2021
HOUSTONIAN A MAGAZINE FOR THE GRADUATES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A look back at Fall 2020
Page 5
A look back at Spring 2021
Page 7
The year in sports
Page 10
An interview with the 2020-2021 SGA President
Page 13
It’s OK not to have it all figured out yet
Page 18
Life after graduation
Page 20
Coog Throwback: Seniors’ favorite UH memories
Page 22
Ultimate resume and cover letter guide
Page 26
How to job hunt like a pro
Page 28
Scoring and styling affordable interview looks Moving to a new city after graduation Graduate school: should you apply? Dear UH, thanks for the memories
Page 30 Page 32 Page 35 Page 38
STAFF
Editor-in-Chief Autumn Rendall Chief Graphic Designers Jiselle Santos Juana Garcia Front and Back Covers Jiselle Santos 2
HOUSTONIAN // Spring 2021
Staff Writers Sofia Gonzalez Yidan Ren Shawn Owens Anna Baker Haya Panjwani Andy Yanez Jiselle Santos
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Hello fellow Coogs! Before I say anything else, I want to start off by giving you all a huge congratulations on graduating from the University of Houston. It might be hard to properly reflect on and recognize what a massive achievement you’ve accomplished due to the way the world looks right now, but know that getting here was no easy feat! The class of 2021 has been through a fair share of life-changing events over the last four years, and to have earned a degree on top of everything is amazing. Fun fact: did you know that this annual magazine you’re reading used to be an actual yearbook for the entire University? It’s crazy to think that at one point
all UH students could fit in one yearbook, but we’ve got an entire bookshelf of these publications in our office all the way from the 1930s to prove it. I was in an antique store the other day and spotted a Houstonian from 1964 to 1965. I spent a while looking through all the black and white photographs of former students, organizations and memories. For as distant as the lives of 1960s Coogs may seem, many of the pages felt so familiar. Pictures of the buildings I see on my daily walk across campus still looked the same, some of our same organizations were still hard at work, and the expressions of the students had a lot of the same excited but exhausted energy that many college students do. Even though my memories at
the University of Houston are still very much in the present, I realized that one day my time spent here will be a legacy spotted in my grandchildren’s antique stores. As important as looking back is, and I hope you have fun doing so while reading our publication, try and live in this moment. You’ve just graduated college, and the world is at your fingertips. Your life doesn’t just exist in the pages of a yearbook, so go out and make it a great one. Good luck, and Go Coogs!
Sincerely, Autumn Rendall, Editor-in-Chief
HOUSTONIAN // Spring 2021
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TIMELINE
A LOOK BACK AT: Fall 2020 First day of classes of an unprecedented semester:
AUGUST 24: The Fall 2020 semester began with social distancing guidelines across campus and requirements for wearing a mask or face covering. Many University events, buildings and resources experienced changes in the way they conduct business in order to meet COVID-19 safety protocol.
Photo by Sydney Rose/The Cougar
Student athletes march for equality and unity: SEPTEMBER 5: In light of a movement against racial injustice across the country, the University’s student athletes made a statement of unity as all the different athletic programs came together to march across campus with a message of justice and equality for everyone. Photo by Donna Keeya/The Cougar
The Cougars win their season opener against Tulane University:
UH quarterback Clayton Tune/Courtesy of UH Athletics
OCTOBER 8: After a month of cancellations and postponements, the UH football team was finally able to open their 2020 season. The Cougars outscored Tulane to win their 2020 season opener 49-31 over the Green Wave at TDECU Stadium. HOUSTONIAN // Spring 2021
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TIMELINE
2020 Homecoming game
NOVEMBER 14: At the Homecoming game, The Cougars had a 56-21 victory over the USF Bulls. During halftime, NK Nebeolisa was crowned Homecoming Queen and Andy Salinas was crowned Homecoming King.
Courtesy of the Homecoming Board
Virtual commencement DECEMBER 17: After months of postponement due to the coronavirus pandemic, the University hosted a virtual University-wide commencement for Spring, Summer and Fall 2020 graduates.
Photo by Trevor Nolley/The Cougar
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HOUSTONIAN // Spring 2021
TIMELINE
A LOOK BACK AT: Spring 2021 UH College of Medicine joins Texas Medical Center FEBRUARY 10: The UH College of Medicine became an official member of the Texas Medical Center, the largest medical complex in the world. The college welcomed its first class in Fall 2020.
Courtesy of UH
Winter storm hits Texas and leaves many without power FEBRUARY 15: An unprecedented winter storm hit Texas that left many without power or water for days. The University had to cancel classes and close campus, and many residential students had to be relocated. Photo by Carolina Yanez/The Cougar
UH begins mass COVID-19 vaccinations on campus MARCH 3: Lead by the Student Health Center, just in the first mass vaccination event over 500 doses of the Moderna vaccine were distributed. Courtesy of UH
HOUSTONIAN // Spring 2021
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TIMELINE
UH announces Fall 2021 classes will return to pre-pandemic formats MARCH 12: Beginning Fall 2021, UH will be transitioning back to an in-person instructional class schedule with face-toface classes along with regular options of hybrid or online. Photo by Jiselle Santos/ Houstonian
CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2020! U H A A I S H E R E FO R YO U !
Stay In Touch! @houstonalumni
@houstonalumni
@houston_alumni
HoustonAlumni.com
TIMELINE
The Cougars get to the Final Four MARCH 29: The men’s basketball team beat Oregon State and reached the Final Four for the first time in 37 years. While the team ultimately lost to Baylor, who went on to win the national championship, the Cougars’ season lead up to a celebration at Fertitta Center.
Photo by Brett Wilhelm/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
First in-person commencement since 2019 MAY 12: Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the University has not hosted an in-person commencement ceremony since Fall 2019. This semester however, the University is in the process of planning safe, socially-distant, in-person commencement ceremonies for the 2021 graduates.
