ºÚÁÏÉçÇø

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 ºÚÁÏÉçÇø.

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 ºÚÁÏÉçÇø body president.

Student 

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

Meredith Aliff 

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

Audrey Allen 

That first year was really turbulent, which is to be expected, it was fun, and I was doing so many cool and exciting new things, but it was still nerve-wracking, and I wasn't feeling at home yet. And then sophomore year was kind of weird, because I took one semester here and then one semester abroad-- but that semester abroad was really, like, I really found my close friends there, and then coming back in the fall, my junior year is just like, yeah, this is my place. Like, I'm really comfortable here now, I feel like I've, you know, used a lot of my resources to the best of my abilities, and now I know what I'm doing.

Maggie 

I say this all the time, especially when it comes to people who might be feeling confused about college or unsure, like there is no correct timeline. If college doesn't feel like home for you until, you know, maybe the day before you graduate, that's fine. There is not one right path. It's whatever you choose to make it. That's what makes college magical. It's an individualistic time of self discovery and figuring out who you are, and speaking of who you are, my name is Maggie Snee. This is Major Insight,the podcast where we talk about how to find your place and purpose on campus, and who are you?

Audrey Allen 

I'm Audrey Allen. I am an environmental Earth Science major, and I co-major in sustainability. I minor in entrepreneurship, and I'm getting my GIS certificate.

Maggie 

That's a mouthful. Do you want to kind of speak to what got you into those fields? Maybe how you landed where you are now you're a senior, correct? So how did you get to where we are now?

Audrey Allen 

When I was coming into undergrad, I was looking at vet school, but then I was actually--you know, I don't want to be a vet. And so I looked at something more broad, and that was environmental science. So I switched over to environmental science because I knew I wanted to help the planet in some way, shape or form, but that wasn't through animals specifically, but I realized that that was really geology heavy, which I didn't exactly expect when I applied for Earth Science or environmental science. So then I added the sustainability co major, which got that more social side of everything in and making a social impact. And then I also wanted to start my own business. And I have my own business, by the way, I don't know if Imentioned that anywhere, but, yeah, I sell compost back home. But yeah, I wanted to go into the business side of things a little bit, because I feel like there's a lot of businesses out there that green wash, or they claim to be environmentally friendly or green when it's not always the case. So I think we really need to amalgamate the science with the business, because  business really makes the world go round, and it's a motivator, whether people like it or not. So I think if it's always going to be there and always going to be something that we always go to first, then it has to be rooted in like scientific validity and environmental science policies.

Maggie 

I agree.

Audrey Allen 

That's my direction.

Maggie 

I think that's so interesting. How you mentioned like finding these connections in business leading to Earth Science and Environmental Science and sustainability. And I think that goes to show there's so many different ways that you can find passion for something. You know, it doesn't necessarily have to be like, "oh well, I love animals. So obviously, I'm gonna be a vet." I love animals, but I am not planning on being a vet. You know, it's so interesting to discover, like, where passion comes from, but then also, like, where it takes you.

Audrey Allen 

Yeah, as far as you said about like animals, like, I still care about animals and stuff.

Maggie 

Let the record show we're not here to diss on animals. So coming into college, you know, finding your passion, discovering what you want to do, what else have you done outside of just, you know, your studies and your academics as far as college goes?

Audrey Allen 

So I started research, which has been pretty much like the pinnacle of all my success here at Miami, because I've really found who I am through research, but I think it was when we're freshmen, we have to take this sort of like, intro course that teaches how to build a resume. And, like-

Maggie 

Mine was BIO 140.

Audrey Allen 

Mine was geology, something or another, but they talked about research there. And I was like, "oh, okay. Like, that's not a bad gig." And then I looked into it, and I just emailed random advisors in my department who I'd never met because I was a freshman, and then one got back to me, and ever since then, that was my spring semester of my freshman year, I've just been involved in research, and mostly pollution research.

