UD Students Share Summer Adventures and Goals for the Year Ahead
James Tong | Opinions Editor
While it feels like the 2024-25 school year just began, six weeks have passed and the fall term is in full swing.
As students are now settled into the semester, it’s a good time to reflect on how some spent summer as well as a chance for students to look to the future. Many students worked, traveled, and held down internships or other activities.
Flyer News interviewed several students about how they spent their summer, their goals for the year, and who they favor as the nation heads toward the presidential election in November.
Freshman Ben McKnight coached tennis to children at a local racket club while also playing the sport he loves with friends. He’s a two-time state qualifier in Division II singles in Ohio and the only one from his school, St.Vincent-St.Mary’s in Akron, to make it to state. He continues to play tennis at UD on the club team alongside his sister, Andi. His top three goals this year are to get and maintain a 3.6 GPA to maintain his scholarship, become involved in more clubs on campus, and to get an internship for the summer.
“Being involved in more clubs lets me meet new people and the internship would help me to progress the steps it takes for my career,” McKnight said.
Sophomore Quinnie Nguyen returned to her home country of Vietnam. From there, she and her family traveled to the northern part of the country and to Phu Quoc Island in the south. Nguyen also was able to stay busy this summer taking courses online in data analytics. She was able to spend time with her friends where they, “enjoyed Viet food and karaoke.”
Nguyen, a computer science major, also has a role on UD’s Asian American Association (AAA) E-board as a member of the social committee. Her top three goals for the year are to maintain being an honors student, get a research position or internship, and to do more personal computer science projects.
Junior Gabe Ward spent nearly his entire summer break working at a General Nutrition Corporation (GNC) near his house as well as his local gym.
“I spent a lot of my time working, so I also thought, ‘Hey, maybe it’d be good if l started to work out more.’ If I’m working at a gym, might as well use it when I’m off the clock,” he said.
His goals this year are to raise his GPA to 3.8, be more involved with student organizations (such as Flyer News), and make more professional connections.
“These goals are goals that are all going to help me for when I apply to [graduate] school,” Ward said.
Senior Alli Geers was able to make the most of her summer by balancing work, fun at home, and traveling.
Geers has worked at Chick-fil-A since high school and has since moved up to become a shift leader. Her job includes putting employees into their roles, managing breaks and productivity, and dealing with customer complaints.
An avid Cincinnati Reds fan, Geers found time to go to games with family as well as spend time with extended family in Florida. She also was able to balance time between friends and family by playing pickleball with her younger siblings and friends.
“I want to go to at least three group fitness classes a week to stay healthy and have fun,” Geers said. “On the professional side, I want to study and take the MCAT and find a job in the medical field for when I take my gap year.”
Amid the personal pursuits of many students, the presidential election looms large. With November quickly approaching, many students are weighing their opinions regarding the upcoming election that could affect their futures.
McKnight, Ward, and Geers are eligible to vote. Nguyen is not.
“I don’t really know too much [about the election],” she said. “I support feminism and prefer to vote for [Vice President and Democratic Party nominee Kamala] Harris into office to be the first female president.”
McKnight and Ward are split on their decision.
“If I were to go to the voting booth today, I would probably vote for Kamala Harris,” McKnight said.
Ward said that he was “still undecided, but leaning more toward the right.”
When asked what three issues would help them decide how a candidate would get their vote, McKnight and Ward mentioned foreign policy/relations, while Geers and Nguyen stressed women’s rights and issues.
The two upper-classmen also mentioned financial issues such as economic policies (Ward) and wealth inequality (Geers). This is partly because these two are nearing the end of their undergraduate careers at UD. Both mentioned additional learning after they are finished with undergraduate.
Nguyen and McKnight both mentioned internships, rather than graduate school.
MORE FROM STUDENTS ON WHAT THEY DID THIS SUMMER & LOOKING AHEAD
Finishing strong is at the forefront of senior Brady Uhl’s mind.
“I hope to go to grad school one day, it is super important that wherever I apply understands my work ethic and can see it every semester,” said Uhl, a member of the Flyer basketball team who is to graduate in December.
Jake Howland, another senior, recalled his last summer break before leaving campus in May with a bachelor’s degree in hand.
“I worked 60 hours some weeks, it was brutal but worth it for my bank account,” Howland said. “I’ve worked multiple summers, but it was weird to think this is the last time I’m going back to school.”
Senior Aiden Coors said, “Last summer break, kinda strange, but seeing all the pictures and hearing stories from the guys years before us helps me to look forward to post-grad life.”
