T he S tuden t Corner
Z ack Fr ankow iak ,S enior, In t er na tional B u s ine s s I transferred schools because I wanted to start a non-profit. The city that I previously attended university did not have the infrastructure to support my idea, so I moved back to San Antonio. As my Spring semester progressed, I used many resources provided by the university to give me direction. One of those resources was a week-long event called Money Smart Week. At the time, this event was hosted by a Professor at TAMU-SA, Dr. Carter, and the event included a panel of entrepreneurs from San Antonio. At the end of the panel discussion, I approached one of the entrepreneurs who happened to be most close to Dr. Carter. Dr. Carter approached us as the entrepreneur, and I conversed, and I introduced myself to him. This interaction would prove to be the most pivotal for my engagement on campus. Dr. Carter saw my vision and was willing to mentor me and provide any help when needed. Unfortunately, the idea failed, but from that journey, I realized an important lesson- I hadn’t prepared myself with the knowledge, skills, habits, and perspectives in order to see an idea to creation. From there I started shifting my perspectives, improving my habits and advancing my skills. I kept in touch with Dr. Carter. Later, I would study abroad with him, and through him would be introduced to the individual who recruited me to be a Founding Father of the Delta Chi Fraternity. I assure you, campus faculty and staff want to mentor you, seek the discomfort of approaching them. In my college career, the most meaningful awards and achievements have been significant and shared with a team simultaneously focusing on one overarching mission. Some individual and team victories of mine include earning a scholarship to study abroad, winning an award with the team that I studied abroad with, earning an internship for my junior summer, becoming President of the Delta Chi Fraternity and getting elected again, winning Mr. A&M- SA, winning the Ring Scholarship award, winning new student organization of the year award, and winning Regents Cup w/ my brothers in Delta Chi. The path to be a successful student takes the willingness to accept responsibility and overcome stressful situations. Stress is often seen as bad, but I employ a different perspective; stress happens for me not to me. Changing that one word redefines the meaning entirely. Stress shows me what I am currently incapable of, where my focus should appropriately be, and how my focus might’ve been misdirected. It guides me towards what needs improvement. I’ve overcome a business idea failing, my mother overcoming cancer, a lack of family supporting me in transferring universities, and the struggle of locating the direction towards where I belong. I think it would additionally be helpful to list what I’ve done in times when I feel overwhelmed or in doubt. In these times, I usually resort to my journal to allow my thoughts to paint a piece of paper; at times I’d have pages filled. When my mind races with thoughts of confusion, disappointment, fear, etc. this tactic has helped me to express my emotions in a way that collects and reframes them within myself. Another tactic I have learned is that when you have bad days, practice labeling that day as either a “behind day” or a “character-building day.” Labeling days of struggle as “bad” get you thinking that the hardships you go through aren’t helping you become a better person. Everyone will have hurdles, and in my opinion, it’s the only thing life guarantees in the pursuit of realizing one’s goals or dreams.
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THE MISSION MAGAZINE
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This interaction would prove to be the most pivotal for my engagement on campus. Dr. Carter saw my vision and was willing to mentor me and provide any help when needed.
