ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú

James Loy 

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast by the hosts and guests may or may not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú University.

Student

I'm a senior. I'm about to graduate, and I've done a lot of cool things in college.

Student

I never thought that I was going to be an intramural curler. I never thought that I was going to be the student body president.

Student

These four years have been the biggest amount of growth I've seen in my entire life.

Student

It's not just about the academics, but like, what kind of person you turn into, which is super cool.

Maggie 

Truly, the person next to you is probably going through the exact same thing that you are. It is so easy to feel isolated in college, and so I feel like, for a long time, I didn't really give myself the opportunity to, like, meet people and become friends with people, because I was in my little bubble. But then eventually, when I was like, "I really don't understand what's going on in chem lab", and I talked to one of the girls standing across from me in lab. She's now one of my closest friends in the whole world, and that is so special to me. I love my college friends. Okay, so we are going to talk a lot more about making friends and meeting new people, because that's such an important part of college life. I'm Maggie Snee, and this is Major Insight the podcast that's all about finding your place and purpose on campus. And who are you?

Rachel Banitt 

Hi. I'm Rachel Banitt. I am a senior accounting and finance double major with a certificate in deals. So basically, in the mergers and acquisition space.

Maggie 

Lovely. One of the biggest things that college students often have to deal with when they're on campus is finding out, okay, I'm here, I'm moved in, I have my major, I have my schedule. What am I doing outside of being a student? So what does that look like for you while you're here? What do you do outside of classes on campus.

Rachel Banitt 

So I am very involved. First of all, I'm in the Honors College, so I do honors experiences here and there that kind of intersects with my school work, but then also goes outside of it as well. Outside of that, I'm In ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú Activities and Programming, also known as MAP and then for the 2024, calendar year, I was accepted as the president. So that's what I've been doing for the last six months now. So very exciting. I'm also a member of Women in Finance and the Accounting Association, as well as being a tour guide.

Maggie 

Lovely. So being a tour guide, what's the biggest piece of advice you give to students when you give tours prospective students? Like one takeaway thing you tell them.

Rachel Banitt 

I have a couple. So when I first toured ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú, I sat down with my dad afterwards-- him and I sat in front of the sundial, and I talked about all of the things that I was looking for in a school and how ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú placed among those and like, my non negotiables and some things that I want but didn't need. By the end of the conversation, my dad and I were both crying, and it started like raining outside, and it was dark by the time we were finished, but it was like the most beautiful moment. And I would recommend, like, having those conversations, because sometimes you think about it, but you can't organize your thoughts until you say it out loud to someone who means someone. So that's my first recommendation. And then also, my younger sister is a senior in high school this year, and she is thinking hard about colleges and worrying about making the wrong decision. But what I would say about that is, no matter where you go, you are going to find your people. You're going to find people you connect with. You just have to make a decision and stand behind it and just experience it and be all in for it. Because if you show up the first day and you're like, I'm not sure if I made the right decision, that will bleed into how you interact with other students and make connections. But if you lean in day one and you want to make those connections, want to make those memories, it will become a beautiful experience.

Maggie 

I agree, putting yourself out there right from the start, especially, like you said, is so important. Like, I think back to my freshman year, when I got here and just, you know, showing up at class and asking the person next to me, like, what's your name? What's your major? Just putting myself out there and making friends. Like, I think if I hadn't, in my head thought, like, Okay, I'm here. I might as well make the most of it. And I mean, that's kind of been my philosophy since I've gotten here, because I always think about the fact that I only get to do these first few years of college once, and I just want to be able to make as much of it as I possibly can. I love that.

Rachel Banitt 

You've done an incredible job, Maggie.

Maggie 

Thank you. Stop. Well, talking about doing as much as you can. So you started out in ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú Activities and Programming. You're now the president.

Rachel Banitt 

Yes.

Maggie 

So, what does that organization do? What is it and what kind of things do you do around campus?

