Name: Amanda Hawkins + Rebekah Meiser
Hometown: A + B: Cincinnati, OH!
What lead you to start an Ohio University branch of Her Campus?
B: I wrote for the national site for a few months and Stephanie (one of the founders) mentioned her interest in starting a branch at OU. I thought it’d be a great fit at OU and was really interested but knew I couldn’t start it alone. I thought about who to start it with and immediately decided on Amanda; she and I had worked together before and I knew I could trust her. Thankfully she was really excited about it and agreed!
A: Becky (bless her heart) trusted me to be her right-hand woman when bringing HerCampus to OU. Of course I accepted! Becky and I met working at another publication and had both interned in NYC the summer before, so I was so happy to continue my professional and personal relationship with her.
What other publications have you worked for in college?
B: I wrote for Backdrop and Thread for a little while and I also wrote for a couple of online magazines, one of which no longer exists.
A: Speakeasy Magazine, Thread Magazine
Where do you see yourself in five years?
B: I, sadly, have a problem meshing my reality (read: pessimism) with my imagination, and can’t even fathom where I’ll be. I’d love to be back in New York, working for a women’s magazine.
A: Hopefully living in NYC working as an Associate Editor (let’s hope that the editorial assistant days will be long behind me) and possibly engaged or something? I would like to start a family by 30.
What is your favorite memory from college?
B: Picking one would be impossible but I have a lot from freshman year. I was convinced that I was at a year-long have-fun-only-camp, and my friends and I did the most insane things. So a lot of my best memories came from that year because I didn’t stress over anything.
A: I think all of freshman year was my favorite memory. Just random nights running around Washington Hall, eating in the dining hall at the same time every night… these were all new and amazing experiences and I miss EVERYTHING about freshman year.
What are you going to miss most about Athens?
B: Obviously the friends I made here and the fun of not having any demanding responsibilities top that list. And I’ll also really miss Big Mama’s Chipotle Ranch chicken burrito, ’cause that’s delicious and hella cheap.
A: My friends :'( The spontaneity of college… no more quick trips to the Front Room for coffee, no more skipping class for no reason. I will miss seeing my best friends everyday and being in the same city as them.
What advice do you want to leave us with?
B: Consider every assignment as a true learning experience, and not just an annoying task before you can go out. And research classes before signing up for them; you can find amazing courses that you wouldn’t imagine existing, so it’s not worth just signing up for a basic class. That, and have so much fun. Don’t stress out too much because it’ll pass by quicker than an ice cream truck in the ghetto and you should have fun while you can. Good luck next year!!
A: ENJOY EVERYTHING! Don’t take any thing too seriously. I wish I would not have studied as much. Although I am graduating with honors, and I am making my parents proud, college is about YOU and you should try to enjoy every moment possible. That means skipping class to go to Strouds or turning in an assignment late because you decided to go the bars on a Tuesday night. Be more spontaneous and happy and spend AS MUCH time with your friends as possible.