Ahh, I cannot believe I’m graduating from Arizona State University next week! I know everyone says college is the best years of your life. In all honesty, my undergrad experience felt like it went by fairly quickly. Everyone always tells me that post-graduation will be different and that post-graduation depression is a real thing. While I’m barely transitioning out of my college years into my real ‘adulthood’ – it’s not that much different. Obviously, COVID-19 plays a huge role in this transition.

I’m an Arizona State University Alumna!

For the past two decades, I’ve identified as a “student“; however, going to school was never a huge part of my life. I didn’t have the typical college experience. I lived in the dorms for 2-3 months during the summer and that was basically it! Now, reflecting back, I question whether I’m going to regret the decisions I made throughout my college years. I never went to a fraternity party, haha. In my first year of college, I joined numerous clubs and organizations, but by my second year, I had pretty much devoted myself to work and internships.

In celebration of my undergrad graduation, I wanted to do a quick recap of my years at Arizona State and list the classes I took — in case I lose access to my ASU account, I want to be able to look back on this, haha.

My First Year at ASU

During my first semester, I was living with my auntie in Glendale, AZ and the commute to campus was over 45 minutes each way. I also joined a sorority (Sigma Kappa), Pre-Pharmacy Club, the Vietnamese Student Association, and the American Mathematical Society. On my first day of class, I couldn’t find my ENG 101 class and ended up being over 10 minutes late. I started crying and was often stressed with being away from my family in Tucson.

In my second semester, I moved out with some friends and lived closer to campus. I also started working at a nail salon and was still a member of Sigma Kappa, the Vietnamese Student Association, and the American Mathematical Society. During the summer, I interned for a photographer (Karlie Colleen) and a freelance social media specialist (Blake Patricia). In addition, I also worked at a nail salon.

Fall Semester 2016

• MAT 194 Topic: CLAS Early Start Program Mathematics
• MAT 191 First-Year Seminar
• CSE 110 Principles of Programming
• DCE 116 T’ai Chi Chuan I
• ENG 101 First-Year Composition
• MAT 194 Topic: Freshman Problem Seminar I
• MAT 271 Calculus w/Analytic Geometry II

Spring Semester 2017

• CSE 205 Object-Oriented Program & Data
• ENG 102 First-Year Composition
• MAT 300 Mathematical Structures
• REL 100 Religions of the World
• HDA 294 Topic: Fashion Hairstyling Basics

Summer Semester 2017

• LIA 484 Internship

My Second Year at ASU

In the fall semester of my second year, I interned for a boutique social media agency (According to Bbooks) and a local spa that had a podcast (Lovely with Lauren). I was living with a roommate near campus and by the spring semester, I moved to a studio apartment by myself.

During this time, I also resigned from Sigma Kappa and my executive position with the Vietnamese Student Association. At this point, I was no longer part of any school clubs or organizations. I spent most of my time working at the nail salon or my internships. My spring semester was the first time I only had two major commitments: the nail salon job and school. I didn’t have any internships but also started volunteering at Skate After School.

During the summer of 2018, I contemplated moving to Los Angeles and interning for a PR firm out there; however, things changed and I decided to accept an internship with a Phoenix-based firm in the fall.

Fall Semester 2017

• COM 100 Intro to Human Communication
• COM 225 Public Speaking
• MAT 272 Calc w/Analytic Geometry III
• PSY 101 Introduction to Psychology
• VTN 101 Elementary Vietnamese I

Spring Semester 2018

• COM 207 Intro to Communication Inquiry
• MAT 342 Linear Algebra
• PHI 306 Applied Ethics
• MCO 435 Social Media

My Third Year at ASU

After a 3-month hiatus of only focusing on school and my job at the nail salon, I landed an internship with a consulting firm during the fall semester of my third year. I eventually ended up working with the consulting firm for close to 2 years. I upgraded from a studio into a one-bedroom apartment and pretty much enslaved myself with work – in a good way! Haha.

After 4 months of interning at the consulting firm, they hired me part-time as a marketing coordinator. I solely focused on school, working at the consulting firm, working at the nail salon, and volunteering at Skate After School.

Fall Semester 2018

• CHM 101 Introductory Chemistry
• COM 316 Gender and Communication
• PHI 103 Principles of Sound Reasoning
• COM 312 Communication, Conflict & Negotiation

Spring Semester 2019

• COM 308 Advanced Research Methods in Communication
• COM 323 Communication Approach Popular Culture
• STP 420 Introductory Applied Statistic
• MCO 450 Visual Communication
• MCO 473 Sex, Love, Romance-Mass Media

Summer Semester 2019

• ASB 100 Introduction to Global Health
• BIO 112 Discovery – Why Sex?
• COM 250 Communication & the Workplace
• COM 451 Communication and Work Relationships

My Fourth Year at ASU

During my final year, I continued working at the consulting firm part-time as well as working at the nail salon on the weekends. I didn’t have time to volunteer at Skate After School anymore.

Fall Semester 2019

• COM 408 Quant Research Meth in Comm
• COM 446 Perform Lit Written by Women
• MAT 310 Introduction to Geometry
• STP 421 Probability
• ASB 335 Ancient Ruins of the Southwest

Spring Semester 2020

• MAT 394 Topic: Problem Seminar
• MUS 146 Singing for Non-Majors
• COM 430 Leadership Group Communication
• SOC 334 Technology and Society

What’s on Deck for Post-Graduation?

I suppose the big question is – what’s next? Well, I decided to leave the consulting firm that I’ve been with for the past 20 months and have ventured out to a new position.

While I can’t disclose exactly what the new company is, what I can say is that it’s a start-up! I love start-ups because you get to wear multiple hats and learn different aspects of the company. I also love my mentors and colleagues – they’re amazing and I can’t wait to learn more from them. Lastly, I get to do what I love, which is marketing!

Also, I hope to get an MBA in Marketing in the near future!

I’m proud to say that I graduated with no financial help from my parents and no student loans!