Absolutely never underestimate the power of an email. Honestly, if I could list like the top five things that I've gotten out of college, I guarantee you, one of the things on that list would be learning how to just send an email. You know, I used to be so nervous about reaching out to someone who I'd literally never talked to before, just because I was, you know, looking for the answer to a question or something like that. Like just learning how to, like, take that first step of just like, "Hi, I'm so and so I'm curious about XYZ I need to know. Yada yada yada. Please get back to me whenever you can. Thank you so much. Best regards." Well, in the line of research and and reaching out to people in college, do you have any faculty staff members that you'd like to shout out?

Audrey Allen 

Definitely. So my primary advisor is Dr Mark Krekeler. He has been completely amazing in establishing my career as a researcher, but also so many other things. The thing about Mark is he takes in so many ºÚÁÏÉçÇøs. He has graduate ºÚÁÏÉçÇøs, of course, but he also has so many undergrads, and he is so passionate about each and every one of them succeeding in research. And it's amazing. And he is just working 24/7 for these people, and then Dr Claire McCleod. She's also in my department, and she's sort of my secondary mentor, but she's always there for me anytime I've received an award, she's shown up to like the award ceremony. She's thereto write references. She's also just a great mentor and a great woman to have in the lab, like a female presence. She's really passionate about women in STEM and us getting our limelight or--

Maggie 

Getting our flowers.

Audrey Allen 

Yes, us getting our flowers, and she's there. She's always advocating for women, and she's always an amazing support to have. And then just all my other professors in the department really have been awesome.

Audrey Allen 

It is the hard classes that really stick with you. Hydrogeology is historically a very difficult class.

Maggie 

 Yeah, it's so interesting to think about how each individual professor you've had, even if it was a hard class or a class that you barely passed or really struggled in, or maybe you did amazing in it, it's so interesting to think about how each educator you have along your journey really like shapes who you are, not just like as a ºÚÁÏÉçÇø, but as a person. You know, when you think about like, "wow, how different would things be now, if I hadn't had that professor for this class?"

Maggie 

I've heard tell.

Audrey Allen 

Yeah, it's like calculus based. There's a lot of new concepts, and everyone really struggles with it. But also everybody who loves that professor, it's Dr.Levy, and he is really--

Audrey Allen 

Have you had Dr. Levy?

Maggie 

No, but I have, like, I've met him in passing before, and he just, he seems sofun.

Audrey Allen 

Yeah,he's fun, and he's charismatic, and he helps people a lot with what they're doing. He's been a letter of rec writer for me as well. So I appreciate him.

You I have felt like, sincerely, I have felt, in one way or another, individuallyvalued by every one of my professors, you know, and I think that's really important, like you need to be able to have that kind of trust and rapport with your professors, to feel comfortable to go to them saying, like, "I need help," or like, "hey, I'm really struggling right now, and it's getting in the way of like, my work or my classes." Like, that's so, so important to have that kind of, you know, rapport and relationship with the people who are educating you. I think that's so important.

Audrey Allen 

Office hours go a long way. I will say that. Like, they've really saved me a couple times, and I have a roommate and a friend who's struggling with like, group or a class that she's a part of. And I was like, just go to office hours, just talk about it. And like, you'd be surprised how much they're willing to help you get through this.

Maggie 

Yeah. I had a professor for evolutionary biology as Dr. Douglas Michael. He is a notoriously hard professor, a hard grader, but again, one of, like, the funniest, like, wittiest guys you'll ever meet, like he's so kind. I was in the writing section of his course, and we had a paper due. It's the first paper for the class, and I was so nervous about it, because I was like, I need him to like me. I need academic validation. So I went to his office hours because I wanted to make sure that I was on the right path with this paper. But in the description of the assignment, he was like, I'm not gonna read your paper and tell you whether or not you're doing it right. And I was like, okay, maybe I can just, like, get some advice in office hours. So I go to office hours, and it was, like, the day before it was due or something, and I had about, I'd say half of the paper written, and I just went and I was like, I just want to make sure that I'm on the right tracks. Like, I can kind of tell you what I have right now, and you can kind of give me feedback. He was like, "oh, just let me read it real quick." Oh. And I was like, oh, okay. And he like, he read my introduction, and then, like, the first bit of, like, what I had written. He was like, "yeah. Like, it looks good. You're on the right track. Like, tweak this, you know, maybe like, word this little differently, or like, dive deeper on this, you know, aspect of it." But like, they want to help you. It's their job. They're educators, you know, like they want to educate you. Take advantage of that, you know.

