The Final Stretch

Looking back over the past 4 years of being at Purdue I feel as if I just began my journey here yesterday. I remember coming as a freshman and making friends in my residence hall and the agronomy department. Then getting involved in things that helped stretch and grow myself as a person and young professional. If I had several pieces of advice to give to people starting college it would be this.

Work Hard – I know this sounds cliche but working hard will set you apart anywhere you are. Align your goals with your passions and then work for them. I remember at the start of my time I made it a goal to gain experience while in college outside of the classroom. Through working hard I was able to obtain several on campus jobs during the school year working in research and teaching as well as have an internship each summer.

Step out of your comfort zone – This means different things for different people, but for me It was taking the leap to study abroad for a semester in New Zealand. I left the comfort of being near home and lived on my own in a different culture. It was an amazing experience where I met many amazing people and got to see some of the most beautiful things in the world.

Find a peer mentor – I think one of the best things for me in my early time at Purdue was having upperclassmen in my life to give me guidance and challenge me. Whether it’s finding someone in your major or in an organization, get to know some upperclassmen and ask them for advice. Purdue also has so many great faculty and experiences professionals that are a great resource for advice. Reach out, you won’t regret it. You can learn a lot from classes but Purdue has a lot of value in the wisdom and experience of its faculty and staff.

As my final semester begins I cannot be more grateful for the opportunities I’ve had majoring in Agronomy at Purdue. The friends and memories I have made will go with me as I begin to put the knowledge gained to practice in the industry.

Good luck, God Bless!

Andrew Chupp