What would you do if you didn’t go to college?

There’s no doubt that UC Davis students are the most outspoken, passionate and intelligent students there are. Now, I suppose I could end there considering that’s a given, but I’m told I need to have some evidence to back that up. So here are some students showcasing what makes them so great.

I asked students from different walks of life and majors to give a bit of insight into their own lives. Pretty straightforward questions – the kind you can’t “get wrong.” This is to show that even though we’re all here in Davis, all from different areas with different experiences, some things will link us. Our passions.

Here’s mine and William’s as examples, we’d escape to the mountains:

Andrew Kielak, Animal Science and Management (pre vet); minor in Communications

Why this major/ minor: I love animals and can’t see myself doing anything else but something with animal. I also really enjoy public speaking and making my voice heard. Also cause I think I’m a lot more interesting than I actually am sometimes.

Dream job: My dream job is to be a veterinarian, always has been. To own a veterinary clinic would be ideal.

Back up:  I don’t really have a back up major, maybe Political Science, but I need to be involved in the ag industry in some way.

If you didn’t go to college, what would you want to do:  Get some land in the mountains, have a chicken farm and sheep ranch, and grow some crops.

William Gentry, Biomedical Engineering; Minor in Music 

Why did you pick this major/minor: I like to build things and create new things. I also want to help advance the medical field by discovering new ways to take care of people. The music minor is basically just for fun; I like to play the piano and ukulele. Fun stuff.

Dream job: My dream job would be to own a company that develops prosthetics and also making them affordable to the masses

Back up: B!tch, I ain’t failing

If you didn’t go to college, what would you want to do: If I didn’t go to college I would become a lumber Jack and live a simple life with my neighbor and his chicken farm.

For some, if all else fails, travel.

Elise Martinez, Majoring in International Relations, Minoring in Education

Why this major: I love seeing the world and part of my major’s requirement (for my track in IR) is to study abroad so I get to spend a quarter in Italy. It is also super disciplinary and I can never make up my mind and my major requires me to take class in many different major and departments on campus.

Why this minor: I want to minor in education because I either want to be an elementary teacher or high school counselor.

Back ups: I don’t have any back-ups as of now but I’ll see where life takes me.

Dream job: I never really have had a dream job but I just want to be happy with whichever career path I choose.

If you didn’t go to college, what would you want to do: Travel/backpack around the world.

Mikaela Tancioco, Double majoring in Cognitive Science and Communications

Why this major: I am fascinated with the complexities of the mind and how individuals interface with each other throughout daily life.

Back up major: These majors intrigue me too much to switch, I can’t really see myself majoring in anything else.

Dream job: My dream job would be to get paid to travel the world and eat exotic foods haha but I would hope to become a forensics psychologist or pathologist.

If you didn’t go to college, what would you want to do: Write poetry, start a business and plan elegant weddings.

Kayla Lyons, Managerial Economics

Minor: Spanish and Education

Why this major/ Minor: I wanted to find a major that could help me work in the business world!

Back up: My “back up” is to become an elementary school teacher!

Dream Job: I don’t know what my dream job is, hopefully my dream job allows me to travel the world!

If you didn’t go to college, what would you want to do: I would want to travel the world!  (Preferably on a cruise ship!)

Ella Pelosi, Managerial Economics

Why this major: I want to be my own boss and run shit.

Back up: My backup is communications cuz I’m really good at PR and marketing.

Dream job: My dream job is to own my own event planning business and work with celebs.

If you didn’t go to college, what would you want to do: If I didn’t go to college, I would want to move to Hollywood and try to become a star.

Katie Stephens, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Why this major: Environmental engineers “utilize the principles of engineering, soil science, biology, and chemistry to develop solutions to environmental problems. They are involved in efforts to improve recycling, waste disposal, public health, water, and air pollution control.” I have chosen this major because I have always been an “environmentalist”, and I want to develop the skills necessary for fixing environmental problems.

Back up: As of now, I do not have a backup major. Honestly I try not to think of one…that way I might be able to trick myself into not caving in on these engineering pre-recs.

Dream job: Probably an artist getting payed to travel around the world, and extensively draw/take pictures of natural wonders and/or interesting people. But back to reality…I would like to join the Peace Corps after graduating from Davis, and maybe in this two-year commitment I can sort out what I want to do in the real world. I’ll probably end up morphing into a graduate student of some kind to avoid making that decision.

If you didn’t go to college, what would you want to do: Refer back to my unreasonable dream job of “traveling artist” for what I would be doing if I didn’t go to college. If not an artist, I would probably be hiking around in the woods somewhere.

Some are dead-set down the road they are going, and wouldn’t want it any other way.

Francisco Quintana, International Relations (pre-law)

Minor: Human Rights

Back up: No back up

Dream job: My dream job is to be an International Lawyer

Why did you pick this major: I like my major because it allows me to zero in on exactly what I’m interested in. It mixes world culture, history, and politics into one field and I believe this suits me.

If you didn’t go to college, what would you want to do: I want to be an International Lawyer. I had no other plan aside from education.

And some, as long as they’re in the industry they love, will live a happy life.

Gavin White, Animal science with specialization in Equine Sciences

Why this major: I chose to go pre vet over engineering since you can’t double major with the two.

Back up: Back up major would be engineering.

Dream job: Large animal surgeon. Possible specialization in cardiac surgery.

If you didn’t go to college what would you want to do: I really couldn’t see myself not going to college, but I would get into breeding thoroughbred race horses and training cow working horses, and if that didn’t work, I could always do any sort of general labor job.

Just by viewing these stelar examples of amazing UC Davis students, it goes without saying that these aren’t the only great minds we have here on campus. We have the best Veterinary Medicine program and Plant Biology and second (thought it should be first) Agriculture Program overall.

If these prime examples of driven people don’t make you proud to be an Aggie, you are somethin’ else.

@ranger_kielak