Rachel Banitt 

So ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú Activities and Programming is the largest student led organization on campus, and we typically plan 50 to 70 events per semester based on different student interests and activities. So we have craft nights, movie nights. We also have larger events, like the welcome home event. So right when you move in, there's-- MAP takes up the whole campus and just puts on little activities and just ways that you can meet your friends. Also, we have, like, a fall fair and a spring fair, that type of thing, where we have like, rides and attractions, tailgates here and there. So we do all kinds of things. There's something for everyone.

Maggie 

With being in such an important role in a campus org, a big campus org at that, and having a job on campus, being in the Honors College, different associations, and involvement in a lot of different things. You know? How do you find balance? How do you make it all work per se?

Rachel Banitt 

Yeah, I think balance is the word of the day. You know, I think balance is something that I've struggled with for a long time, but I'm starting to get on the other side of that. Our advisor, from MAP Kaylee, her and I have long conversations about how sometimes things are out of balance. And one thing that she tells me every single time is you are a human before you are a student, and you are a student before you are a student leader. And you really have to prioritize in that way, because if you are not taking care of yourself as a human, you cannot show up as a student, and if you can't show up as a student, you just like, can't show up for your org. So what I would say with how I've learned how to do this is, you know, I know it sounds ridiculous, but you have to, like, schedule out that time for fun on your calendar. Because--

Maggie 

I agree. Oh my gosh, yes.

Rachel Banitt 

So I have a two hour spot on my calendar every single day for the gym. And my whole experience here at ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú, I have never put my physical health, like, on the forefront, and you know, like that is so important for, like, mental well being too. So just always having that in the back seat was so bad. But having it on my calendar where I can see that this is this part of my day, and I'm going to spend my time doing that, it makes it seem more like permanent, like, I'm going to, yeah, it's not just a choice. I'm going to do it. But then same thing for hanging out with friends, I'll put it on my calendar, which I know is so weird.

Maggie 

I do the exact same thing. I don't think I could function without my Google calendar. If it's not on my calendar, I'm not showing up. Sorry.

Rachel Banitt 

And also, if you're, like, asked to do something, then you see, I do have plans, and those are important to me as a human so I will not sacrifice those. So, yeah, that's what I've been doing for balance.

Maggie 

Exactly. It's the exact same thing when you know the Office of Residence Life, when Resident Assistants and Residence Life employees, when we go through training, we're always told you are a person, first, a student second, and you are an Office of Residence Life employee third. You have to prioritize what's most important to you. And I think for a long time in going back into high school and especially leading into college, I had my priorities between being a human and being a student very, very skewed.

Rachel Banitt 

Me too.

Maggie 

 I talk very often about getting over the constant need for academic validation--

Rachel Banitt 

The quest for a 4.00.

Maggie 

-- Oh yes, it is. It can bite you in the butt in the long run. And so I think kind of unlearning that ideology of I have to succeed academically, and then everything else will fall into place. And really, I think, if that is all you're focused on at college, if you don't take time to appreciate the opportunities that college affords you; to meet new people and try new things and experience different, you know, parts of being an adult, then you just end up burning yourself out, and then you can't do anything. You can't function academically at that point. So finding that balance of what it means to be a person and a student and an involved student all at the same time is so important, and it is hard to find that balance, but it is so worth it to take the time to figure that out for yourself.

Maggie 

What would you say you were most nervous or afraid of before you came to college? Because obviously, you've done all these amazing things while you've been here. You've gotten the chance to be involved in a lot of remarkable activities, you know, what were you nervous about?

Rachel Banitt 

I think I was worried that I made too big of a jump. You know, that was a really scary thing for me. Like, what if-- you know-- everything goes wrong and I can't get home, you know, like, yeah, what's gonna happen then?What if I just, like, need to go back, you know, that type of thing. My first day that I was moved into college, my parents left, moved me in, everything that night, I just remember, like, shaking and like trying not to cry loudly because my roommate was there. And I know that sounds so, like, pitiful, but I was so scared.

Maggie 

No, sometimes all you want is like your mom or your dad. That's how I felt 100%.

