SAA Young Alumni Panel
SAA recently had a young alumni panel for our members. Six recent alumni spoke to our members about careers, grad school, and life after college. It was informative and a lot of fun. Several of our members wrote about the panel and here you can read what they have to say!
Grace Allan
The Alumni panel was a great opportunity to learn from people who have been in my shoes. I learned that making connections and networking yourself in college is great, however, taking the time to listen and appreciate the advice others have to offer and making genuine relationships is much more beneficial. Life after college is what you make of it. Some people choose to travel, others continue their education, and some people go straight into the workforce. It is important to remember to hike your own hike and not allow what other people are doing to bring you down. Overall, know that Virginia Tech is more than just buildings, it is a place where people support and elevate one another, and to many, it is considered home.
Megan Eskew
On Tuesday, October 20, 2020, several Virginia Tech and SAA alumni came back via Zoom to share some insight regarding their life post grad, as well as provide some words of wisdom of how to make the most of our time here and how to work towards where we want to go in life. One of my favorite questions that was asked was “What lessons did you learned or take away from SAA?”. Elizabeth Galbreath stated that being an alumnus, at the end of the day, means more than you think it does, and it is more powerful than we may realize. This really resonated with me as she went on to discuss how it goes beyond the money; you can come back and volunteer and there is still so much to give. And sometimes, you do not realize that while you are on the other side of things in SAA. As well, someone mentioned how Virginia Tech really is just an outer shell to so much that can lie beneath. It is about the people and spaces and environments and communities that are built. And it evolves as people evolve, and changes as people come and go. But with that, SAA really allows you to meet new people with different perspectives and grow together.
The other question that really intrigued me was, “What is one thing that VT taught you that you will always carry with you?” and the major consensus between the panelists was to make the most of your time here, time away, and life in general, as well as caring about people. At times, we are quick to condemn, but having a big heart for people truly makes a difference. As well, it was discussed finding your Why. Why are you here, why now, why you? It is important to ask ourselves, “What more can I do?”. All of this exemplifies Ut Prosim, living our lives the best we can, and aiming to help and embrace others to the fullest.
Becky Godor
I went into the Alumni Panel hopeful to gain assurance and answers about the daunting real world that comes with graduating Virginia Tech, but I gained so much more than that. The Alumni Panel was not only insightful, but downright inspirational. It went beyond just answering my questions about life after undergrad and showed me the value of being a Hokie. There is a sense of comfort that comes with knowing that if and when I find myself in a new environment, I will never truly be alone, because there are countless hokies on every inch of this country and beyond. The questions asked were nonetheless very beneficial and eased the butterflies that comes with thinking about the future. It was reassuring to hear the stories of alumni and learn about their journeys. They were all so different, but because of that it was easy to apply their experiences to ones not only I want, but others as well. Learning about graduate school and GRE prep from people who have gone through it recently and made it to their graduate programs offered another boost of reassurance that made the process appear less scary. One of the most crucial takeaways, however, was the idea of networking. Sadly, in todays society success often does come down to who you know and not what you know. That being said it was nice to hear the alumni talk about the ways in which they got their jobs and tell us yet again that we are part of the bigger hokie network, so when it comes down to careers we are once again supported by out flock.
Michael Messina
The show must go on. SAA has yet to wave the white flag throughout the pandemic that seems to have affected every aspect of “normal” life. The newest victory was a successful virtual alumni panel where past Hokies came and shared their experiences in the workforce, searching for jobs, and throughout their time in SAA.
I have attended several alumni panels throughout my time at Virginia Tech, but this one was by far the most engaging out of all of them. The presenters were all enthusiastic and shared stories that I could relate to both in the past and present. Seeing their fondness of their time at Virginia Tech and as a member of SAA really put into perspective how special it is to be where I am right now. All of the presenters had valuable insight, but Justin and Gordon really stood out to me with the wisdom they shared. These are two Hokies that clearly hold leadership and Ut Prosim in high regard, and I hope I get the chance to learn from them more in the future. In addition, I often found Ryan and Joanne providing comic relief while managing to still pass along relatable and encouraging experiences.
One of the biggest takeaways for me was when the board collectively shared their experiences of the national and international Hokie community. It is encouraging to know that wherever I find myself in the future I will have a family to lean on, even in London. I appreciate the time the panel gave us and I would highly encourage future exec boards to hold alumni panels in the upcoming semesters
Kim Schmaus
The Student Alumni Association at Virginia Tech (SAA) is an
organization I joined sometime in 2018-2019, with a small grasp of what
Virginia Tech really was since I was just a freshman. After attending the SAA
Alumni Panel on October 20th, 2020, the way I perceive Virginia Tech and my
time beyond has widened after listening to the thoughtful advice provided by
Elizabeth Galbreath, Joanne Williams, Quang Vo, Gordon Quach, Ryan Hopkins, and
Justin McCloskey. I’d like to thank them for their time and help before I delve
into what I learned from this panel and the advice that resonated deeply with
me.
