While sitting on the 5^th floor of the PCL, an open collaborative space, I quickly reflect on the main points I need to ask my senior mentor, and I hope the conversation reduces my stress.

“How do I find the best business internships? I want to intern directly under a CEO or work for Mercedes or Hilton.” I say.

“Go on LinkedIn, Visit career fairs, directly contact the companies, book an appointment with career coaches, speak with graduate students who have done internships, speak with teachers who can provide insights, perform intensive research online, she responds.

“I–’’,

There are also so many websites that you can dedicate yourself to researching for internships. Go on businessinsider.com, internships.com, USAJobs.gov, GoAbroad.com, Experience.com, Idealist.org, Mediabistro.com, hercampus.com, and glassdoor.com.

“I had never thought about these options before, so I better catch up. I better straighten up my time management skills in regards to internships. At this point, I feel bombarded with massive information.

“You may want to research the business schools you are interested in like Stanford and UT before applying for the internships.” my mentor continues.

“I read online that schools want a student to demonstrate leadership ability, creativity, and problem-solving.

“If you are going to be the leader of a company, you will have to acquire the experience to collaborate on a team. Are you a leader in your community? Do you have any leadership positions? Are you actively involved in clubs? Have you had any prior work experience?”

There was a moment of silence and reflection, where my mind was immersed with overwhelming thoughts. Then, she continued talking. “To make the most out of your time, first look up the type of work you are interested in, then match that to the company. Do not research the company first.”

“That is a new approach to researching, and I now think I will have less sleep. I certainly would have to wake up at 5am on a Saturday to research internships.” I anxiously state, as my mind races with many thoughts.

“As a Psychology major, I say Nooooo. PEOPLE NEED THEIR SLEEP.”

Is my mentor really making things easier for me by providing me with more information or really just giving me more stress that I have to cope with every day when I have less sleep?

“I will be sleeping at 8pm, so I should be fine. Applying to internships is valuable to me. There is an opportunity cost to everything. I can choose to work more on internships or sleep more. I choose to work more on internships.

“I also decided to apply to one internship per week this semester, which will most likely be fine,” I say.

“That works. If you can try to apply to more than one internship per week, that would help too.”.

The conversation turned out to be unexpectedly worse for me. I consider applying to more than 1 internship per week means more pressure. I lastly sigh and with a nerve-racking look, I tell the mentor, “I certainly have a lot to accomplish.”

My mentor acknowledges this. After conversing, we leave the PCL.

A mentor should make a mentee less stressful, but the mentor made me more stressful. What I now have on my mind, even when I choose to have less sleep, is internships, only internships.

 

I frequently travel every year to visit my uncle in Toronto, Canada, but this year I decided to solely stay in Austin, Texas where I was amazingly confronted by a completely opposite weather from Toronto. In the past, when I walked along the streets of Toronto, I felt as if the winter squeezed me to death. Massive amounts of snow covered the roads, and I wondered whether I can survive this weather.   My shoes always crunched through the powdered, polar-white snow. My teeth chattered. My limbs stiffened. My body shivered. My fingertips tingled. My nose snuffled.  I even had difficulty coping with sore joints. The concrete floor feels like ice and it can freeze my feet. At times, the blizzard was harsh and the screeching winds were dreadful. The skies of Toronto are empty and bleak.  In these cold moments, I longed for the radiant light of the sun to warm me up. But that never happened because the callous winter always stifled Toronto with its icy breath. What are the only two winters in Toronto? The clear-cut answers are cold and colder.

 Now, as a UT student in Austin and having frequently travelled to Canada, I find the weather in Austin’s summers to be miserably hot. I find it hard to bear the heat, as I constantly struggle to walk along the streets with other Austinites. I feel like I am at war with myself when trying to bear the heat. My mouth is dry and I am thirsty and I am dehydrated. I sweat and I am fatigued from walking. I can barely breathe. There is barely wind. The concrete floor has the feel of a fire and it can singe my feet. I notice the heat shimmering off the ground, and only implore to be in the shade. It is as if the scorching sun gets the best of me wherever I go; it indeed gets the best of my mind and body.  The sun blazes down from a cloudless azure sky, and I feel like the sun is cooking me; the perspiration also flows from me like tears that would never stop. What are the only two summers in Austin? The clear-cut answers are hot and hotter.

Is there any way I would feel a tad bit cooler in the summertime? No way. Austin’s summertime weather is one of a kind in the same way Toronto’s wintertime weather is one of a kind. You can make instant sun tea here in Austin, but in Toronto, you can make instant cold brew ice tea.

            For the first time at 8pm on a Sunday, I, a new UT Austin transfer student, decided to attend a Star Party. I was ecstatic to view the planets because such an opportunity is hard to come by. My Astronomy Professor Dinnerstein also offered extra credit to attend the event. As I was quickly walking to Dean Keaton street to attend the Star Party, my squinted eyes started to dart around, as I wanted to be aware of my surroundings. The confident upper level students nearby seemed to be aware of where to go. Am I aware of where to go? My heart was pounding – I felt it skip a beat. Is it really impossible for me to walk to RLM for the first time on UT campus in the evening? I can either run back or I can run ahead. Cowards run away from fear; heroes overcome fear. I did not let myself crumble down to fear, as that would be pilloried as weakness. Instead, I decided that I will be confident! It is possible to accomplish this.  I happily walked quickly, as I envisioned the positive outcome of attending the star party, which is enjoyment of seeing the planets. After fifteen minutes of walking and being surrounded by lower and upper level students, I felt happier because I was not alone. As I was passing the streets, I saw the lofty, angular, and modern buildings. I also saw Austin’s hopeful and welcoming lights of restaurants and streetlights. My fears started to then evaporate.

 

Once I approached Robert Lee Moore Hall, I entered the building and took the elevator to the 17^th floor, which was utterly silent. I did not see a single soul. It was sketchy to follow the signs up to the telescope and walk on top of small, slippery, stairs to get to the star party. When I entered, I saw the beautiful night scenery of Austin; the innumerable, bright, colorful lights made me feel content. I was happy to see many students surrounded by the telescope who also were amazed by the stargazing event. I was in line with other friendly, excited students to see the planets. I stood tall and my face was illuminated the entire time. This time my heart beat fast but for the enjoyment of attending the event. Being able to arrive to this star party, see many students, and view the amazing tower and city of Austin, triggered me to again attend weekly held star parties! I only have but two words to say to this experience of walking alone in the evening: I’m possible.

The University of Texas at Austin is a place of exploration, a place of discovery, and a place of personal learning and growth. Classes offer a spectrum of subjects from philosophy, to science, to math. These classes inspire and motivate students to go above and beyond. These classes are indeed not for teachers who are boring or for students who are indolent. Instead of students having wandering thoughts, they are fully captivated by the teacher’s discussion. Strict college teachers put pressure by assigning a profuse amount of homework to students; instructors urge students to exert exceptional effort under pressure. An instructor’s mind is one of motivation and intellect. A student’s mind is one of passion and diligence. Students aspire to run ahead in order to chase excellence. Success then follows behind. What else ultimately follows behind – an erudite life. The University of Texas at Austin is a struggle after struggle. For a conscientious student, the mantra is to be an outstanding champion. The University of Texas at Austin has indeed become a race. At the University of Texas at Austin, students not only aspire to earn the degree, rather they study for the joy of learning. A UT student’s duty is to passionately learn, and a UT teacher’s duty is to passionately enlighten.