Rachel Banitt 

It's such a weird experience to be in this city where, you know, everyone's your age, everyone's here, you know, for school, but you don't know any of them, yeah, but everyone's also in the same place. So the next morning, you know, wake up, refresh and know, like, I'm here to have, like, the best college experience I can. So I started meeting people. There was a guy in my hall. I am so grateful to him, because everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses. His strength is going up to someone and say, saying, like, you're my friend now, like-- you know--

Maggie 

I love those people.

Rachel Banitt 

Yes, finding him the first day was such a huge thing, because I just followed him around, and he just started grabbing people, like, off the street, like, you are going to be friends with us now. So that was a huge part of, at first, feeling introduced into the community. And then, of course, you're like, forever friends come from when you start, like, joining clubs and stuff, once you start finding your like community that you can, like, lean on, it starts feeling more like realistic, like, I've got this.

Maggie 

Yeah, I agree. And especially like for you, living 12 hours away from home, like that is a move. That is a process. I'm an hour and 15. So personally, if I'm like, I want to go home, I just have to jump in my car. Oh my gosh. So what do you like most about, you know, college campus life like, what do you like most about being here for college, especially when it comes to finding what this space looks like for you when you're so far away from home, what's your favorite thing?

Rachel Banitt 

It's such a unique experience. And I know all colleges are the same way, but like, it's such an experience to have a community that runs on people your age. And I think the energy that comes with that, the excitement, you know, like football games, that type of thing, there's just so much energy and the environment that you're around. Also, like, especially freshman year, everyone just wants to make friends, so just like the kindness of people that you see, and just, I don't know, the connection, because everyone's in this crazy college experience together, and no one really knows what they're doing, but we're all just trying to make the most of it, and I think that's such a beautiful thing, and something that you don't get when you're like in high school, and you don't get once you're in the professional world. It's just such a unique like understanding that everyone has together, that this is so crazy, but we're here together. Let's make this thing wonderful.

Maggie 

Oh yeah. I mean, I've met some of my closest friends at college just by sitting next to them in a really hard class, and one day just kind of looking over at them and going, do you understand what the professor just said? Because I don't. And then that turns into, do you want to work on the homework together, like at Panera after class? Like-- just how naturally friendships evolve, just because you know you're an 18, 19, year old starting one of the most formative times of your life, and truly, the person next to you is probably going through the exact same thing that you are. It is so easy to feel isolated. So really, I think it's just, it's so important. Like you said, you just got to meet people. You have to understand that people want to be your friend here, absolutely like it is for me. I was like, does anybody here actually want to be my friend? Or do I just want to be their friend? Trust me, people want to be your friends, and you will meet, literally, people that you will have with you for the rest of your life while you're here.

Maggie 

If you could go back in time four years ago and see little freshman Rachel getting ready to start, you know this--  now we know-- incredible journey throughout college, if you could just give her one piece of advice, what would you say?

Rachel Banitt 

There are two things, I think, keep the courage going. Because I think freshmen me made some big steps. And I think sometimes, you know, like getting into college getting comfortable, you start to lose it a little bit. And I think sometimes I wish I kept that going a little bit more. Keep making those courageous steps. And then the other one is, don't chase that 4.0 you do not need that. Yeah, so just take time to be with your friends. Prioritize that. And then also, just like, you can keep studying like forever. Yeah, the studying never stops. So at some point you just have to decide, I know this enough where I'm going to do well in this class, and I need to take some time for me. Because if you just say, like, I need to study this, this, this, this, and then I'll be done. It's never done. It's never done. So you just have to call it quits for the night and go hang out with your friends, take a walk or on campus, like it's gonna be okay.

Maggie 

Yes, 100% No, I love that. I think freshman Rachel would be very, very happy with where you've now ended up, and all the things you've gotten to do since you've started at ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú. So thank you so much for coming in and talking about it with me, sharing what college has been like for you. I really appreciate it.

Rachel Banitt 

Yes, thank you for having me. It's been an absolute joy, and I've loved getting to know you through MAP, you've done such a great job.

Maggie 

Rachel Banitt is a double finance and accounting major at ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú University, where she also helps lead fun events for students all across campus as the president of ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú Activities and Programming. After graduation, she plans to study for the CPA exam. Thank you for listening to this episode of Major Insight. Many more episodes are always available wherever you get your podcasts.