Graphic by Jiselle Santos
HOUSTONIAN // Spring 2021
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SPORTS
THE YEAR IN SPORTS: A 2020-2021 sports recap
By Andy Yanez
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hat a year it was for the University as it navigated through the uncertainty of the coronavirus pandemic and pushed through it, and the same was the case for Houston athletics. A student-led demonstration from every sports program at UH on racial injustices, police brutality and systemic issues in September was followed by the football season that took weeks to get started and eventually basketball and the other sports followed. It was an eventful year for UH athletics amid the unique environment. Here is a look back at the 2020-21 season:
tested positive at some point from the summer to December. In early January, UH saw one of its standout guards, Caleb Mills, step away from the program and later announce he was transferring to Florida State. After the February freeze threw another wrinkle in the Cougars’ season, UH managed to to find its rhythm and wait Men’s basketball embark on a marvelous until The UH men’s basketball team had its journey. October best season since 1984, but it wasn’t without UH quarterback Clayton Tune | Photo A near half-court buzzer-beater to start. turbulence as just weeks into starting the by Trevor Nolley/The Cougar from freshman guard Tramon Mark After strong program went on a 15-day pause with in the final game of the regular season wins against COVID-19 issues that saw various players set the tone. Tulane and Navy, and a hard-fought loss to contract the virus. The run included winning the American AP-ranked BYU in the first three weeks, the Head coach Kelvin Sampson later revealed Athletic Conference Tournament, making an Cougars ran into a house of horrors against that each one of his epic comeback against Rutgers, and beating UCF on Halloween, and then got pummeled players and most Syracuse and Oregon State to get to the by No. 6 Cincinnati on ABC. of the team’s Final Four. A dominant win against USF led to almost a coaches While the team ultimately lost month-long pause for the team, which defined had to Baylor, who went on to win the challenge it was to play in a COVID-19 the national championship, the world. Cougars’ season culminated A heartbreaking loss to Memphis and a with a celebration at Fertitta lackluster performance against Hawaii in the Center where Mayor Sylvester New Mexico Bowl wrapped up the difficult Turner proclaimed April, season. “University of Houston Women’s basketball basketball month.” Similar to the men’s team, the UH women’s Football basketball team had one of its best seasons in The UH football team years. A strong win against Oklahoma on the struggled to just get on the field road set the tone for the year. in 2020. The campaign started The team dealt with coronavirus issues with five different games getting of its own before playing against other AAC Junior guard Quentin Grimes canceled or postponed throughout teams. After a mid-season slump, UH was | Photo by Andy Yanez/The September, which made the Cougars have able to recover and went undefeated during Cougar 10
HOUSTONIAN // Spring 2021
February, which included a dominant win at home against No. 13 USF. A win against ECU in the AAC Tournament before falling to UCF in the semifinals was not enough, however, to overcome a tough loss to Cincinnati in the regular-season finale, which caused the team to just miss out on the NCAA Tournament. In the WNIT, the Cougars lost their first game but bounced back with a win against Arizona State to end their 2020-21 season with a win.
Swimming and diving
For the fifth straight year, the UH swimming and diving program won the AAC Championship to continue its dominance in the conference. On the season, the program won five out of its six meets during the season, and it even sent three athletes to the NCAA
Soccer
The UH soccer program had its first winning season in 11 years after it defeated UCF on April 11 in its regular-season finale. That victory was also the first over UCF in UH’s history. The Cougars finished the season with a plus-16 goal differential and on defense, they only allowed eight goals and held teams to one or fewer goals in all but one game this season.
Tennis
UH tennis senior Phonexay Chitdara | Courtesy of UH Athletics
Championships Mykenzie Leehy, Ioanna Sacha and Chase Farris, who led UH to a 30th place finish, which was the highest among non-major conference programs. Track and field The UH track and field team finds itself in the middle of its season, which will extend well into May for the AAC Championships. Multiple eye-popping records have been set by the program’s athletes during multiple H-Town Speed City events. Freshman Phatutshedzo “Shaun” Maswanganyi left his mark in the 2021 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships finishing 11th in the competition.
Golf
The UH men’s golf team saw its season start in February and go through several invitationals as it nears the AAC Championships towards the end of April. A
SPORTS
third-place finish in the Border Olympics against various Texas schools, including No. 13 Baylor are among the highlights of the program’s year. The UH women’s golf team has put together a strong year as it nears its own AAC Championship. A second-place finish in the MountainView Collegiate back in March against various ranked schools ranks among the top of the program’s impressive season.
The UH tennis team has put together an impressive year, which has included outstanding seasons from sophomore Azul Pedemonti, freshman Blanca Cortijo Parreno, who both went over two months without losing a match, and seniors Phonexay Chitdara and Mimi Kendall-Wosely. With only two meetings left on the schedule before the AAC Championships, the Cougars will look to carry the momentum from the season.
UH soccer redshirt junior forward Zionah Browne | Courtesy of UH Athletics
Softball
The UH softball team is in the midst of a difficult season. Multiple losing streaks, including separate seven and eight-game losing skids have seen the Cougars’ campaign fall behind in a hurry. With a month left in the team’s calendar, it will look to change its fortunes.
Baseball
The UH baseball team showed promise in its first few games but quickly saw momentum take a swing for the worst. A 6-1 start quickly turned into a 7-17 funk, which includes a seven-game losing streak. In a series at Wichita State, UH was outscored 40-6 as it suffered a four-game sweep.
Volleyball
The UH volleyball team had a dazzling start of a season, finishing with a rough streak of losses. After falling in its first game of the year, the Cougars, who had to play this season in the spring due to COVID-19, went on an eight-game winning streak, at one point winning 12 of 13 games until falling to No. 6 Baylor in a hard-fought, five-set match. UH lost four of five contests to end the 2021 season, including Temple in the AAC Tournament.
Sophomore infielder Brad Burckel | Photo by Andy Yanez/The Cougar HOUSTONIAN // Spring 2021
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SGA
‘We believed in ourselves, and we made it. ’
2020-2021 Student Government Association President Jasmine Khademakbari reflects on her time at UH and gives a message to the class of 2021
Photo by Kathryn Lenihan/The Cougar
By Autumn Rendall HOUSTONIAN // Spring 2021
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Jasmine Khademakbari has served in the Student Government Association since her sophomore year.
