Transfer Student Spotlight

Mandy Mabe

My name is Mandy, I am a Utah native and transfer student from Salt Lake Community College (SLCC). I graduated from SLCC with my Associate of Science degree in General Studies and then applied to the University of Utah. I applied to the University of Utah thinking it was just the next step to moving beyond community college. It wasn’t until after my first semester that I realized all the reasons why it’s a good idea that I came to the U. It’s close to home and has a flourishing community with many opportunities. I feel like I belong here.

I am currently majoring in Health, Society, and Policy. I came across this major while I was taking the UC 1050, Major Exploration course taught by advisors in the Academic Advising Center. In the course, I considered finding a major that matched my interests, values, and skill sets. I didn’t choose a major based on what I want to be in the future. I found a major that allows me to fulfill a passion. I try to not stress about what I am going to do after graduation. However, college is a learning experience where students are given time to determine what they want to do. I just started, so I don’t feel the need to think that far ahead. My goal right now is to simply graduate!

During my first semester, I took a world nutrition class that had an inspirational professor, Tahmina Martelly. She shared a beautiful story with us one day and then left us with a quote, “I expect you to change your corner of the world.” I’d like to look at this quote as the foundation of inspiration I had when I founded the Utalks program. My job right now, with Student Success Empowerment Initiative as an Outreach Ambassador, is a good learning experience. In this job, I have the creative freedom to carry out a program that I founded. Utalks is a program for University of Utah students to share their stories of individual success. It allows students to inspire other students and develop community among the campus. I love bringing people together and feel that this is how I can change my corner of the world. It’s a very small corner, but that doesn’t make it any less special.

If you are just starting out at the U, I encourage you to do two things. One, meet with your advisors as often as possible. The advisors are here to cheer you on and be part of your support team! Secondly, meet with a student success advocate. Student Success Advocates (SSA) are like your number one fans. They are dedicated to your individual success, whatever that looks like. I know that I would not be where I am right now if I hadn’t met with my SSA. She connects me to resources and helps me be successful as a student.

If there’s anything that you should get out of reading this I hope that future students coming to the U understand these three things:

1. You have people on your team, in fact you have a whole community that is willing to help you graduate and be successful.
2. Your parent’s opinions can be respected, but do what is going to make you happy.
3. It does not matter what you get your degree in, just major in something that you are passionate about. What matters most is that you are learning important skills that can be applied to your career field.  It’s the skills that you learn that make the degree valuable.

 

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