Ways to Be an Everyday Leader

There are many ways to be a leader while attending the University of Florida. Some ways are to get involved. It’s really hard to find the perfect leadership program that fits you completely which is why you should search for organizations that you are interested in. This can be done either by going through the list of organizations on the student involvement page, or by actually meeting up with a student activities and involvement representative. Once you’ve found the organization that best fits your personality and character, don’t be afraid to take up any leadership roles in those organizations. This will help you be a leader in normal circumstances. For example, if there is ever a time where you need to work in a group on a specific project, you can lead the group by dividing up the work so that not only does everyone get an equal amount of work, but the project will be completed more quickly and efficiently.

            The definition of a leader doesn’t always entail, “leading a group to greatness.” Being a leader can also mean to just be there for a friend. If a friend is having a rough time, a leader will try their best to help the friend feel better. A leader gives a voice to those that are unspoken for, which can include them self.  All in all, a leader fights for what they believe in, whether it is for that A on a group project or for the happiness of a friend. Leadership opportunities are always popping up throughout one’s life.

            Being an Ambassador for the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences has allowed me to step out of my comfort zone and to make executive decisions when needed. Speaking in public has to be one of the hardest things for me to do, but as an ambassador, I have to face my fears. I am glad to say that my fear of public speaking has definitely been reduced since I joined the ambassadors’ team and I hope to eliminate it completely by the end of my term! I always put myself down for making the worst decisions. But lately, as an ambassador, I have had to make many executive decisions for the good of the team. I have learned through my experience thus far that as long as the decisions that are made, are made with good intentions, most of the time, you can’t go wrong!

- Soha Afzal

In Pursuit of the Perfect Major

I remember the summer before I started at UF; I was so excited to finally “start my life.”  I was going to take classes I loved, graduate, and have an awesome career. But in my five glorious years at the University of Florida, I have come to the conclusion that college life is definitely not that linear.

I came here thinking, “I love math and cars” so I’ll major in Mechanical Engineering and make a lot of money. Alas, freshman chemistry quickly crushed my hopes as it has many-a-student's.

So I decided, maybe the sciences aren’t for me; I’ll try liberal arts. And thus I became an East Asian Languages and Literatures (Japanese) major. I enjoyed Japanese, enjoyed college life, and even studied abroad in Japan for two semesters. However, as time went by I realized something was missing. I was plagued by the question of “what will I do when I graduate?” I liked languages but I wasn’t particularly gifted at them and I didn’t want to make a career of translating or teaching (nor would I have been very good at it).

I was terrified by the idea of not having a major with a defined career path. I thought “Ah ha! I’ll be a doctor!” So I went back to the beautiful sciences and changed my major to Biology. Which was fun and enjoyable but still not quite right.

On a whim, I took the Principles of Entomology class. It was love. I knew that this was the life for me. That semester, I changed my major to Entomology and Nematology and have never looked back. I am actively involved in multiple research projects and have done internships and research in Thailand and Paraguay.

Nothing quite beats passion. If you love what you do, then you will do it well. And if you do it well, then the possibilities are endless. Doors open up when you least expect it. So here I say: Don’t give up the chase. Never settle for second best, and always do what you love. Sometimes it takes a while to figure yourself out, but, hey, that’s what college is for, isn’t it?

- Sabrina White

New Semester, New Seminars

Hey everyone!  My name is Austin Skipper and I am senior in the Food and Resource Economics department.  As we all get back into the swing of things, it is important to attend all the events and things that are provided to us on campus.  I think some of the most important events to attend are Solutions Seminars offered to students through the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. 

During each semester, there are three seminars offered for attendance.  The events are scheduled during the evenings, so most students should be able to fit them in their schedule.  If nothing else, the seminars can serve as a productive study break!

But seriously, there have been some pretty cool seminars offered in the past.  One seminar I remember particularly from last year was one where young alumni sat in on a panel.  The panel was set up in question and answer format, and I thought that this was a great way for students to get the answers that they were actually looking for. 

This brings me to this semester; the first seminar is scheduled for Thursday September 19, from 5:15 to 7:30 p.m., at the Straughn IFAS Extension building.   The subject will be about finding jobs, and how to start looking for jobs no matter what year you are.  Students in attendance will be able to get professional headshots taken, so it’s a good idea to dress nice for the seminar.  The Brickman Group will sponsor the seminar, and experts will be there to tell students exactly how to search for those jobs.  Oh, and there will be refreshments, so come hungry.

So I hope to see everyone at the Solutions Seminar next week, ready to learn about how to start looking for jobs!  Have a great week, and most importantly, GO GATORS!

New Beginnings

Well we are back in the saddle again as they say.  This school year has started off with a vengeance it seems compared to my leisurely summer.  Oh what I wouldn't give to return to the Amazon Rainforest for some rest, relaxation, and wildlife viewing. 

                I had the most amazing opportunity this past summer to participate in a study abroad course focused on broadening global understanding and comparing agricultural industry between the United States and Brazil.  As a part of this trip we were able to visit Sao Paulo, the largest city in Brazil, Menaus, located in the Amazon Rainforest, and Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city.  We saw everything from industrial cattle operations to the increasing importance of biotechnology in the agricultural field. 

                My major is Natural Resource Conservation within the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences.  Knowing that, can you guess which was my favorite city to visit?  You can bet that Menaus was the most amazing experience of my life.  While in Menaus we were able to witness firsthand the Brazilian culture side-by-side with the indigenous cultures.   We toured the Amazon through a boat tour that allowed us to go fishing for piranhas, eat piranha, and swim with pink river dolphins.  

If you do not know what a pink river  

dolphin is, please enjoy the picture below.

These creatures are both beautiful and creepy at the same time because they do not have that cute bottle-nose dolphin look, but rather the jagged edged saw look. We were also able to hold a sloth, caiman, and anaconda, and we even saw the meeting, aka where the Amazon River began. 

Whom do I have to thank for this amazing trip?  I thank your very own College of Agricultural and Life Sciences.  I lived the best day to date of my life in Brazil this summer thanks to the opportunities that my college and yours afforded me.  And even though this semester may not be as jam-packed as my summer, I cannot wait for the opportunities in store.  Don’t you know that once summer ends my favorite season of the year begins? No I don’t mean fall, I mean GATOR FOOTBALL!

But on a more serious note, my adventures this semester are way scarier than swimming in piranha infested waters.  I find myself making decisions that can define the next few years, and by extension, the rest of my life.  My grad school applications have my head swimming with thinking of new ways to sell myself to strangers that control my next step in life.  Luckily, I have experiences like my time in Brazil to reflect upon when I find myself in over my head. 

                And to think, this is only the beginning!

Go Gators!

Michele Goodfellow

Michele Goodfellow
Class: Senior
Hometown: DeLand, FL
Majors: Natural Resource Conservation and Spanish
Minor: Agricultural Communications
Involvement: Collegiate FFA President, Sigma Kappa Sorority, SAF, Forestry Club
Hobbies: Reading, traveling, water sports
After College: Plans to teach English in Latin America for a year before pursuing higher education