At twenty years old, Sydney Miller is a junior History and Secondary Education major with a minor in Holocaust and Genocide Studies here at The College of New Jersey. Born and raised in South Brunswick, New Jersey, Sydney was heavily involved with theater and the arts. As a junior, Miller shows that it is easy to get involved, keep an outstanding GPA, and make the most of her college years.
OG: You’re super involved on campus. How do you juggle school and extracurriculars?
SM: First and foremost, I write everything out- assignments and events, in a planner and on my calendar, to see where my schoolwork and extracurriculars could conflict. If there is a conflict, I remind myself that it is okay to skip out on something for one of my extracurriculars, given it is a minor event and not something I have been committed to for a long time, to take more time for an upcoming assignment. In short, I feel that juggling is all about planning and prioritizing.
OG: As education director of Sigma Sigma Sigma, what are your responsibilities?
SM: I am responsible for keeping track of every member academically. This means, submitting everyone’s grades to our national headquarters to ensure we are all members in good standing, meeting with sisters who are close to or have already fallen below the required GPA for being in Greek Life to create a plan of action, and giving away incentives to motivate members to apply for scholarships, keep going to classes, and to be proud of and share their academic achievements.
OG:What made you interested in working with the CCS students and what’s your favorite part?
SM: When I first came to TCNJ, I actually did not know we had the CCS program until a family friend told me about it and suggested that I work for them! I also saw several CCS students at some of the club meetings I attended during the first few weeks of school and loved how energetic and passionate about TCNJ they were. I love watching the students that I work with gain independence in whatever I am mentoring them in whether it be a class or a job. I’ve learned how to understand individual needs through this job, which is going to be extremely beneficial when I have a classroom of my own. I also love that I have become friends with almost all of the students I have worked with along the way, they are some of the funniest and most loving people I’ve ever met!
OG: What’s the best memory you have at TCNJ?
SM: My best memory at TCNJ is the day I was elected onto the executive board of Tri Sigma as Education Director. In high school I would have never thought about running for any type of leadership position in a club or for student government, so I was not expecting to be elected when I ran. When I was elected, I came to realize that being a sister of Tri Sigma has boosted my confidence and that it is possible to make an impact on a club/organization in less than a year.
OG: Whats your favorite part about TCNJ?
SM: I love the small class sizes and the faculty. I’ve never felt uncomfortable participating or approaching my professors during their office hours.
OG: Whats your favorite part about campus?
SM: I enjoy the fact that everything is within walking distance, even Campus Town. This makes it easy for me to get to work and see my friends whenever!
OG: What do you hope to accomplish in the next two years before graduation?
SM: In terms of academics, I am hoping to be successful in the major practicums I will have for my ed major, JFE (Junior Field Experience) and Student Teaching. I am also hoping to be inducted into KDP, the education honor society. For my history major, I am hoping to do my capstone research on a topic that relates to my Holocaust and Genocide Studies minor. I would also like to be reelected onto executive board for Tri Sigma if possible and continue working with the CCS students as much as I can.
OG: Where do you want to be in the next 5 years?
SM: Within the next five years, I would like to be working in the high school where I graduated or one nearby. I would also like to assist with the theatre program in whichever school I am working in. It is also possible that within the next five years, I may consider getting my masters in special education.
Upon meeting Miller, it is immediately evident that to thrive at The College of New Jersey, it takes hard work, dedication, and time. That balance of academics, a social life, and resume-building extracurriculars is what will make college worth it in the end.