This week’s Campus Celebrity is Erika Brentar! This driven, smart, and friendly lady was our 2014 Homecoming Queen, the president of UPB, and she was recently awarded the President’s Award at the 2015 Dr. Dorothy Pijan Student Leadership Awards! She’s definitely a force to be reckoned with. Read more about Erika below:
Name: Erika BrentarAge: 22Year: SeniorMajor: Marketing
Her Campus: So, what’s some of your involvement on campus?Erika Brentar: I’ve been part of UPB for 4 years, I’m on the Springfest committee, I’m part of Kappa Alpha Theta, I’m on the Senior Week committee, and I was an Orientation Leader for 2 years, serving on the exec board for a year
HC: How did you get involved with UPB?EB: I started during my second week of school as a freshman, and I just decided to show up to meetings. I honestly didn’t know what was going on the whole semester, but I stayed because the people were fun and they were all so passionate about their programs. It was great to be around them. I got elected into a co-chair position shortly after, then other positions followed. I’ve just grown through UPB and become so passionate about it over the years.
HC: How do you manage your involvement with school and life?EB: Google calendar is my best friend. Everything has to be on there…I’ve missed meetings because I didn’t put them on my Google Calendar. But, you also have to decide what’s important to you. My classes and my friends are so important to me, so I always make sure I step back and devote time to them.
HC: Who’s your Man Crush? What about your Woman Crush?EB: Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively…I’m obsessed. They’re so goofy and perfect! Their child has got to be beautiful.
HC: If you could pick a superpower, which would you pick?EB: Teleporting, so I wouldn’t have to walk around campus. I’d also be able to sleep longer because I could wake up later in the morning since I wouldn’t have to walk to class. I’m all about my sleep. On top of that, it would make traveling easier. Just imagine, I’d be able to go all over the world without having to deal with airports!
HC: What’s your spirit animal?EB: Probably a koala because they seem to just enjoy life without thinking about what other people think. Also, they eat a lot and can just fall asleep in trees whenever.
HC: What’s your favorite quote?EB: “Do what makes you happy.” It’s simple, but to me, it just means never settle for something you don’t want to do. I’ve declined job offers if I felt like I wouldn’t be happy with the job. You’re never going to be happy if you’re only going after the money. I came into college as a BME major, and I tried so hard to like engineering because of what everyone around me was saying, but it really wasn’t for me. I ended up switching to Marketing during my sophomore year, and I didn’t have to try so hard to be happy with my major anymore. Honestly, just do what makes you happy.
HC: What about your role model?EB: Definitely my mom. She is such a strong person and she’s so, so smart. She never got a degree, so she went back to our local community college to get an Associate’s degree in accounting and she is now working on a Bachelor’s degree. I can’t imagine her not being in my life. I strive to be like her – she’s just so strong.
HC: Okay, last question. Looking back on your four years in college, what advice do you have for younger students?EB: Don’t be afraid to change your major! Always be in a major you enjoy, and do it for yourself, not for anyone else. Also, join organizations! Luckily I joined organizations I loved being part of, and I wouldn’t have made the friends I did or gained such valuable leadership experiences if I hadn’t joined. Lastly, school is important, but you need to have fun. Explore Cleveland, make friends, and have a good time.