College Influencers

 I've noticed a lot more on my TikTok for you page about college influencers. I've been easily influenced by them because they are college students like me. I've seen specific college influencers from UIUC, but I am not surprised since I get so many UIUC TikToks. Some of them are Latina and Advertising majors. 

I get influenced specifically because of how they portray their content about themselves. I enjoy seeing the Get Ready With Me, Amazon Hauls, Day in their life, or even just a school event. Sometimes it motivates me to do the same for Bradley's campus but then I get so nervous because of how small our school actually is. 

If I'm being honest, I actually TRIED being a college influencer. The motivation wasn't there though but my ideas were. I wish I executed much more. Being a college lash tech, first-generation Latina, and highly involved was something I wanted to show for my content. Now, it feels like its too late as graduation is nearly less than 3 months away.

FOMO in College

 FOMO: Fear Of Missing Out

In college, it is so common to consistently feel like you are missing out. The college experience that everyone describes can be exciting and addicting. One of the biggest things people "hype" up is partying/going out. People get easily influenced to go out even though they mentally cannot because of mental health, academics, or even not being able to financially afford it. The fear of missing out often happens by always being on social media and seeing what everyone else is doing. People want to live their lives as well, but that is all that is portrayed on social media, fun. 

Oftentimes, social media makes it a big thing of wanting to show off what is going on in their life, especially when going out. Friends are a big part of creating FOMO, just make sure you know who is around with to understand that sometimes you need discipline and that is totally okay. 

Caution: Bradley Instagram Fail

 I've been slowly getting to understand more of what social media marketing is like because of my MTG 391 class. I am more aware of what companies or even universities are posting on their social media accounts. For example, Bradley. I was starting to creep on how their Instagram account has been looking.

First off, I notice Bradley posted a graphic that said "We stand with MSU." Prayers for what happened at Michigan State University. But I noticed the Bradley logo in the corner of the graphic was wrong. It did not seem professional or with the Bradley brand.

A couple hours later, that same day, Bradley University Instagram decides to post a Valentine's Day Pun that is hinting to buy Bradley Merch. How is this appropriate? There was a school shooting and decide to highlight that same day and now Bradley is turning it into a regular day. To mention the awful quality it had and the disrespect for a Bradley Student to have actually known someone from MSU. 

Do better Bradley. 

Why you should be involved in college

 People often get asked why they join a certain organization and how they stick with it during their time in college. The real question is: Why wouldn't you want to be involved?

Being involved is what makes you enjoy your college experience. It's what you make of it. I've never heard of someone who was happy with just going to class and doing homework. Of course, some majors have more heavy load course work but do you surround yourself with people who want to get to know you?

When I was a freshman I was inspired by the Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA). The leaders in this organization were true role models to me. I wanted to learn from them and get to live the true college experience with the opportunities I was taking because of ALPFA. I became a part of the Youth Board, which works below the executive board. I then joined the executive board as a sophomore and finished strong as the President of ALPFA in my junior year. I never knew how passionate I was for ALPFA until I began my ALPFA story.

A big change in my life was attending the ALPFA Convention in August 2022. I won a $10k scholarship in honor of one of the founders of Women of ALPFA. It felt like all the hard work I was putting into ALPFA paid off. Due to this scholarship, I got to study abroad in London. I came back from the convention with such motivation to lead another group of freshmen and inspire them like I was once inspired my freshman year.

I often get told by underclassmen how they are so grateful they heard about ALPFA because of me. How I am their role model. How they "want to have what I have": passion. It makes me so happy to hear them feeling motivated. 

So yes, joining an organization may mean a time commitment. But it can be a life-changing experience for you and others who look up to you. 

Going Greek in College

Coming to Bradley, I was never aware of what greek life was. I didn't know what recruitment was or what to even expect. I eventually got persuaded to try Panhel's fall recruitment because of my freshman-year roommate who told me to sign up with her. Little did I know I was going to be a part of Sigma Kappa.

Being a first-generation Latinx student that was highly involved my freshman year, everyone I was close with in the Latinx Community was shocked to see me go Panhel. There were girls trying to recruit me from the Multicultural Greek Council into joining their sorority. I was never aware of these things until after. It made me realize how separated greek life was for POC. 

After my boyfriend joined a Multicultural Greek Fraternity at UIUC, I started to become aware of a lot more. I began to support every way that I could on Bradley's campus even though I was in Panhel. I proved to them that even though I am not surrounded by people that look like me, I can still support my Latinx community.

Now that I am a senior, I am grateful enough to teach my sorority about MGC Greek life and have them experience their first-ever new member presentation (probate) for Sigma Lambda Gamma Sorority Inc. Luckily, I have the chance to help my boyfriend bring his fraternity on Bradley's campus and expand the MGC greek life and I am extremely excited to see where this goes! 

Just know, once you join greek life, it's always important to be aware of the different councils. #GoGreek