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he 2020-2021 SGA president started UH in 2017 and graduates this May with a B.A. in mathematical biology and a minor in Mexican American studies. Khademakbari first was elected to SGA as a senator for the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, and in the following year she ran for SGA president as a junior. During her time as president, which ended April 1, she served as the bridge between the student body and the University. She is most proud of her administration for being outspoken about racial injustice, the bill they wrote in honor of George Floyd, and being committed to being a leader in diversity. As she looks back on her time here, Khademakbari feels so much love for the University and is so grateful for the time she spent here. Now that her chapter of being an advocate for the student body has come to a close, she hopes to be an advocate for women of color, the LGBTQIA+ community, and leaving every place that she goes better than she found it.
Q: What do you hope the next administration continues from your administration? 14
HOUSTONIAN // Spring 2021
A: So when I ran for student body president I wanted to be the kind of leader that SGA wasn’t going to be necessarily about me, it wasn’t going to be about just policy changes on the University level, but it was going to be trying to change our leadership and amplify student voices that have historically not been amplified in the past. So it was really important for me to give those students a platform to speak on their own issues. So one of the examples that actually inspired me to run in the first place was I was a student life Chair of a Senate committee that we had, and we review legislation as they come in, and somebody had written a bill to do some Center for Students with Disabilities reform, so the CSD reforms. And at the time I asked them, “Well, did y’all consult any students who were utilizing the CSD to try to make these reforms?” And they said no, and we didn’t end up passing that bill through committee because I thought that those students, although they had a representative, it wasn’t coming from them. So that’s when I decided to run and I recruited students, international students, transfer students, students with disabilities, and a very diverse Senate race, so we could
2020-2021 SGA Vice President Hiba Rashid (left) and President Jasmine Khademakbari (right) at the 2021 SGA Banquet | Photo courtesy of Jasmine Khademakbari
have an SGA that was truly representative of the diversity in our school. So what we ended up doing is that these people got elected. And we have two senators, Senator Mady Chidester and Senator Jonathan Sasser have been leaders and instrumental in leading these policy changes now because they finally have a seat at the table. And whenever leaders have a position of power, like even something as small as SGA, you have the power to recruit people to your team that can make real change. So why not recruit the people who have been historically overlooked in the past. And so that’s something that I made a huge focus of my team in my administration, so we could
amplify those voices. So I hope that the next SGA will not only amplify those voices, but not stay silent when the rights of certain students are on the line are being talked about. It’s important that we don’t stay silent. Some people expect us to be non-biased, right, but we shouldn’t be when some students are being attacked for things that they can’t control. It’s important that they have leadership that is there to back them, and not just back the University, but really back the student body. So I hope that they do that.
Q: Has your term as SGA president changed you? And if so, how? A: Oh, my gosh, I don’t even
SGA think I look like anything like what I did when I first ran. So I don’t know if it was just SGA or the quarantine or the mixture of both. Yeah, there’s a lot of things that happened in a year that made us all change and all adjust. But yeah, no, I’ve changed immensely. Because I mean, even virtually, somebody needs to step up and be a leader. You have to manage a cabinet when you’re SGA President and that’s like eight people, people who have different values. They’re not necessarily just like you, they have different opinions. They have different work styles. So, you know, hopefully, I’m sure every SGA President has gone through this. You learn how to be a good leader, you learn how to collaborate with other people, and you learn that your opinion isn’t necessarily always going to be right. The decisions that you make aren’t always going to be the right decisions and that’s OK because everyone makes mistakes and sometimes you just have to do the best that you can. So I’ve definitely learned to be a better leader and a better manager. I had the opportunity to work with my cabinet and others in the SGA, and they taught me so much just about how to be even a better person. I subscribe very highly to the notion that you can learn something from every single person that you come in contact with. And I’ve learned so much from every single one of my Cabinet members. And like, I mean, even like, my VP is extremely righteous. And her righteousness inspires me when I feel that I am giving up on a cause that I probably shouldn’t be giving up on. And so when she is that determined, it teaches me to be more determined. My chief of staff is a huge supporter. He is like the most supportive person. If you have a goal, or you’re trying to
work towards something, he’ll always be there for you, he’ll support you, he’ll give you a pep talk. And so I’ve learned to do that with others. I’ve learned to not be so naive, and not just believe that everybody has good intentions all the time. That’s something that one of my Cabinet members pointed out to me like, some people might not have your best interests at heart. So keep that in mind. Even though he always told me like, I know, you want to believe in people, but you can’t always believe in everyone. So I mean, I’ve learned so much from being able to work on a team. And I think the biggest thing that I’ve really taken away from it is that any sort of position of power that you have any sort of success that you have, it doesn’t really mean anything, unless it means something to other people. So having them at the forefront of everything that you do will make you a better person, it makes you a better leader, it keeps you humble. I mean, I still have imposter syndrome from this whole thing when people know who I am. Sometimes I’m just like, what on earth? It’s just important that we have an open mind. And we just, we let people teach the lessons that they’ve learned in their lives to us.
really balancing the two, I had problems with my mental health. I just felt very alone at times. And then when I ran for my senate campaign, and then also for the presidential campaign, you have to talk to students, otherwise, you can’t develop a platform or anything. So when I was out there, and I talked to other students, I realized how not alone I was in all of these struggles, my struggles with mental health, with trying to balance work and school. At the time, you know, the loss of my house and Hurricane Harvey, even things that go a little bit deeper, like being in like an abusive relationship and being a survivor of sexual assault. It’s things that you might think you’re alone in your struggle, but when you talk to other people, you realize that you’re not alone. And there’s something very, very comforting about that. It brought me a lot of peace to know that other people were also suffering. And then it inspired me even more when I got to a place where I could advocate for these people. I was advocating for myself, but I was also advocating for others. And that inspired me to just to keep going and to try and make an
impact and change the lives of other people and then in turn changing my life and the lives of future students as well. I mean, just knowing how much we were able to help students with the interim grading policy with some of the reforms that we did over the summer. I hope that students knew that they had leadership that was really thinking about their best interests and weren’t thinking about the best interest of the University or what was going to make the University the most profit but truly thinking about what was going to be best for students that were currently in school and students in the future as well and setting new precedents for the standard of how student government should be run.
