Name: Sarah Dubow (or Dubow Dubow in the Bucknell Directory)
Major: Creative Writing and Psychology with a French minor
Graduation: 2013
Occupation/position: Associate Community Manager and Assistant Account Executive at Marina Maher Communications
What is one word of advice on adjustment for soon to be graduates?
Stop stressing about finding a job! Seriously, it will come with time and once you join the real world, there aren’t any month long breaks like there are at Bucknell. Enjoy your time off and do something totally out of the ordinary. Just because everyone is in job freak out mode doesn’t mean you need to be, so take advantage and find something fun and new to do while you’re waiting for those interviews. Then, when applying to jobs, think critically about the kind you want. Not just what you are going to do but where and how and why. What type of environment do you want to work in? Where do you want to end up? What skills do you want to develop? Once you can begin answering these questions, you’ll be more focused on the kind of job you’re looking for and will end up happier in the long run.
Also, embrace the transition. No one tells you how hard it’s going to be to leave Bucknell, so remember seniors, when you’re struggling, I told you so. But it gets better! Real life is fun, too!
How you keep in touch with your friends and Bucknell past while continuing to move forward?
It’s definitely difficult with different schedules and my friends spread across the country, but you just have to be committed to staying in touch. Calling when you get off work, Facebook, and Skype all help. Weirdly, work Snap Chats are a thing (hello product closet selfies!) and the best part about my friends living all across the country? Lots of fun vacations I can take and I don’t even have to pay for a hotel. :)
On the other hand, what do you miss the most about Bucknell?
Um, everything? Seriously, I miss the academics. I know all of you in the middle of finals are reading this like, wow this girl is insane, who on earth does she think she is, but cherish it now because you will miss it. The ability to learn a vast variety of topics, to exchange ideas with classmates and professors, and to gain insight into critical thinking and building your creative skills every day is just something that is so unique to college and so amazing, and I promise I’ll stop now (I see you rolling your eyes). If you’re not into the dorkdom, I miss other things too. Literally everything being 5 minutes away from each other (I’m talking house warming on the upper west side and birthday party on the lower east), the sunsets, lazy spring days on the quad, turkey brie and cranberry paninis from Pronto, and even, dare I say, sorority recruitment? Nah, too far. But, close.
What has the real world taught you that Bucknell never did?
Money management skills, well it’s teaching me that. Gone are the days when you could just swipe your BUID to get quinoa bar or throw together whatever cash was laying around for Dominos. In the real world, quinoa bar costs like $15, add in your rent, cable, electric, gym membership, etc. and there is very little money left over for my favorites like Tobi, ASOS, and US Trendy. Ah, BUIDs. Those were the days.
On the other hand again, what did Bucknell teach you that you continue to carry forward?
So many times at work and in life, I have these “Bucknell moments” where I notice the little lessons Bucknell taught me helping me to excel in real life in a big way. There are so many, but I’ll narrow it down to a top three…
1. Be Proactive: Bucknell encourages proactivity, whether going to see a professor when you’re struggling or pushing to the front of the line to get your warm, pee-tasting natty from the frat star at the bar (don’t discount it, it’s truly a skill!). That same proactivity is what gets you noticed in the workplace and what allows the maintenance man to come fix your heater, the gym to discount your membership, and countless other things.
2. Think Outside the Box: Bucknell always pushed me on this and though sometimes I hated it, those out of the box ideas have helped me problem solve and succeed in the workplace and beyond. At work, we have something called a “get fired idea”, aka an idea so insane that you’ll either get fired over it or it’s so brilliant it just might work. Thinking outside of the box has allowed me to come up with lots of get fired ideas…and I haven’t been fired yet!
3. Pay Attention to Detail: Yes, I’m talking to all you OAs out there. Long after I’ve taken that stinky and wonderful orange shirt off, I’m still finding that the days of blowing up perfectly sized balloons has application in the real world. I notice the little things whether working on a deck or editing a pitch that in turn get me noticed. And that, Bucknellians, is priceless.
What are your career aspirations as of now?
Make it to my three-month review? Just kidding. Ideally I’d like to be working in a creative capacity doing something good for the world. If that doesn’t work out, my other half Hillary Mann and I also are planning world domination, how we’re not quite sure yet, but it’s in the works. And if I have any say in it, it’s going to involve lots and lots of glitter.
Fast facts about the real world:
One word on managing your own budget?
I’ll give you three: Don’t. Online. Shop. It is seriously my downfall.
Bar hopping vs. frat hopping?
Neither. Boozy brunch is where it’s at.
Gym membership or DIY?
Gym membership. Sign up for classes and then you can’t cancel!
Go to quote getting you through the real word:
I can’t choose! I collect quotes so it depends on the moments but I’ll give you my two favorites right now.
1. “The price of self destiny is never cheap and in certain circumstances it’s unthinkable. But to achieve the marvelous it is precisely the unthinkable that must be thought.”-Tom Robbins
I heard this one from Nicole Williams, our brand’s career expert, when she was in the office. It just blew my mind. Think the unthinkable and you will achieve more than you ever dreamed possible.
2. “What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail?”
I love this quote. It definitely goes in tandem with the first. I mean, think about it. So much of the time we’re held back by our fear of not getting it right, of it not being perfect, of failure. But, what would you do if that fear didn’t exist? Think of all you could accomplish. I’m so lucky that my agency encourages us to think about impossible ideas to make them possible and knows that failure just means another opportunity to learn.
Quick q’s:
Most influential professor at Bucknell:
Chris Boyatzis
Favorite class at Bucknell:
Culture and Child Development with Chris Boyatzis. It is completely enlightening, and you should know how other people in the world grow up before going off into the real world. Take it!
Favorite Freeze flavor:
Mint Chocolate Chip
Favorite study spot:
Center table in Bertrand. I’ve been told that sleep-deprived Bucknellians can sometimes still see my gold headphones and apple cider still sitting there. (EB I’m looking at you)
Bucknell posse:
Theta, Her Campus, Phive Chis (and Tim), BEF Spring 2012, McDonnell 3SW, and my amazing boyfriend Nick Stetz. Even though we’re technically in the real world, he still lets me be 5 years old.
Disclaimer:
Poop jokes are still funny after you’ve graduated.
Best/proudest memory at Bucknell:
Being named Campus Correspondent of Her Campus Bucknell of course! Watching HC Bucknell grow has been an incredible experience and seeing our team expand and the dynamic change into something so much bigger and better has been amazing. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next few years and am so proud of the whole HC team for all they’ve accomplished.