Audrey Allen 

And they're, it's like they're one of your resources here.

Maggie 

Yeah, absolutely.

Audrey Allen 

Might as well.

Maggie 

I think taking advantage of resources at college- truly, it can make or break, you know, your time here.

Audrey Allen 

That's another thing with resources. Like, as sad as it is to graduate and to leave Miami, I do feel like I've exhausted my resources and I'm ready to, like, take the next step.

Maggie 

Truly, truly, it's such it's a weird feeling to admit, like I feel ready, you know, or like I'm ready to take this next step, because, like, coming in as a freshman, that's terrifying, you know, like you're away from home, maybe for the first time. Like, I know for me, like, this is the first time I've truly been away from home, you know, and been more independent in my decision making and everything like-- that thought as a freshman of like, well, one day I'll graduate, and I'll have to get a big girl job, and I'll have to pay bills. Like that's terrifying, but there's so much more confidence that you get when you go through college that by the time you're getting ready to graduate, it's like I know what I'm doing.

Maggie 

Even, you know studies aside, just like living away from home and doing things on your own is a big learning experience. Are you planning on going to grad school? Are you getting a job right after?

Maggie 

I am taking a good long break from academia after I get my undergraduate degree. I do definitely want to go back to grad school, and it would most likely be for geospatial studies GIS continuing that, but I'll most likely be getting a job right after graduation. I want to go into conservation because, like my long term goal, which, again, finding passion from places you might not expect, the application of GIS in migration research has been something that I've really been interested in and have been wanting to look into. I found motivation in wanting a job that genuinely makes a difference and that makes the world a little bit better than it was when I came into it. You know?

Audrey Allen 

That's why I like research so much. Because I started with pollution, looking at mercury pollution up in northern Indiana, because they have a coal combustion plant that research it just goes toward, like a larger body of understanding pollutants. And then I started looking at pollution in Puerto Rico, because Puerto Rico is disproportionately impacted by natural disasters. So pollution, like pollution is everywhere, unfortunately, but like in an area that's constantly like facing hurricanes or something, it just like enhances that, so that, you know, just knowing that, like my work, is going toward something important, is just such a motivator on its own, aside from all the other positive impacts that research brings.

Maggie 

Absolutely.

Maggie 

So kind of going from you know, you've shared your passion for research, where you've gotten to where you are now, but I think it goes without saying, when you're in college, there are bound to be some bumps along the road. Things aren't always gonna go as easy as we might want them to. So has something ever happened in college that didn't go according to your plan?

Audrey Allen 

Yeah, the thing is similar to you, like, I feel like everything happens for a reason. In the same vein, I feel like everything works out. You know, sometimes we do go through really bad hardships, yeah, but most things, in terms of academia or your career, they'll work out on their own. So nothing has really hindered me greatly, but I definitely have times of imposter syndrome, which, yeah, I know a lot of people experience. And you know, I had always heard that term, and I never really, like, understood it until I understood it, yeah, and that happened last year specifically, is where it kind of started, because I received some awards, some pretty significant awards. I got the Goldwater Scholarship, and I just started to feel like, "why me? Why am I getting-- ? I don't feel any like, sometimes I don't feel like I know what's going on in my classes,"

Maggie 

Yeah.

Audrey Allen 

And I'm like, "why am I being awarded for this?" But, and you express that, and you kind of feel that, like you're just going through the motions, and you're like, "am I really learning?" Like, "am I a good scientist? Am I a good ºÚÁÏÉçÇø?"

Maggie 

Yeah.

