I had the opportunity recently to speak with a previous Her Campus UBC Campus Correspondent, Jessica Schmidt. Jessica acted as Co-Campus Correspondent for our chapter from 2014-2016 and served as a staff writer before that. Having graduated from UBC last spring with an Honours English degree and returned to her hometown of Calgary, Alberta, Jessica caught me up on what she has been up to recently.
“Currently I’m working full time as a barista at a local coffee shop,” she says. “I also am helping to design and implement a Customer Service Protocol that will be used throughout all the locations in Calgary.”
“Right now I’m saving up some money to go travelling, but I’m not sure where or when that will be. Hopefully I break into a career at some point, but for now I’m pretty happy drinking coffee all day,” says Jessica of her future plans.
Jessica definitely feels that her time with Her Campus has been of professional benefit to her. I talk about Her Campus in every cover letter I write and every interview I participate in,” she explains. “It gave me a chance to establish my voice. Regular writing and editing opportunities helped me to develop skills that I hope to one day use in a professional context.”
Being involved with Her Campus was something Jessica really enjoyed. “Weekly meeting was definitely the highlight of the Her Campus experience. Checking in with everyone and discussing pitches and events, sharing snacks, and getting to celebrate the highs and lows of everyone’s weeks made me feel really close to the team.”
“I miss my HC team a lot,” she adds. “I miss my friends and going to lectures. I miss Vancouver on the whole because Calgary is pretty cold. I miss the opportunity to engage in compelling discussions.”
Jessica definitely thinks there are plus sides to being out of school though. “I like not having to worry about marks or exams, and how my days are freer,” she says. “You don’t have to take work home with you the way you do when you’re a student.”
That’s definitely a benefit I think we’re all looking forward to! What, I ask, is Jessica’s advice for current undergraduate women?
“Things probably aren’t going to work out the way you think they are,” she says. “But that’s okay. Try to take things in stride, and know that you have your whole life ahead of you to try to figure things out.”