Q: How will you remember UH when you look back on the time you spent here? A: Oh my gosh, I love UH. When I was in high school I was super nihilistic. I hated school spirit, and I could never imagine myself being one of those people who love their school so much. And here I am about to graduate, and I love that I went to U of H. I’m so proud that I went to U of H. I
Q: What’s your favorite part of being SGA president? A: I would say just knowing
that you’re making an impact, that is something that brings me a lot of solace to know that people are really thankful for the things that we were able to accomplish. And like, before I was SGA President, I felt very alone in my struggles. As a student, I felt very isolated. Whenever I was struggling, I’ve always worked and gone to school. So I felt very isolated in that experience. Before I became SGA president, HOUSTONIAN // Spring 2021
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SGA think that U of H is unique in that it provides an opportunity for people to go to college at an affordable price and have a very quality education that maybe like weren’t going to go to college or wouldn’t have gone if they didn’t have somewhere like U of H. One of my favorite stories from U of H, in my experience, was I walked into the library as a freshman and I saw the banner that said, “You belong”, and from somebody who was coming from a very nihilistic high school mindset where I was bullied, where I felt like I wasn’t like the other kids. I went to the library, and I saw that banner, and I finally did feel like I belonged somewhere, I looked around, and people came from the same kinds of socio-economic background as me, people not only looked like me but looked even more different. And you see, like,
so much diversity, even in my own friend groups, how almost none of us come from the same background. And it’s truly unique. Like we have such a unique experience to learn from one another’s experiences. And also, we’re able to find this unity in our differences, which is even more powerful to know that people are coming from such different backgrounds and they still share similar problems and similar struggles. There’s something very unifying in that, and I think that’s something that the U.S. and our country could really learn from right now is how unifying diversity really is. It’s not as polarizing and as dividing as people seem to think it is. It’s truly like one of the most unifying experiences is to go to a very diverse university with quality professors. I mean, I found mentorship here that
I never thought I would find. I had Latina professors who are successful. I’ve never seen somebody, like, from my own background have so much energy, so much poise, and I’ll shout out Dr. Farfán-Santos for really doing that for me. She’s one of the anthropology professors, and she really inspires me. And it’s really important to go to a university that cares about having diverse faculty members. So everyone can have that experience, can have somebody who looks like them really be a mentor for them.
Q: Is there anything that you would like to say to the class of 2021? A: We are so resilient, that’s for sure. Because if you’re from the class of 2021, then you probably came in around the time that Hurricane Harvey hit, and you are leaving at
From left to right: 2020-2021 SGA Vice President Hiba Rashid, SGA Advisor Keith Kowalka, and 2020-2021 SGA President Jasmine Khademakbari at the 2021 SGA Banquet | Photo courtesy of Jasmine Khademakbari
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HOUSTONIAN // Spring 2021
the tail end of a pandemic, but not really the tail end of a pandemic. So I mean, if you made it this far, what can you not accomplish? The world hit so much at us these last four years, maybe five or six years for some graduates. But we persisted, we persisted and we made it and we didn’t lose sight of our values. And we made it. We believed in ourselves, and we made it. So it’s something to be very proud of. Our class of 2021 is extremely resilient. And I mean, now, we don’t know what the economy is gonna look like, we don’t know what the next disaster is gonna look like. But you know, if we survive this one, then we can survive the next one.
It’s OK not to have it all figured out yet By Anna Baker
Graphic by Juana Garcia Graphic by Juana Garcia
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here’s an expectation that once you graduate college you have to get a job and know what you’re going to do with your degree. College is seen as the last frontier before the “real world” of corporate offices, resumes and commutes. Many seniors may feel this pressure that they have to know what is next, but it’s okay to be undecided about the future right now. For much of our lives we are told we need to always have a plan for the future. We have to go to school, learn, and then immediately find a job in that field and stay in it for as long as we can. We look to careers as linear timelines, only going up in promotions in time, in one place. While this may be appealing to someone who already knows what they want to do in life, it can seem daunting for those who don’t. The idea that someone has to commit to what they studied and stay in that field their whole lives means rigidity
ADVICE and a lack of choice later on for some. For those who don’t have a concrete career plan, the pressure to have one can be tough. Marketing senior Cassidy Huynh says, “I think we put far too much pressure on college students to have their life planned by the age of 22.” She also makes a point saying, “Everyone works at different paces, and holding ourselves to this expectation of having everything figured out is unrealistic.” Everyone is different, so you can’t compare yourself to your friends who have it figured out. Nobody is meant to have the same exact path in life. Even if you get into one career, that doesn’t mean you have to keep it your whole life. My dad is someone who has worked in the advertising industry his whole life, and the people he’s worked with don’t all just have advertising degrees. Many have degrees in things like engineering, music education and medieval
studies to name a few. They changed their trajectory at some point but were able to have good careers doing something they liked. No one has to stay married to their career path, even if it’s forty years down the line. If the career you later want to explore needs some coursework, you can always take some classes at a community college or go to graduate school for a different field. It’s also important to note that we are currently emerging from a pandemic, one that caused a large number of people to get laid off. The job market is different now and it’s extremely competitive. Quarantine may have led some people to want to change their career as well. I know it did that for me. This is all to say to cut yourself some slack if you don’t have a plan yet. You just graduated. Celebrate and be proud of yourself. The future is full of possibilities, and you don’t have to commit to just one.
