This week I had the pleasure of interviewing Katrina Kairys – for those of you who aren’t familiar with that name, she is the glue that holds together our succesful Her Campus McGill chapter. Over the past two years this chapter of Her Campus has grown and blossomed into the amazing magazine it is, and I can honestly say that we have Katrina, the sole correspondent for the McGill chapter, to thank for this. Her persistent leadership skills and fantastic organization is what keeps our magazine the well-oiled machine we like to see it as. Even when things get tough, Katrina is always there to help writers with any aspect of their articles, and is here as a friend for all of us writing for Her Campus. Below, Katrina kindly shared with us the story of how she began her work with Her Campus and even shares a few tips and tricks for eager collegiettes.
Ana Zdravkovic for Her Campus McGill (HC McGill): First let’s address the basics. Where are you from and what are you studying?
Katrina Kairys (KK): I was born and raised in Toronto and plan to return there after graduating (I’m a Torontonian at heart!). Although I love Montreal and its European flair, I need to escape the -30 degree weather and mounds of snow. As for school, I’m in my last year studying Honours Psychology and Religion.
HC McGill: What can we find you doing on a typical Saturday in Montreal?
KK: You’ll find me at McGill’s gym, eating (namely because Montreal’s restaurants are out of this world), exploring the city (especially the markets and craft shows), and of course, writing. Oh…and baking. There is no better stress-reliever than an hour or two of sifting, mixing, rolling, and icing.
HC McGill: How did you first get involved with Her Campus McGill?
I initially found out about Her Campus in my first year when a friend of a friend began writing a first year blog for the site. I saw a link to one of her articles, clicked on it, and discovered the fabulous Her Campus McGill. I continued reading it, finding the articles not only interesting and funny, but helpful too. Since I didn’t know much about McGill and Montreal as a first year student, the site was a great resource. I read about things to do on campus and in the city and I also learned the ins and outs of McGill. During that year becoming a Her Campus McGill writer was always in the back of my mind. Finally, in second year I applied and got a positions as an events writer.
HC McGill: How did you go from writing for the magazine to being the campus correspondent? Did you ever thinking you’d be editing for a campus-wide publication?
KK: By March of my first year with Her Campus, the campus correspondent (the magazine’s editor-in-chief and president) at the time, Olivia Lifman, approached me and Reba Wilson, asking if we wanted to take over her role and lead the magazine. After a wildly successful year with Reba, our site traffic grew, and social media followed. In September of this year, I became the sole campus correspondent with no idea of the great things to come.
Back in first year, I had hopes of being on a club executive and maybe even being a club president, but that always seemed so far in the future. Being asked to manage it took me by surprise, as I saw it as a huge responsibility for someone who was not even halfway through undergrad. Despite this, I accepted the position and my life at McGill changed. I finally had a purpose, a job, a responsibility that was not in any way related to exams, papers, or grades.
HC McGill: In what ways has joining Her Campus McGill helped you with your school and job opportunities?
KK: Being a part of Her Campus McGill has taught me more lessons than all my class lectures combined. I’ve learned the meaning of a deadline. I’ve learned the importance of accountability. I’ve learned how to lead a team and the fine line between encouragement and discouragement. I’ve learned a lot about trusting others and working as a team. I’ve learned that some people will be reliable and supportive, while others won’t.
Since joining Her Campus McGill I can safely say that I have become more creative, outgoing, and open. I’ve learned so much about others. I’ve learned how to lead and I’ve learned how to follow. I’ve become less ignorant, and most importantly, more understanding.
HC McGill: If you were forced to pick just one thing, what is the best aspect about writing for Her Campus McGill?
KK: Each writer takes away something different from their experience. For me, the best thing is interviewing amazing, accomplished, and intelligent people. Speaking with fitness expert Nikki Bergen, and gold-medalist Jennifer Heil this year was life-changing. I heard about love and loss, grueling training regimes, and nearly impossible challenges. I loved nothing more than sharing their stories with others. I was scared to death while preparing my very first interview which was with Bernadette Morra, editor-in-chief of FASHION Magazine, yet I reminded myself that interviewing, like all things, takes practice. It turned out to be a success, and learning about her experience as a journalist, and how even she got nervous, was not only inspiring, but reassuring.
HC McGill: Do you find it difficult balancing your time and running Her Campus McGill? Can you share any tips for students who are struggling with time management?
KK: It’s definitely possible to make a position as editor-in-chief, club president, or any other club position a full-time job. There is always something to be posted, shared or tweeted. There is always an impending deadline. And there are always messages and emails to be read and written. You can make this job four hours per week or forty hours per week. I definitely opt for closer to the latter, but only because I love it. It sounds cheesy, but seeing one of our articles go viral or one of our pictures shared all over the internet gives me shivers. It’s the fuel that keeps me going when an article is late, an interviewee is suddenly M.I.A., or when the editorial calendar manages to delete itself.
HC McGill: Do you have any advice for young women looking to get involved at McGill?
KK: My one piece of advice is to not spread yourself too thin. In other words, don’t sign up for ten different organizations, go to half the meetings, and not follow through with your commitments. You’ll not only disappoint others, but you’ll disappoint yourself. Choose one, maybe two clubs or organizations, and pour your heart and soul into them.
HC McGill: Is there anything else you would like to add?
Although this is definitely not a farewell by any means, as we have the whole semester ahead of us, I want to thank the Her Campus McGill Team for their work over the past two years. “Sorority”, family, friends, or writers, whatever we wish to call ourselves, there is no way we could have had this much success without each other. And to those who haven’t yet joined an organization or club: join one and really join it. Get involved. Do the work. Create something. It will be the best thing you take away from these four years of coffee-comas, all-nighters, and twenty-page essays.
We want to thank Katrina again for all her hard work for the magazine over the past three years; we don’t know what it would be without her and we will miss her dearly the following school year!
Photos provided by interviewee.