Her Campus Pitt: So, where are you from?
Mariah: I was born and raised in Buffalo, NY. And yes, it’s true, we really do have the best pizza and wings in the world.
HC: Why’d you come to Pitt?
M: I came to Pitt because I wanted to experience something different. Pittsburgh is a little bigger than Buffalo. I liked it because it was far enough from home that I could learn to be independent, but it’s close enough that my family can visit pretty regularly.
HC: What’s your major?
M: I’m a neuroscience major with minors in chemistry and Spanish. I’m also on the pre-med track.
HC: Why are you studying those things?
M: When I came to Pitt, I knew what I wanted to do and that I wanted to minor in Spanish, but not what I wanted to major in. After taking all of my intro classes, I found that neuro was something I really enjoy studying, and it will give me something unique when I apply to medical school. The best part of the Neuro major is that you only have to take one extra class to get the chemistry minor, which has always been one of my favorite sciences. I cannot stress enough the benefits of learning a second language to the point of fluency. I love the Spanish language, so the opportunity to pursue it as a minor is one I am very grateful for, and one that will help me accomplish my career goals further down the road.
HC: What do you do with Her Campus?
M: I joined Her Campus my freshman year because I wanted to join a club that would let me pursue a passion that I wouldn’t have the chance to in my classes. I love writing for Her Campus. This year, I am the Health and Fitness category editor, and I really enjoy working with writers to help them put their best foot forward. I’m also a very active part of the social media team.
HC: Do you have any other extra-curriculars?
M: On campus, I am also involved in the American Chemical Society Student Association. I wanted to find a way to remain involved with the Chemistry department even after I finished my coursework with them. I’ve had so many great opportunities to volunteer through ACS, interact with faculty, and connect with other science majors outside of class. I also hold two jobs- one in a restaurant in Oakland and another in a local hospital.
HC: How do you juggle working so much and going to school?
M: It can be a bit tricky at times, and sometimes it feels like everything is happening at once which can be really overwhelming. I’ve had to get very good at managing my time, and the busier I am, the more productive I seem to be. On those days where things seem like it’s just too much to handle, I sometimes have to step back and remind myself how I got to where I am today and where I want to go in the future. I also try really hard to make sure I have some downtime to relax and hang out with friends or go shopping. Burnout is such a real issue for many students, but I look at every day as another chance to get closer to accomplishing my dreams.
HC: What’s your best advice for staying on top of so much work?
M: To stay on top of work? Start early and don’t procrastinate. I know you’ve heard it a million times, but procrastinating is how I end up in trouble sometimes with deadlines and exams and work. More importantly, if you aren’t taking care of yourself, your school work suffers. Many students pull all-nighters to get things done, but that’s something I refuse to do. It may set you a little behind if you don’t plan ahead, but getting enough sleep is so important. Get a planner and write everything down so deadlines can’t sneak up on you. Staying organized allows me to know when I absolutely need to get things done and when it’s okay to slack off a little bit (JUST A LITTLE I PROMISE).
HC: What’s your favorite way to relax and de-stress?
M: I try to make me-time at least a few hours a week. I love to watch Netflix (duh!). I love going to the gym to beat stress. One of my favorite ways to destress (and maybe procrastinate a little) is to bake or to cook. I love to read, and I try to read at least one non-school book a month. I also have an Xbox and Just Dance- because sometimes you just need to dance it out!
https://riseandrevel.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/gifs-meredith-cristina-dancing-grey-anatomy-1.gif Photo Credits: 1, 2, Subject’s Own, 4