File photo of The Cougar HOUSTONIAN // Spring 2021
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LIFE AFTER GRADUATION By Autumn Rendall Graphic by Juana Garcia
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A few tips on navigating life’s new commitments after graduation
ADVICE
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fter countless late nights, study sessions and hard work, you’ve finally gotten that degree you’ve been dreaming about all of college. You’ve spent years working towards this goal, but now you’ve just got one question on your mind, “Now what?” Anxious feelings about life after graduation are completely normal. Whether you’re already missing your college friends, worried about not having a job, you don’t enjoy the one you have lined up, or you’re adjusting to the new responsibilities of being independent — you’re valid. Here are some tips for your transition to postcollege life, and congratulations on making it here.
Social changes
With all the new people you’ve met in college, and being used to day-to-day socializing with your classmates or roommates, getting used to being more alone or to a new social environment can be difficult. Even though the real world keeps all of us busy, make it a priority to engage with your precollege pals and still maintain your new university friendships. In the switch to a new environment, it’s comforting to know you always have true friends that are just a text away. If you’re having to move back to your home town or perhaps you’re starting a new job in a different city, you might have to adjust to long-distance relationships. You can make the most out of these new circumstances by scheduling video chat or phone call dates, making a synced Google calendar that shows each of your schedules and events or planning a trip to see each other. Although your social life is changing, in many ways this can be an opportunity to get to know yourself more. In your free time, you can explore new hobbies that interest you, read that book you’ve been meaning to or learn a new skill or instrument. Though it may take some getting used to, a little bit of independence can be an unexpected blessing.
Employment options
If you’re graduating without a job, or are unsure whether you’re even passionate about your current career path, you are in no way alone. Many college students are in the same boat, and graduation anxiety can stem from this dilemma. To gain some insight into what jobs you might be interested in or a good fit for, try taking a career placement test. Also, do some research and networking to see what entry-level jobs you could work towards in your dream career. If you have a job lined up after graduation, but you’re still unsure if you’re going to enjoy it, work to make the most out of the position you have. Try and form positive relationships with your coworkers, use your time after work to develop skills for other professions and enjoy your weekends by pursuing hobbies and spending quality time with your friends and family.
New responsibilities
Unfortunately, the wonderful freedom of finally being done with college comes with a whole other world of responsibilities. While you might have already faced some of the real world’s harsh realities, post-graduation means having to handle them head-on. Now that you most likely won’t be using the campus gym anymore or relying on the dining hall for your meals, it’s up to you to stay active, eat healthily and take care of yourself. It’s also important to have a healthy sense of financial literacy as you prepare to start your career, rely on yourself for insurance and pay your own bills. Leave reminders for yourself about chores or other duties you need to take care of, work on making responsible health choices and do some research on how to properly manage your expenses. Even though you’re in a different phase in your life, you can still handle anything the world decides to throw at you. It might take some time and adjustments, but be kind to yourself, and this transition will be over before you know it.
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MEMORIES
COOG THROWBACK : Seniors share their favorite memories from their time at UH By Sofia Gonzalez
CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2021
THANK YOU FOR YOUR INVOLVEMENT IN STUDENT LIFE! 22
A.D. Bruce Religion Center uh.edu/adbruce
Center for Diversity & Inclusion uh.edu/cdi
Center for Fraternity & Sorority Life uh.edu/cfsl
Center for Student Media uh.edu/csm
LGBTQ Resource Center uh.edu/lgbtq
Student Centers uh.edu/studentcenters
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Center for Student Involvement uh.edu/csi
MEMORIES “My favorite memory or memories at UH are number one the people. I am from Dallas so I don’t really have any family here. The friends I’ve made are my family here. I also have to cherish the opportunities here from working with UH football for three years to my first job in the NFL with the Houston Texans and my time being sports producer of CoogTV” - Ali Jawad, sports administration major, journalism minor.
“My favorite time at UH was always during the Weeks of Welcome and ending it with the celebration of Cage Rage!” - Carlee Grimes, hotel and restaurant management major
“My best UH memory was walking the pride parade with O-Team. Literally one of the most fun days ever. The opportunity to walk the parade was presented to us by one of our directors. It was the first pride parade I’d ever gone to and what a first it was. Being there with all my friends and surrounded by thousands of people showing lots of love and care was so much fun. There were points in the parade where I’d run alongside the gate and just high five or hug people to show them how much I loved their energy. And of course, chanting UH anthems with all the UH people present was exciting. It gave me goosebumps when I’d hear people in the crowds chant as well.” - Alberto Huichapa, public relations major, business administration minor
“It’s tough to choose just one memory for me. Frontier Fiesta in 2019 holds a special place in my heart. I was the lead performer for Sigma Nu and Phi Mu’s performance, in the middle of the A$AP Ferg mosh pit. Tailgates are also something that I really miss. It was my first great experience at UH. Going to the games early to set up the tent at 7 a.m. was always a good time, and it was nice to have a Coog win as well.” - Tanner Miller, finance major
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MEMORIES “My fondest memories at UH have to be anything that I have done with my team, UH swim and dive. As a team the most exciting thing we have done was definitely my junior year, February 2020, right before COVID hit when we got to host our big conference meet at our pool (the CRWC). We had a lot of family, fellow UH students and even professors come to watch us swim and win our fourth straight American Athletic Conference title. Swimming, as always, was just that much better getting to have that hometown advantage. But other than our big wins and championships, just being here to watch our team, the rest of athletics and UH academics grow into the same caliber as the Power Five schools has been an amazing experience that I wouldn’t give up for any other school!” - Katie Powers, biology major, chemistry and mathematics minor.
“Meeting new people, especially some of my closest friends, was one of the best parts of my college experience. I also had the opportunity to take several classes with the most thoughtful and passionate professor I’ve ever met, shout out Keith Houk who has taught me so much more beyond filmmaking than I expected. Overall, I loved growing, creating and learning these past 4 years at UH.” - Madeleine Willars, media production major, English minor.
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“My favorite memory from UH is tailgating and having so much fun with friends! Going to UH has been so much fun and has given me the ability to make lifelong friends. It is something I will always cherish!” - Madeline Garza, political science major, minoring in law, values, and morals.
