The time has come for Mietra and I to say goodbye to this amazing chapter we have built. It’s one of the hardest things we’ve ever had to do, but we couldn’t be more excited to leave Her Campus Utah in the hands of Shykell Ledford and Julianne Skrivan. They are two incredibly, amazing collegiettes who are going to help lead you through your college years and remember them as the best years of your life.
Without furter ado, meet Shykell Ledford and Julianne Skrivan, Her Campus Utah’s new campus correspondents, co-presidents and editor-in-chiefs!
(L-R: Shykell Ledford, Julianne Skrivan)
Her Campus (HC): What are you most looking forward to as a Campus Correspondent?
Shykell Ledford (SL): I’m so excited to bring on some awesome team members and write articles that the women at the University of Utah will enjoy and find helpful. It’s really cool to be a part of such an awesome organization.
Julianne Skrivan (JS): Tailing off of what Shykell said, I’m excited to show girls how they can really start living out their biggest dream now. I’ve wanted to write for a magazine my whole life and now I’m about to become an editor by the age of 20! I’m also so excited to continue writing and bringing up topics that haven’t been discussed, topics that are edgy and fun, and I know the collegiette’s here will love it!
HC: What plans do you have for HC Utah? What should our readers be looking out for?
SL: Julianne and I have SO many ideas! We both love being on campus and interacting with people. I think one of our biggest goals is to have a bigger on-campus presence. Students should watch for us tabling becasuse we’ll always have something fun going on!
JS: I don’t think the University of Utah has any idea what is about to happen with Her Campus Utah! We are really ready to take charge and become an even bigger influence on the campus. We have a ton of great event ideas so be sure to look out for that, you won’t want to miss them. We also will have a lot more chances to get involved on different levels and in different areas of HC so girls can really bring their passion to the table, I can’t wait for this year, I’m bursting with so much excitement! It’s crazy!
SL: I’m going to be a student representative for Victoria’s Secret PINK and I’m so excited. I hope PINK and Her Campus Utah will do a lot of partnering. I’m also in a sorority and it’s amazing. I was skeptical at first, but lately I’ve been trying to get more into it and it’s really paying off.
JS: I’m an extremely active member of my sorority, Alpha Phi, I love it. I became involved with Her Campus through my sorority. I’m also a journalist for the U’s school paper. I basically write every second of everyday between writing articles for HC and writing interviews with professors and students. I honestly think the more involved you are in college the more you will get out of it.
HC: How do you balance work, school clubs, and a social life?
SL: Good question! Honestly I’m not even sure sometimes. I’ve learned to prioritize for sure! I feel like if it’s important enough to you, you make it work. I love everything I’m doing and luckily for me it all just sort of falls together.
JS: By not sleeping, ever. Just kidding, kinda! I think that by just planning it out you can balance. Also, never procrastinate! I have recently come to the conclusion that if I’m not busy, I’m bored. I like being busy and I like having responsibilities, so for me I feel empowered when I can do it all. Buy a planner, only watch one episode of F.R.I.E.N.D.S., and figure out what needs to be done and do it!
HC: Who are your roles models?
SL: My dad has influenced me more than he probably knows. His work ethic is something I value and try to live up to. Also, my friends (too many to name) keep me in line and make me want to do better in everything I do! And of course, Ellie Briggs and Mietra Aarabi. I’m so thankful these two ladies started Her Campus Utah. I think it’s amazing how dedicated they were to making this Utah chapter successful. I hope I can make them proud!
JS: Oh man, Leaslie Knope. Straight up, she’s a woman in a man’s world and goes after what she wants always. Same with Taylor Swift. She never lets anyone tell her yes or no, she tells herself her future and how it will be. I like that mentality because it’s taking control of your own fate. And Jerry Seinfeld because he is too funny for words. I really like what Shykell said though, when Ellie and Mietra told me that I was going to hold this position I cried. I was so happy and honored that they would trust this to some weird redhead. I want them to look at HC in a few years and know they made the right choice with us.
HC: What’s your favorite quote or words to live by?
SL: “What other people think of you, is none of your business.” I’ve struggled a lot with feeling insecure and needing people’s approval. I’ve finally decided that I can’t please everyone and I really need to focus on who and what makes me happy, not what stresses me out or brings me down.
JS: Ooh good one Shykell, I can’t top that! But I agree, I recently opened up a lot about struggling with eating disorders through Her Campus Utah, and a lot of times that mentality and having a past that has something as self-depreciating can really harm the way I look at my future. Mietra, who helped found Her Campus Utah and is a member of my sorority gave me a picture of a quote that says, “Don’t stop,” and I think those are my new words because I never want to stop growing and striving to be the best Julianne I can be.
HC: What advice do you have for incoming freshman?
SL: Do your own thing. It’s okay to branch out, even if you’re doing it alone. If people are really your friends they’ll encourage you to be ambitious, adventurous, and yourself. Your college years should be the time you find out what you really value in life. All of this said, there’s a difference between being stupid and “finding yourself,” don’t be stupid.
JS: Always have a ride home, don’t buy your textbooks for full price, and getting a tattoo freshman year is a fun idea and you won’t regret it. But also, do your best. College can be tricky to navigate, I wasted my freshman year by not getting involved early and by not taking classes seriously. Try new things, if you’ve ever, even once in the back of your mind thought that skydiving looked cool, join the skydiving club! Just see what happens and you’ll find your home. I found Her Campus Utah and now it has become the definition of my college experience!
[Editor’s Note: Congratulations Julianne and Shykell, I am so beyond proud of you girls! I know you will lead this chapter to nothing but greatness and success, and I can’t wait to see you girls do it! You two are incredible. Never forget that. HCXO!]