As Ryan Hopkins and Justin McCloskey mentioned, there are so
many elements to Virginia Tech, which is at its foundation just a skeleton of
stone. SAA helps form the community we have here and contributes to the life of
the campus skeleton. SAA has given people the opportunity to figure out what
they want to do in life and help them pursue their goals through networking,
sign ups, and executive positions. We work with a diverse number of students,
faculty, and alumni that create a sense of community beyond SAA here at
Virginia Tech that continues forever. This sense of community exists before and
after your 4-5 years here as an undergraduate student, and the more you
experience the passion other people have here, the more you’ll gain. This
passion for the Hokies and Hokie Nation are so special and complex- when you think
of them, you don’t just think of Burruss Hall and football. You think of the
people throughout the world and their stories of how Virginia Tech impacted
them. There are people walking different paths of life but what we have in
common is the maroon and orange we bleed.
Alumni are so proud of the impact they left on Virginia Tech
and the university colors that they bleed, which has translated into their
professional life and how they’ve obtained internships and jobs after their
time as an undergraduate. This isn’t exclusive to the Hokie network as it also
includes the skills you learn as a student and how you can apply it to
professional development. A wonderful piece of advice provided by Elizabeth
Galbreath is to always be prepared to give your elevator speech and highlight
your qualities and interests to an opportunity that arises, like a literal
elevator pitch. Expanding on one’s time after being an undergraduate can
include the consideration of graduate school, which entails a test called the
GRE. Preparing for the GRE is intense and requires consistent focus and
practice. As Joanne Williams said, you can salami-slice your studying and
practice a little bit every day to stay on top of the material and not
procrastinate, a quality that negatively impacts your application and life as a
whole. As for applying to graduate school, it’s a good idea to search up the
faculty and their specific areas and how it relates to the school as a bigger
picture. Looking at the university as a whole is important because you will be
a student there and a part of that community as well after Virginia Tech, and
the graduate school experience is much more independent than the whole
university itself.
However, put forth energy towards other options as well such
as taking a gap year to work or exploring different career paths. This also
includes putting energy into finding a balance between your workload and your
personal interests such as your passions. As Gordon Quach mentioned, passions
change and evolve as you grow up which is a normal part of life, and it may be
difficult to gauge but explore these passions and further your skill set. Your
skill set is not a stagnant thing- you can build upon it no matter how old or
how experienced you are, which can translate into jobs since your first job
will most likely not be your only job for the rest of your life. As a student,
the clubs and organizations you join are also a part of your personal classroom
and learning experience, and don’t take these opportunities for granted because
it can help you connect with others. This can include leadership positions or
scenarios that advance your development, as Elizabeth highlighted, and
everything can be a learning experience.
Overall, an overwhelming thought was to not take for granted the time we have here at the university as an undergraduate, such as delving deeper into research or academics, exploring Blacksburg, forming connections with students and faculty, and more. There’s so much to explore, experience, and so many friends to make, and these are impacts that the university can have on you for the rest of your life. Quang Vo called this making a path for yourself to succeed and live the best life we can, which resonated deeply with me since my time as a student is quickly fleeting and my time afterwards seems fuzzy right now. It was comforting to know that “it’s not just about what you do, but it’s how you do it” as Elizabeth mentioned, since everything happens for a reason and our fate is not determined the first few years after graduating. This advice was very helpful and thank you again to everyone for the advice they provided, I will be sure to apply it to how I approach life.
Priyansh Shorey
Katy Stefano
Last evening, October 20, the Student Alumni Associates at Virginia Tech (SAA) had the opportunity to hear and learn from six SAA alumni on a Zoom panel. The alumni took turns answering questions that the current SAA members had presented. The questions allowed the panelists to share insightful advice on everything from how to apply to graduate school to what they wished they had known as an undergraduate in college. They also elaborated on the skills that SAA equipped them with that have helped them in their roles now as alumni in the workforce. The panel was very engaging for both the students and the alumni which was apparent based on the lively chat. Students were applauding the panelists and their advice, and panelists were imparting knowledge in the chat box, even if they had already spoken to answer the question. The members of SAA were very grateful for this experience and all of the guidance that the panelists provided them. Hearing from SAA alumni ignited even more passion and excitement for Virginia Tech in the current SAA members, as well as provided them with new perspectives on the four pillars of SAA: spirit, service, tradition, and leadership. Thank you to Joanne Amposta Williams, Ryan Hopkins, Quang Vo, Justin McCloskey, Elizabeth Galbreath, and Gordon Quach for living out Ut Prosim by taking the time to share your wisdom! Go Hokies!
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