Page 307 - Keys to College Success

student PROFILE

Andrew Hillman

QUEENS COLLEGE, FLUSHING,
NEW YORK

About me: of summer enrichment or yearlong programs and fellowships
I transferred to Queens College geared toward providing students with real-life experience—
from Georgia State University something graduate schools and companies value enormously. My
because I wanted to be part of a pre-professional advisor at Queens College has been influential in
small school environment. While at Queens College I developed a informing me about potential fellowships. The research fellow-
love for research and how it allows one to offer new information ships that I have done for the past two years have given me the
to the world by collecting and analyzing data in innovative ways. experience mandated by MD-PhD schools all across the country. In
I am currently applying to MD-PhD schools so that I may earn a addition they allow me to network with people who may offer
dual degree in medicine and physiology. recommendations for medical school.

What I focus on: What will help me in the workplace:
I deliberately investigated career paths at an early stage in my Doing undergraduate programs geared toward your chosen field
undergraduate career to build my knowledge base as well as gain offers you the crucial head start of knowing what’s going on in
invaluable experience. I seek out mentors in my field of interest so that field. Just as importantly, it shows prospective graduate
that I have strong allies. I have also built experience in my areas schools and businesses that you take initiative in learning your
of interest. No matter what field you choose, there are a plethora future profession.

■ Understand what the emotions are telling you. Thinking that the deadline may
not be met means that everyone is going to need an extra-focused and positive
state of mind to get through the day and set aside distracted, negative thinking.
■ Manage the emotion with action. You come up with several things you can do:
● Prioritize your task list so that you can concentrate on what is most pressing.
● Call your co-worker on his cell phone while he settles the car problem and let
him know what’s happening so he can prioritize tasks and support the supervi-
sor when he arrives.
● Ask another co-worker to bring in a favorite mid-morning snack to keep every-
one going during the long day ahead.
The current emphasis on teamwork has highlighted emotional intelligence in the
workplace. The more adept you are at working with others, the more likely you are to
succeed.
As you ponder the ideas that you’ve explored in this chapter, keep in mind the
“near-universal view” from a research project involving interviews with over 1,000
older Americans: “The most important thing is to be involved in a profession that you
absolutely love,” said an 83-year-old research subject, “and that you look forward to
going to work every day.” 18

270