Melody Tzang
Junior, Kansas City, Kansas
Public Policy & Music Studies
I feel like as Duke students, our ceiling is limitless. Part of that realization was reflecting on how my life trajectory would change if I decided to go biology pre-med. I realized I would not be happy until 10-12 years down the road. I really had to think about what type of pillar or foundation I wanted to set for myself as someone who is still really young and trying to understand what the working world is like. Part of it is being able to pivot intellectual directions, being open to what sparks your curiosity, and pursuing other interests. Growing up, my parents instilled an environment that taught me to focus on preparation and not necessarily the end results, alone. I grew up involved in all sorts of piano and harp competitions, wondering if the performance itself would determine everything. At the end of each performance, my parents were diligent in asking me if I felt like I put 100 percent of effort, from preparation, into my final performance. Regardless of what the results were, we would go out and celebrate. Now that I am starting to experience more of the real world, in terms of the career field outside of college, the mindset I have helps me focus not solely on an end result, but more on the preparation it'll take to excel in my work no matter where I end up. If we impose limitations on what we can do, that can become the self-fulfilling prophecy of limiting ourselves as individuals, altogether, based on our own imagination.
Juliana Alfonso-DeSouza
Junior, San Antonio, Texas
Evolutionary Anthropology
During my first and second year as a Duke undergrad, I developed an understanding of how life exists beyond academics. I learned that having joy in the journey and taking pride in the moment is important. Duke students work very hard to maintain their grades here at the university, but sometimes it's difficult to understand that our grades don't determine all outcomes. I saw how detrimental it could be to hyper-fixate on your grades and I wanted to stay clear of that. We, as people, are more than students and we have needs outside of academics. College is our community where we live, learn, and socialize. The Duke basketball games introduced me to a great sense of school spirit during my freshman year. It was cheering on our home team in Cameron that made me realize what it meant to go to Duke – not just to get good grades, but to enjoy our time here and grow as humans. It's easy for us students to encourage ourselves to speed through courses, so we can move on to a greater task as soon as possible. We should be diligent in reaching our goals but there's so much more to life to experience, especially here at Duke, so don't rush the process. Just stop and smell the roses from time to time.
Ajay Neginhal
Sophomore, Huntington, West Virginia
Biomedical Engineering
You are responsible for yourself, at this point. The amount of independence that you have comes with understanding that you are responsible for the decisions you make. Where your life goes is not at the hands of your parents or professors. Your life is what you make of it.
Anne Crowley
Second-year Master’s Student, Greenville, South Carolina
Theological Studies
I loved Duke so much as an undergrad and I felt like there were parts of Duke that I had not experienced. My freshman year was a big year for growth and learning limits of what I could and couldn't do, and what I wanted to prioritize. Graduating from Duke as STEM Pre-med, I got my share of a crazy, busy schedule. This year, I appreciated myself for taking breaks and prioritizing subjects that mattered to me, personally. While currently earning my master’s in evolutionary anthropology, I have a lot more flexibility in my schedule and with my time. I can prioritize building healthy relationships with others, indulging in hobbies like reading, and enjoying a moment of me-time. With such interesting experiences that Duke has to offer, I found myself involved in so many activities. Sometimes, it can be hard to refrain from trying to get involved with most happenings around campus, especially at an incredible university where many people are doing fascinating things, but it’s okay to decline some of those opportunities. Taking a step back allows me to dig deeper into what I really enjoy, and that is what brings meaning and memorability to my everyday experiences.
Josh Dutton
Sophomore, Kailua, Hawaii
Computer Science
Say yes to socializing and exploring the community. Being busy with studying and other programs might cause us to pass up on enjoyable life experiences. So, say yes when friends ask to hang out or go to events. It allowed me to be a lot more open to what a new community has to offer – here at Duke and the other great parts of RDU as well.
Mahika Jammula
Junior, Greenville, South Carolina
Neuroscience
I've come to realize that the people in your life help make it what it is. The people here at Duke are extraordinary to me. I came in set on only an academic goal but I’ve grown more as a person interpersonally and reflectively, than I ever imagined. I think that comes from taking time outside of school to truly learn from other people and spend time with other people. For example, having opportunities to FLUNCH with a few of my professors and being able to learn about them personally or how their research connects to what they're passionate about introduced me to their life point of view and not just an academic one. It's important to learn from people and I think collaboration is a core value I want to take with me through life. The people here are what make Duke home. So make time for who and what is important to you, and time to yourself to reflect about not only your professional goals but also your interpersonal goals – the person you want to develop, the character you want to be, the friend you want to be. The key is to be yourself, be a real person who is authentically genuine.