Junior business major Vanessa Sigman is the definition of a #GirlBoss. She’s back at LMU this semester after studying abroad in Florence, Italy, but is definitely not slowing down. She is a member of Ignatians service organization, serving as their Vice President of Internal Affairs this year. She juggles two jobs on campus, one in Athletic Media Services for LMU’s varsity sports games, and the other as an undergraduate assistant in the Doctoral Center of Educational Leadership for Social Justice; she keeps her peace of mind by spending time at the gym. When she isn’t busy doing it all, Vanessa loves to memorize every line of Friends there ever was, while simultaneously eating everything in sight, especially if it is covered in dark chocolate. If you aren’t inspired by Vanessa already, read our interview with her below and prepare to want follow this Vegas-native in suit. Viva Vanessa!
Vanessa in Rome, Italy
Q: You just got back from studying abroad in Florence. What was your favorite memory or experience?
First off, if you have the means (financial and academic ability) to study abroad, you have to go. Make time for it – you don’t want to look back on your years in college and say, “Ugh, I wish I would’ve went abroad when I had the chance.” So, GO. That being said, one of my favorite memories was traveling to Switzerland for Thanksgiving with a group of 16 LMU students from my program. We stayed in my roommate’s family’s apartments in Unterterzen, Switzerland, and went to thermal baths, hiked the Swiss alps, and cooked cheese fondue for our Thanksgiving dinner. On Thanksgiving, not having any engineers in the group, we somehow managed to set up the table-top grills upside down without noticing. It wasn’t until the room was filled with smoke that we discovered we had burned two black squares in the dining room tables. We were all talking about how we were so grown up, making ourselves this huge Thanksgiving feast, when in reality we were turning these two beautiful dining room tables into firewood. Whooooops.
Q: You’re involved in so many different things on campus. How do you balance it all?
Sleep is for the weak, and God gave us planners for a reason. LOL just kidding. I print out a weekly calendar every Sunday, and map out what my week looks like so I can fit service, running (I’m training for a half marathon), and work in between my class schedule. I also think time for yourself is super important, which is why I take every opportunity to hang out with my friends, watch Netflix, or take naps. I absolutely love rock climbing, and I think that is going to be the next “thing” I start doing.
Q: You’re a business marketing major. What do you want to do with it? Or where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
Honestly, I couldn’t really tell you. When I declared my major, I knew I wanted to study some facet of business, and when I had to check one of those little boxes on the application, marketing just sort of felt right. I anticipate going into brand planning and strategy after I graduate, but I could end up working in TV production, as a live-in nanny, or even volunteering and doing post-grad service somewhere in the world. My future is a huge toss up, and I’m 100% okay with that.
Q: What has been your favorite LMU memory so far and why?
My favorite LMU memory is definitely getting into Ignatians Service Organization. I had a hard time finding a place here at LMU, and for a long time I felt like I had chosen the wrong school. When I was accepted by Igntatians my sophomore year, I felt like I had finally found my home at LMU. I am so grateful for the people in Ignatians that challenge me every single day to be a better, more informed, and socially just person.