Christian Ariota
Student Q & A
Hometown: Honolulu, Hawaii
Year in School: Senior/ 4th Year
College: William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences
Major of Study: Social work
Tell us something about your academic passions and how those relate to your role in Student Affairs program or department?
My academic passions working with people has always been a big passion of mine, so I would have to say that my academic passions are communication, organizing, and service. Working with Student Affairs gave me a chance to do just that. I have been able to communicate and assist all kinds of people while working with Student Affairs. I helped direct students and parents to the different resources that need or to people that give them the help they need. I certainly do enjoy being able to assist with preparing for events and organizing important things for events.
What has been your greatest experience outside of the classroom?
One of my greatest experience outside of the classroom would be the time I got to go the Little Rock capital with a bunch of my social work peers and professors. I got to see firsthand about what some important issues are and how they are discussed with the government. It was the time that I felt in tuned with the ideologies of social workers. It was fascinating to hear the passion that of the other social workers and other service providers felt about issues that have a major impact on the lives of the people. That event strengthened my motivation in helping people and becoming a social worker.
What advice would you give new students about getting involved on campus?
The advice that I would give to new students would be don’t be afraid to try something new and have fun with exploring different aspects of yourself. This is the time to explore what you like to do and discover things that you are passionate about. If you find something interesting, then go ahead and give it a shot because you might learn something more about yourself too.
What do you like to do with your time outside of the university?
I like to spend my time with a good book and listening to some music. I mostly like to read suspense stories and I listen to most types of music, but I would have to say that I like to listen to classic/background music when I am reading.
When do you plan to graduate and what is coming next for you?
I am planning to graduate this December. My plan for a while is to try to get my feet wet by finding an entry level social work job and gain some experience for a while. After working in the field, a bit and saving up some money, I plan on to applying to graduate school either here or somewhere else.
Is there anything else you would like to add or let our readers know?
One thing that I want to add is that everyone finishes at their own rate. Don’t worry too much about not graduating on time with your current peers right now. I myself am graduating this December when most of my peers have already graduated this last spring. What matters is that you do it at a pace that you are comfortable.