Student Spotlight: Ashley Gaetan

Name: Ashley Gaetan

High School: Hilltop High School

Major: Foods and Nutrition

Expected Graduation Year: Spring 2017

Favorite Quote: “Don’t count the days, make the days count.”

Hobby: Kayaking, Hiking, Gardening, Mountain Biking

What is your favorite part about SDSU?

My favorite part about SDSU is the positive and casual atmosphere on campus. I also love the diversity among students and that everyone has something unique to offer to campus life.

How has the Compact Scholars Program helped you throughout your college career?

The Compact Scholars Program has helped me throughout my college experience by providing an abundance of resources that I didn’t know were available on campus, especially my freshman year.

Tell us about an experience you have had outside of class. (Job, internship, project, etc.)

My freshman year I joined a sorority on campus and it was one of the best decisions. It was a great experience to be apart of a group that acted as a support system, gave back to the community through various community service events and provided a place on campus to feel at home since I was a commuter. Through this, I met some great people who are still some of my closest friends today and have memories that will last a lifetime.

What is your favorite class on campus and why?

My favorite classes on campus are definitely my major related upper division courses. More specifically, I loved Nutrition 205. In this course we had a hands-on experience with cooking food to examine what happens to the food as it cooks and the physical/chemical changes occurring.

What do you plan on doing after graduation?

After I graduate, I would love to take a little break from school and travel around(funds permitting). I also plan on continuing my education in graduate school to obtain a MS in Nutritional Sciences.

What advice would you give to incoming freshmen?

Number one piece of advice is to stay organized! If you start now as a freshman, it will become a positive and helpful habit. When you begin your upper division major-related courses, you might have 3 classes in one semester that seem really similar. By staying organized, you can stay ahead on assignments, when tests are and for what class it’s going to be in. I highly recommend a planner.

My second piece of advice is to manage your time well. In the moment, a fun night out might sound amazing. But you have to keep in mind if you will have enough time to complete “x” assignment or study for a test that’s scheduled for the next day. From experience, it’s best to complete an assignment as soon as possible from the time it is assigned and not put it off until last minute because this can backfire.