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On November 4, 2025, two senior undergraduate research assistants from STEAM in Action hosted an informal “College Life Chat” with three 11th- and 12th-grade Youth Advisory Board members from Globe, AZ. This is the result of the senior board members requesting support with their Common App and overall application process.
Below is a reflection of the meeting from Abigail Zettlemoyer, one of the hosts:
The students were mostly interested in learning more about the process of choosing the right path. We started the discussion on the topic of application essays, to which I brought up this book I read, “Start with Why,” and the Golden Circle. Then we discussed resources from the University on the requirements of the majors the participants were interested in (i.e., math requirements and example semester plans). We also discussed other credit resources, including transferring credits from local community colleges and micro-credentials. After this, we went into a deeper conversation about different life experiences and how they led to the final decision on which college to attend. This included a discussion on the pros of staying local versus going out of state. We also discussed relevant circumstances to consider when making this decision. Specifically, we talked about financial needs, available resources, and scholarships. We also talked about the importance of General Education classes and their benefits. Based on attendee interest, we shared examples of opportunities and organizations related to water rights, including volunteer and internship opportunities. We maintained connection with the participants by sharing email addresses for any additional questions.
The reciprocal benefit of our undergraduate research assistants sharing their lived experiences with juniors and seniors, and juniors and seniors hearing from trusted, inspiring young adults in the field of environmental science, was truly unmatched. Due to the success, we’re adding 1-2 more informal “College Life Chats” in the spring semester and incorporating undergraduate preparation and panels of professionals and researchers into our youth training curriculum.