Katrina Hicks is a junior at Hawai’i Pacific University majoring in mass communications. She is constantly on the go, running back and forth through campus to attend meetings, classes, and managing various fundraiser events. Despite her busy schedule, she spared a few minutes to explain to us why she likes to stay so busy and why she recommends everyone to get involved early on in their college career.
What positions do you hold at Hawai’i Pacific University?
In no particular order:
– Student Government Association (SGA) Secretary
– Campus Activities Board (CAB) PR Director
– Student Alumni Council (SAC) President
– Student Activity Fee Allocation Committee (SAFAC) Student Representative
– International Vocal Ensemble (IVE) Manager and Treasurer
Among other various leadership roles within classes and extracurricular activities, these are just the ones with nice fancy titles.
How did you get/earn those positions?
I got many of these positions by simply being in the right place at the right time…It’s true what they say; it’s not what you know but rather who you know. Involvement is something that grows exponentially. People who witness me in one leadership position are often the ones who recommend me when other opportunities arise. For example, the Student Body Vice President for SGA, who is also one of my members in SAC, recommended me for my position in CAB.
What made you want to join these clubs/organizations?
I’ve never been able to say no to opportunities like these and there are always enough hours in the day for just one more thing. Each of these organizations allow me to network with different types of people and each helps me build my resume in unique and impressive – hopefully, to future employers – ways. Although it wasn’t really a matter of going out of my way to find these positions, it seemed that the more involved I was, the more involved I then wanted to be.
What are some of your duties for these clubs/organizations?
My most significant project currently falls under my IVE title. As the treasurer, I am responsible for planning at least half-a-dozen fundraisers per semester so that members can raise money for our upcoming trip to Japan, which costs a couple grand per student. I am also responsible for keeping track of payments and the overall advisement of our $125,000 budget for the trip. It is stressful at times to be in charge of so much money, but it makes me feel like the work I am doing and the energy I’m expending is going towards something important.
My other duties are all fairly straightforward – I do social media and event planning work for CAB, record the minutes and perform other small tasks for SGA, attend bi-monthly meetings and input my opinion towards the spending of SAF funds for SAFAC, and plan events/run meetings for SAC.
Do you also work?
Yes, I work 3 days per week as a bartender for Atlantis Cruises.
How do you manage your time between work, school, and all your responsibilities for these clubs/organizations?
Often, it is a matter of time prioritization. My schoolwork, extracurricular activities, and my job are important to me – and in that exact order. I use the calendar app on my phone, a formal written planner, and a shit ton of lists written on various scraps of paper to help me keep track of my life. It often helps, when I feel overwhelmed, to write down everything I can think of that needs to be done, and to simply assign a day for each task. Even if I don’t end up exactly following the schedule, it makes everything seem more manageable when it is written down and not just floating around precariously inside my head. Although I like relaxing and watching Netflix as much as the next person, it drives me crazy when I have nothing to do – so the chaos and stress is (for the most part) welcome in my life.
How is your social life?
HAH. What’s that? In all seriousness though, all of the activities I am involved in have made me more social than I’ve been at any other point in my life. Even if I don’t often have the time to spend a whole day on the beach or to grab brunch with my friends, I do spend a lot of time each day with a wide variety of people. Aside from networking with professionals, campus involvement provides the opportunity to make a lot of new friends and acquaintances.
Do you feel stressed? On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate your stress?
In my life overall, I would say my stress level is at a healthy 6-7. However, I do have moments or entire days (at least weekly) where it feels like a 13.
What do you do to relax, if/when you do get the time to?
The best way for me to relax is to take a break from people. With my responsibilities comes a lot of people asking me questions or asking for my help or input on a project. I am always more than happy to help or to answer questions, but if I am looking to relax I typically try to take a step back from that. My guilty pleasure is going to the movies by myself because it’s a guaranteed 2 hours where I won’t have to talk to anyone – plus, junk food.
What tips would you give to incoming freshmen about getting involved in clubs and organizations?
DO IT. It doesn’t matter what you want to do with your life – those extracurriculars and leadership roles will make the difference between you and the other thousand applicants when you are applying for jobs and internships. The amount of people I’ve met and networked with is the most valuable resource I’ve gained in the last 4 years.
Thanks for all you do at Hawai’i Pacific University Katrina!