“I’d say my favorite memory is when I used to live on campus before the COVID-19 pandemic. I always get hit with the nostalgia of going to Moody Dining Hall late at night with friends, or even waiting in line for lunch at the SC. I really wish I could go back in time and enjoy those moments more because I wasn’t able to do that my last year of college.” - Daniela Machado, broadcast journalism major, retail and consumer science minor.
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THE ULTIMATE GUIDE FOR CREATING YOUR RESUME AND COVER LETTER By Haya Panjwani
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t’s a scary world out there, especially since for the first time in some of your lives, you don’t have any form of school — which might mean that you’ll be entering the workforce. If you have no idea how to apply for a job, don’t sweat it. Most jobs require both a resume and a cover letter, so here’s a walkthrough on how to get started. For your resume, you’ll want to keep it to one page and make sure you’re hitting on all the important stuff. If you worry your resume may be too long, try looking at the company you
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plan to apply to and see which of your experiences align most with the role you’re looking at. Resumes can also vary depending on the type of job you’re applying for. If you’re applying for a job in a creative setting, for instance, as a graphic designer or creative writer, feel free to add some color to your resume to make it stand out. If you have a portfolio, try using the color schemes of that to match how you style your resume. Although, if you plan to apply for a job in a more traditional setting, then it would be best to use a
traditional resume. Templates are available everywhere, and the University also provides them through the University Career Services office. When writing your resume, there’s a simple outline that you should follow to give the recruiter the best glimpse into your qualifications. Start with your name at the top of the page with your contact information and a link to your LinkedIn profile and/ or portfolio, if you have either of those. Next, list your education experience. That would include the school you graduated
Graphic by Juana Garcia
from, your major and minor, your graduation year and GPA, if it’s higher than a 3.0. You’ll also want to list relevant coursework, so that your potential recruiter knows what classes you’ve taken to deem you good for the job. After education, the largest part of your resume comes in— experience. It’s important to note that if you don’t have experience in a workplace, then you can easily list volunteer experiences where you had significant roles. If you were the director of an organization for years but never worked in an office, go ahead and list that organization as experience. You probably learned a lot from the role that could be used in the workplace. Towards the end of your resume, you’ll want to list any honors, extracurriculars or
special skills you may have. This is also where you can list languages you speak, besides English. Most companies will ask for a cover letter to go along with your resume, which should also be one page. A resume can only say so much, so this gives you the opportunity to tell the hiring manager whatever you weren’t able to say through your resume. A cover letter also gives you the chance to show recruiters you know what you’re talking about. Feel free to talk through things you know and understand about the industry, and how you plan to help the company navigate through these things. You’ll also want to show the reader that this is a company you actually want to work for. Do some research on the company. What are their values? What have they accomplished? What about their work environment, does it suit your working style? Answer these questions through your cover letter. In case you get stuck, the internet
Graphic by Jiselle Santos
ADVICE
has a plethora of templates and resources for both cover letters and resumes. Plus, going to this university, you have easy access to the University Career Services office, who can walk you through everything from your first interview to your first day at work. So don’t worry, there’s a whole pack of people here to help. Now go kill it out there in the real world.
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HOW TO JOB HUNT LIKE A PRO
Your guide to networking, finding the perfect job and staying up to date on your industry
By Sofia Gonzalez
It’s the end of your time at the University of Houston. You might have a job lined up, or you might be sitting there asking yourself, “Now what?” For those in the latter predicament, finding a job is probably at the top of your priorities, so let’s learn how to job hunt like a professional. There are plenty of job search engines out there that you can sign up for, however, it is all about using the right one and having connections.
First things first, create a LinkedIn account. With this, you can create your own profile and can showcase past experiences, education, skills and accomplishments. Through LinkedIn, you will also find that it is easier to make connections with those in your field. Plus, you can also get a head start by looking up the company you wish to work for and doing your homework, then making connections from those employed there.
RESILIENCE re·sil·ience - The capacity to recover quickly from difficulties, toughness. You have all proved in 2021 that you embody the very definition of this word. We are proud of what you have conquered and accomplished! We hope you remain inspired, focused and resilient. Congratulations, class of 2021 from the CLASS Dean, Associate Deans, faculty, advisors, & staff!
ADVICE Once those connections are made, you can also reach out to professionals in your field and ask them for advice on how they got to where they are today. Keep in mind, they were once in your shoes and would most likely be more than happy to help get you started. LinkedIn is also a good search engine for jobs. Most companies’ official pages will have job postings, and these can be filtered down to any specific field of work, experience level and location. Also, when searching for a specific job, you can look at others who currently hold that same position, connect with them and ask for advice on what to do during the application process just as you would when connecting
with certain people from a specific company. Along with this, LinkedIn offers searches down to events, groups, companies, courses, schools and posts, which can all go into your research for whatever you are applying to. In addition, Glassdoor and Indeed are effective search engines, as well. When using Glassdoor, you can also look at company reviews, such as past employees and how they enjoyed their time at the company. Both these search engines send emails daily with alerts on jobs that pertain to your specific field of study, so it is hard to miss out on any opportunity. Newsletters for your career path could also be a helpful tool. There
are different newsletters that you can sign up for with job openings that pertain to your major along with advice on how to apply. These newsletters can be found with a simple Google search. For some, job hunting might feel like it is time to face the real world, and for others, like it is time to finally grow up — either way it can be terrifying. Nonetheless, it is time to confront your new job hunt head-on, and handle it like a pro. Follow these tips, create the best resume, update your profile with all your skills, do your networking and, most importantly, keep on learning. Everything needed to be successful is, quite literally, at your fingertips.
