a. the Pink Building next to H.S.S.B.) to explore all of the different options available to Soc majors.