Ishika, Livingston Apartments
Ishika is an apartment assistant for the Livingston Apartments on Livingston Campus. A senior from Edison, N.J., she is majoring in supply chain management.
On being an apartment assistant (AA) ...
This is my second year being an AA. As a junior, I was an AA for Cook Apartments and now I have the opportunity to be on a new campus, Livingston. I really like being an AA because you can see the behind-the-scenes side of residence life and how it works. My experience being an AA is great, and I’m always surprised at how many of my residents love coming to the programs I create. I love being able to have an impact on a community from things as small as conversations to hosting events for hundreds of students.
On Rutgers Business School ...
At first, I came to the Rutgers Business School (RBS) thinking about majoring in finance or accounting but found out it wasn’t for me. I took an Intro to Supply Chain Management class and it opened my eyes to a whole side of business I didn’t even know existed. I really enjoy my classes in this major; the professors structure lectures around real-life experiences. The business school has been a great help and is amazing for how many opportunities they offer. They really care about their students and give them all the tools they need to network, expand knowledge, and figure out a career path. As a student, I know they want me to succeed after college whether that’s with a full-time job, grad school, or any other path I choose. [RBS] really sets up students with the skills necessary for the workforce after graduation. I’ve gotten so much out of the connections I’ve made with professors and students and I really like the Supply Chain Department – the faculty is great and always makes any effort they can to help students. When I’m not busy with school, I work as a Teaching Assistant (TA) for the business school and am part of an organization in Douglass Residential College to help recruit new students.
On life after Rutgers ...
I am graduating in May. I am still trying to figure out what exactly is the right job for me. It can get so overwhelming with all the options available. I’m definitely not trying to limit myself so I’m looking into any supply chain-related fields, for example, telecommunications, cosmetics, food, etc. It’s stressful trying to figure out what to do after graduation but I know things will work out wherever I go. After I graduate, I also hope to take a trip to Europe and backpack around several cities with my friend.
On advice for Rutgers students ...
The number one thing that stands out the most to me at Rutgers is the amount of diversity. Coming from a bubble of a town, Rutgers really opened my eyes to people, ideas, and perspectives. I am so thankful I have had this learning experience at Rutgers. I can’t believe how much I’ve grown up over these past four years. I don’t think I would’ve met such a diverse group of people if I didn’t come [here] and went to a different university. My advice for students that want to be successful at Rutgers is the same advice I gave my younger sister who is a first-year student here, too: don’t limit yourself to the things you’re comfortable with. The best way to grow is to take advantage of every opportunity given to you, as crazy as some of them may seem. There are so many different opportunities and you never know what you’ll like if you don’t try.
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