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GETTING INTERVIEW READY: How to score and style affordable interview looks By Shawn Owens
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e all know the excitement that comes with the possibility of a new job or career. We put in all of the work getting the degree, crafting the perfect resume and finally landing an interview. However, there are a million different things that come into play when getting ready for an interview, with one of the main things being how you present yourself to this potential employer. If you have lots of money to spend on expensive suits and professional looks, then this article might not be for you. However, you might be in the right place if you have never owned professional pieces or you want to find affordable pieces that will do the job of being versatile for the interviews that you have lined up. What to wear Firstly, you may be confused about what to wear to your
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interview. Most employers want to see you dressed professionally, and you also probably feel as though you want to present your best self for this potential opportunity. It’s always the safest route to go for matching sets or slacks with a matching blazer. How to find quality pieces You can first start by finding a friend or relative that just so happens to be the same size as you that doesn’t mind lending you a piece or two to get you started out. This saves you virtually 100 percent of spending and allows you to be at ease knowing that you don’t have to shell out any bucks to find the perfect interview appropriate looks. But, if that doesn’t work for you, you can score some great items in the clearance sections of some of your favorite department stores. Stores like Marshall’s, TJ Maxx, Ross, etc., offer a plethora of reasonably priced matching sets
that are sure to help you make the best first impression. This option has to be one of my favorites and a hobby that I have come across through the pressures of lock down. Thrifting Thrifting is one of the most thrilling experiences that I have ever experienced in my shopping journeys. You would be surprised at the things you can find at your local thrift shops. I have found vintage designer blazers, pants and even dress shoes from thrift shops. Here are some of my favorite local second hand shops and platforms to thrift. Leopard Lounge (Montrose) With its leopard exterior it is impossible to miss, and upon entering you are taken on a journey through decades worth of unique pieces that are sure to stand out. Goodwill You can never go wrong with
ADVICE thrifting at your local Goodwill. There are truly no limits to what you can find here. There are an array of hidden gems inside of these places that could save you big bucks. Depop Depop is another one of my all time favorite thrifting platforms, due to the ability to thrift right at your fingertips with a mobile app. Just as you would shop online you can use Depop to find all of your interview needs. Just one simple search for dress pants can bring up plenty of options. With all of that said, there is one more layer to how you present yourself in your interview. No matter the circumstances you have
to always lead with confidence, because ultimately it’s all about your qualities and abilities that have made you a qualified candidate for this company. Regardless of what pieces you are able to find with these affordable options, remember that you are what make the pieces work. Carry yourself with confidence and any look will suit you in your best light.
Graphic by Jiselle Santos
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MOVING TO A NEW CITY AFTER GRADUATION By Haya Panjwani
If your post-graduation plans include moving to a new city, here are a few tips to make the most out of living in a new area (continued on page 34). 32
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Photo by Jiselle Santos/Houstonian
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ADVICE
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o you’ve wrapped up your undergraduate career and are starting fresh? Fantastic! It takes guts to move around. Whether it be to a new city, state or even country, adjusting to a brand new place can be difficult. Don’t worry though, this guide should help you navigate through the nitty-gritty of every city and make your new home, feel like home.
Get to know your new place
Before you even begin packing your things to move, open up your laptop and do some research. Open up maps and explore your soon to be neighborhood. Look for locally-owned shops, bookstores, coffee shops and trendy spots that people frequently visit. Usually, locally owned businesses tend to understand the culture of the city better than any corporation that decides to locate there. Consider joining a Facebook group. Let’s say you’re moving to Scranton, Pennsylvania, a town well known for its paper company. You can join the Scranton Facebook group and see what events are happening. Most events have Facebook pages or events that you can browse before going, so you can make sure it actually appeals to your interests. If Facebook isn’t your thing, try apps like Nextdoor, which con-
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nects you with your neighbors without actually having to show up to their house with a plate of cookies. Alternatively, use the “Explore” function on Instagram, which uses your location to show you curated posts. Making friends Now that you’ve moved to this new city and are in all these Facebook and Nextdoor groups, it’s time to start making friends. Once you’re settled, consider joining more specific groups that pertain to your interests. If you’re an avid knitter of hats for cats moving to Seattle, a knitting Facebook group in the city would probably be great for you to join. Once you begin chatting with your fellow knitting friends, try to plan to meet up, make plans and always say yes. If you’re not so much a knitting person, try hiking, gaming or reading. There’s groups and forums for everything. Most local businesses also have bulletin boards with upcoming community events-- attend one of those! Maybe step out of your comfort zone a bit and try something new, you may end up finding someone just like yourself. Figuring out a commute You got the friends figured out and a whole calendar packed with events, but how do you get there? This should be
part of your initial research as well. Look through city groups and forums and see how most people are getting around. If you’re moving to a major city, they likely have public transportation that would be far more convenient and affordable than a car. Otherwise, look for homes near wherever you’ll be most frequently. If you know you’ll be spending a lot of time in an office, try to find a space near that. Or if you plan to work out of home and operate a small business, find a spot with the supplies you would need nearby. Just remember, it’s OK to get a little lost, but keep your phone charged and invest in a portable charger — Google and Apple Maps will be your best friends. Moving to a new place can be intimidating, but with a few helpful apps in your phone and a “yes” attitude to every new opportunity, this new spot will start to feel just like home.
GRADUATE SCHOOL: Should you apply?
T
here are plenty of reasons you might decide to look into graduate school programs — whether it’s a necessary step for your career, you’re looking to advance your knowledge or pay at your existing job, you’re planning on making a career change or you’re looking to broaden your horizons. Pursuing graduate school can be a rewarding choice for many, depending on your goals and circumstances. If applying for graduate school is something
Graphic by Jiselle Santos
you’re considering, here are some things to keep in mind from one graduate student to another when it comes to deciding whether to go and the application process. Make sure you’re clear on your reason for attending While it’s a common joke that many graduate students choose to go to graduate school because they just weren’t sure what to do after their undergraduate degree and are now in too deep, that situation can be a reality for some students. If you have the time and money to attend graduate school without a concrete reason, then by all means go ahead. However, for many of us it’s important that we know
exactly why we’re willing to put in the work that way when things get difficult, you can remind yourself of what it’s all for. Figure out your payment plan Graduate school isn’t only a large time commitment, but also a financial one. When considering graduate school, do some research on what the top programs you’re interested in are going to cost you and what methods you could use to pay for them. Would you be able to work at the same time to pay off school? Could you take out a loan? Try looking into scholarships offered by your hopeful schools and outside organizations. Do research on which programs you’d like to apply to Not every graduate school is right for everyone, so it’s important to make a list of what you’re looking for out of your hopeful
ADVICE
By Autumn Rendall
program and research schools that offer what you need. Factors like location, expense, career advancement opportunities, employment after graduation rate and the potential for research are just some of what people like to look at in the process of finding their dream school. Familiarize yourself with the application process Now that you’ve finally chosen your top graduate schools and safety choices, the real stressful part is applying. Graduate admissions are different and a bit more complicated than what you might be familiar with from your undergraduate, so you’re going to want to familiarize yourself with the process before you get started. Though admissions requirements can vary from school to school and program to program, here are some common steps to take in HOUSTONIAN // Spring 2021
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CONGRATULATIONS CONGRATULATIONS&&BEST BESTWISHES! WISHES!