Audrey Allen 

And then I had, like, expressed this to one of my professors, and he was like, "well, I don't feel like a good scientist." And I'm like, "oh my god, you're a professor, like, what?" And then it sort of like clicked for me, like it's just imposter syndrome, and you don't really have to be good in every subject to be a good scientist. And it kind of gives me hope that whatever career I'm in, I'm gonna learn that job, and I'm gonna be good at that job.  So it's okay to feel like you're not always the best. But also, another issue I struggle with is comparing myself to other people is one thing, but also to like, my past self, or times when I've had like, more drive and I'm just like, "why? I used to be able to do, like, get out of bed at six. Why? Like, what changed?" It's just important to not do that and to just look ahead. And if you're still working hard, if you're still a good person, success will find you. So I think it's important to keep that in mind and just know that good things will come.

Maggie 

No, I think that's a great sentiment. It truly-- one of the through lines that I feel like a lot of people on this podcast talk about, is the immense amountof growth that they observe in their own, like, self confidence and their esteem and their abilities and the things that they can do because, you know, you've been learning how to do it, you know, like, you know how to do this. And imposter syndrome, it's so real. I relate to that on so many levels. It can be so debilitating at times, because it just makes you want to give up. You know, like that feeling of like, I don't deserve this. I actually--have I been taking two years of GIS classes? I have. It true-- like it can be so just you get in your own head about it so much, and it becomes debilitating. But I think what you said about if you are working hard and you're doing the best you can, you have passion and drive, success will find you and things will work out. Okay, well, this is my favorite question to ask. I think I've asked just about every person that I've interviewed this if you could go back in time and see yourself on the first day of school. Maybe you're taking your Snapchat selfie on the first day of school, and you could give your freshman yourself a piece of advice or just some words of wisdom, like, what would you tell her?

Audrey Allen 

It has to do with what we were just talking about. And basically, I would tell her to calm down and to not stress so much about things, because, like I said, they will work out. And they did, like, in hindsight, sometimes, you know, I would cry about stuff or get, like, really worked up, yeah. But it would, regardless of whether or not I would have cried myself to sleep that night, it would have worked out. So really, you didn't need to do all that stress in the first place. So, yeah, that's just what I realized, and study abroad. The reason I like study abroad so much is because it really drove home this point for me, because you have three months to like travel all of Europe and beyond, and so you're pretty much every week, have you studied abroad?

Maggie 

I'm studying abroad this winter. In the Bahamas.

Audrey Allen 

Oh, nice.

Maggie 

Very excited.

Maggie 

You're still here, and everything's going fine. Audrey, thank you so much for coming in to talk to me. I loved this conversation. I loved all the insight you brought, it was such a pleasure to talk to you. Thank you so much.

Audrey Allen 

So the Luxembourg program is, like, very specialized, and they have it all figured out for ºÚÁÏÉçÇøs. And basically every weekend you're going to a different country, yeah. So of course, you're running into problems all the time with travel, you know, like flights or trains or hotels, hostels. And it's like you see it on a small scale. Things working out constantly, because, like, sometimes you're late for your train or something gets canceled. It's just like, you see it on a small scale of problem solving, like, constantly, and then you realize, like, it clicks for you, like, oh, like, stuff is continuing to work out, yeah. But like, at school, it's like a larger scale, you know, like, it'll be a whole semester, like, you're waiting to, like, get your grades, or, like, to know if you passed, and then you always do, like, you always figure it out. Or if you don't pass, you like, take the class again, and like, the world will keep turning. Yeah, and sometimes I like to, like, tell myself or my friends, if either one of us are freaking out about something, and I'm like, oh my god, yeah. And if that does happen, then the world is gonna split open, and we're all gonna fall inside of it. And it just, like, puts things in perspective. Like, yeah, like, it'll be okay. 

Audrey Allen 

Thank you so much. Have a good day, everyone.

Maggie 

Audrey Allen is an environmental Earth Science and sustainability double major at ºÚÁÏÉçÇø. After graduation, she is considering graduate school to study Soil Science and Sustainable Agriculture Research. Thank you again for listening to this episode of Major Insight. Many more episodes are always available wherever you get your podcasts.