Carolin Maney

Carolin Maney, a Government and Psychology double-major with a Music minor, took some time to reflect on her experience in college with Her Campus Colby, just months before graduating. Read on to see what she will miss the most!
 
Her Campus Colby (HCC):Hi Caroline! Let’s start with a little background. Where are you from? Where did you go to high school? Do you have any siblings?
Carolin Maney (CM):I’m originally from Kerala, India but I’ve moved around India quite a bit.  I went to high school at the United World College in India, an international school that brings together about 200 students from around the world. As for siblings, I have a wonderful sister who’s four years older than me.
 
HCC:Wow, that’s a long ways from Colby! How did you end up coming to Maine to go to college? 
CM:A lot of students from United World Colleges end up applying to American universities. I had never thought of coming to the US. However, I also didn’t feel ready to go back into the Indian system and be a doctor or an engineer, and the prospects of pursuing Psychology or any other social science seriously did not seem great. So, I thought I’d apply to liberal arts schools to explore what I wanted to do.   I had initially made a list of eight or so colleges to which I was thinking of applying. At some point though, I had an instinct that Colby was the place for me. I can’t put my finger on what it was. It looks like the instinct guided me well!
 
HCC:So are you involved in any clubs on campus?
CM:I’m not the most involved in clubs at Colby. I lead the United World at Colby club. I take part in the events hosted by the International club and any other fun events hosted by Amnesty or STEP.
 
HCC:As you approach graduation, are you ready to leave behind your Colby pursuits? What are your plans following graduation?
CM:I have been asking myself what I should feel about graduation! It is definitely bittersweet. I will certainly miss the professors and friends I have made here. However, I also think that I have spent a good amount of time at Colby and in Waterville, and feel ready to start anew someplace else. With respect to my life, four years is the longest I can be in one place without going completely crazy. Besides, my Colby pursuits will accompany me and influence me positively wherever I go.
 
I am hoping to go to graduate school next fall. Two universities have accepted me and I am in the process of deciding between them. I would be pursuing Conflict Resolution/ International Relations.
 
HCC:Very impressive! Have you thought as far as what you will do following graduate school?
CM:I hope to go into diplomacy or some kind of policy making at an international organization or in India.
 
HCC:Considering your success at Colby, do you have any advice for underclassmen? What do you think you will miss the most once you leave?
CM:The part I have loved most about Colby is the professors. I have met professors here who have changed my life, and who will hopefully continue to mentor me even after I leave Colby. So, I suggest that you take some time to get to know your professors outside of the classroom context. Colby has provided all students with the excellent opportunity of taking your professors to lunch at the dining halls for free! I have had some of the most enlightening and moving conversations with professors during those lunches in the dining halls. I will certainly miss Colby professors when I leave.
 
There are three other things I will miss about Colby: 1) Walking downtown on sunny days 2) Having all my friends at a five-minute walking distance 3) Living in AMS.
HCC: Thank you Carolin for taking time out to talk to us. We wish you all the best with your last month and a half of school!