JONMAR JONMARELECTRIC ELECTRIC 7700 7700Renwick, Renwick,Suite Suite6-A6-A Houston, Houston,TXTX77081 77081 (713) (713)668-1559 668-1559
Congratulations CongratulationsGraduates! Graduates!
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From Fromaafriend friendofofthe the University UniversityofofHouston Houston
ADVICE order to ace your applications. Make sure you know the requirements and deadlines for your program Be aware of what each school you’re applying for requires from you during the application process. Believe it or not, it’s not that fun when you’re about to hit the submit button and you realize you have to write an extra essay you didn’t know about. Ask for recommendation letters Graduate schools will often require at least one recommendation letter, so it’s important to figure out which of your professors or former/ current employers you’d like to speak on your behalf well in advance. Make sure to be polite and understanding when asking for the recommendation because this is a big favor that your recommendation writer doesn’t necessarily owe you. Give your writers at least two weeks time before you’d like them to turn in the letter, and you might want to show them an updated resume of yours so they can see what you’ve
Graphic by Jiselle Santos
been up to professionally since they last supervised you. When they submit your letter, make sure to thank them profusely. Study up and take your GRE Make sure to look into if your hopeful graduate school you’re applying for offers a waiver that allows you to skip the test. For example, if you went to UH for your undergraduate and meet certain requirements then some UH graduate schools will offer you a GRE waiver. Request your transcripts from every college you’ve previously attended ahead of deadline. Sometimes transcripts can take longer than you’d like to be processed, so make sure you request each one from every previous college you’ve attended well in advance. Create a resume that shows off your academic and professional experience that prepares you for this graduate program Some graduate school applications require explanations about your employment or volunteer experience, so having a resume ready that shows off all of your professional and academic achievements comes in handy. Write your personal statement. A personal statement for graduate school admissions is an essay you write that explains why you’re a perfect fit for the program you’re applying for. This is your time to talk about your passion for what you’ll be studying, why you’re applying for this specific program at this school, your qualifications and experience in the area you’ll be
studying, and your goals during the program and after your graduate from it. Spend a good amount of time working on this essay, and don’t be afraid to give it a hefty amount of rewrites and edits. Some programs might ask for samples of your work or research. Select the examples that best show off your capabilities for the program and that you’re most proud of. If you can, have your professor or employer familiar with the project or subject matter review it just in case. Triple check all of the application’s steps and the documents you’ve submitted, and make sure you’ve filled out and written everything correctly. We’re all humans, and we all certainly make typos. In order to show that you cared enough to pay attention to all the details of your application, block out some time to carefully reread everything you’re submitting. Submit your work and wait!
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MEMORIES
DEAR UH, THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES By Jiselle Santos
A
Photo by Jiselle Santos
lot of graduating seniors are in the same position as me, reflecting back on their years at their respective universities and thinking about what the future holds for them. We’re completing a milestone, but with that milestone, hardships and accomplishments came with it. To my time here at UH, I’m thankful for the opportunities and experiences that allowed me to grow, but it is my time to say goodbye. Thank you for the obstacles It may have included living on campus and still managing to get to class late, or racing to your cars after class before the afternoon 38
HOUSTONIAN // Spring 2021
rush hour hits to get back home trying to beat the traffic. Maybe it might have been not getting the grade you wanted on the exam you studied for, pulling an all-nighter, changing majors (for me it was multiple times). The long breaks between classes for that one semester, do you nap or study at the library, The Nook, Cougar Grounds, the study room on the fifth floor of CBB? Or trying to survive a natural disaster from each semester, it could be a hurricane, a winter storm, flash floods, the pipe-burst on I-10 causing a water outage, and now the coronavirus pandemic. Midterms, finals, basically any
Photo by Jiselle Santos
exam — you gone through it. Then having to take tests at the CASA testing centers, making sure to book the correct testing center for the exams and eventually show up to fail the exam. As for that one class you had in Garrison, there was definitely a workout or two trying to run to that class. Thank you for the relationships. I’m sure many of us remember our first day at UH. Excited to step into the classrooms after getting accustomed to the University after orientation, ready to join clubs and organizations, and hoping to make new friends. Some of us may have had the
MEMORIES same friends from high school that came to UH with us, but we made a friend or two while in classes. Even that one person you sat next to all semester, you chatted with them in class but didn’t see them after that. By joining organizations, you meet friends that have the same interests and skills as you and eventually make them life-long friends. Thank you for the traditions With the coronavirus pandemic affecting many of my senior year plans, it made me realize that I’m quite grateful to have experienced some type of normalcy on the campus such as the football and basketball games. Then to the $1 Shasta’s ice cream that followed from winning
those games. To the late nights at Moody Dining Halls and going to the Cullen Fountains with friends, this is to the traditions we made with each other. Coffee, we’ve all had it, don’t lie. Your preferences are Starbucks either at Melcher Hall, the Student Center, the Satellite, The Nook or Cougar Grounds. Enjoying the free perks that come with our student IDs such as going to the Houston Zoo and maybe even the Museum of Fine Arts. However, the traditions we participated in like the generations before us, the experiences we made for ourselves, and the hardships we faced gave us this feeling of community with our peers and UH.
Photo by Jiselle Santos HOUSTONIAN // Spring 2021
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