Speaker: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast by the hosts and guests may or may not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Miami University.

Speaker: Freshman year I came in undecided.

Speaker: I'm finance, entrepreneurship, anthropology.

Speaker: I'm a senior architecture student.

Speaker: I'm involved in the blockchain club here.

Speaker: I'm very passionate about studying abroad.

Speaker: Classes are going great.

Speaker: And then obviously very involved with my sorority.

Speaker: I'm thriving.

Meredith Aliff 

Hi, I'm Meredith Aliff. And this is major insight. This is the podcast where we talk college life with amazing students about how to find your place and purpose on campus.

Meredith Aliff 

It's a very big day, here, on Major Insight podcast. So many emotions, and that is because we have a very special guest. Because, as most of you know, my time here at Miami has come to a close, and so my question for you is, who are you?

Maggie 

Hi. My name is Maggie Snee. I am a zoology major with a geography minor and a geographic information systems certificate, and I am the new host of the major insight podcast, which is so cool.

Meredith Aliff 

Yay! We have a host. Well, we are so excited to have you, Maggie, and you are absolutely going to do amazing in this role, and I can't wait for major insight to get to know you. So why don't you tell me about why you decided to have those majors slash minors.

Maggie 

So I originally came in as zoology, with a environmental science with an environmental science co major, and I did a couple classes for my co major my first year, and then my spring semester, freshman year, I took a physical geography class, and I absolutely loved it. I was so fascinated by it, which led me to my GIS certificate, which I love GIS so much. It is such a cool field, and it's so ...especially now it's in a really interesting place of like expansion. It's a very quickly growing field, and it has so many different applications. And my major is zoology. I've always loved animals. It's true. Every time, most of the time, most of the time, when I tell people that I'm a zoology major, I get one of two, like questions or things said. Sometimes it's, oh, so you want to be a vet, right? No, let me just put it out there. I do not want to be a vet. And then the second one is, oh, my gosh. What's your favorite animal? It's an elephant. Thank you for asking. Always those two things, is what people end up saying when I tell them I'm a zoology major. And one of the things that has been cool about getting involved in GIS is learning about all the different applications that it has, outside of just, you know, making maps and and, you know, spatial analyzation, which, to be fair, is a big part of it. But as I've kind of progressed in college and actually started thinking about, Okay, well, what do I want my post grad life to look like? What do I want to do as a career, I've been able to look at so many different applications of GIS within zoology and especially conservation efforts. Conservation is really what I want to do long term, I have always said that I want to have a job that means something, and that helps to make the world a little bit better than it is. And I've loved looking at GIS in the application of migration tracking, which is really important for endangered species that migrate long distances, because that's - for a lot of species -- like their most vulnerable time is when they're migrating. So I think just looking into what I'm studying and knowing how I can apply it post grad has given me even more appreciation for what I'm doing now.

Meredith Aliff 

Yeah, absolutely. That's ...and that's a really cool thing to be able to kind of dip your toes into as soon as you kind of step into this college atmosphere. You don't have to figure it out once you're done, you can kind of start making those decisions and figuring that out now, which is really nice. So are there any teachers or classes that you would like to shout out today?

Maggie 

Gosh, yes, my teachers. They're all in the Geography Department. I love the geography department faculty, Dr Sean Hudson. He was my first professor for the geography class that I took that made me want to declare my minor. And he genuinely cares about his students, like he sent me internship stuff before be like, hey, like, there's, there's this opportunity, if you want to look into it. And he's just really supportive as an educator and also, just as a person, you know, like, if I'm struggling with something, I feel like I could just email him, be like, I'm going through right now.

Meredith Aliff 

I love when you have people like that, and you're corner.

Maggie 

And then Dr Susan Jakubowski, she's my minor advisor, and she is the person who introduced me to the GIS certificate and kind of walked me through what that would look like and kind of got me into those classes. And she is genuinely one of the sweetest people I've ever met in my life. She is so kind and caring for all of her students. And then Dr shenyue Jia, she was my first GIS professor just last semester, actually, and her class was so much fun, and it really solidified for me, like, oh my gosh, I want to do this, like, as a career, like, I want this to be part of my job. That's also just so cool, is getting to interact with and and learn from people who are so experienced in your field of study. It's like, I want to be just like you when I grow up.

Meredith Aliff 

That's awesome. Well, I'm so glad. That you've had so many formative relationships here at college so far, it's a wonderful time to meet people who have been through it, and are on the other side and are willing to help you get through it as well. So what would you say has been the biggest challenge that you've had to overcome as a college student so far?

Maggie 

I think when it comes to college, I wouldn't say that my challenges have necessarily been academic, if that makes sense. I mean, I've always been a decently good student. Honestly, some of the biggest challenges that I've been through since starting have been like personal stuff, you know, like, I mean, I've, I've experienced the death of two grandparents since I started college, which has been so insanely hard. And it's really difficult to go through that when you're at college, because, you know, like, in most cases, your support system, of your family, like my family, will always be my biggest supporters. So, like, it's really difficult to go through something like that, and you're here and you're like, What do I do? Like, my mom isn't here. My Dad isn't here, my siblings aren't here. Like, my family isn't here. But all I want is to be with my family right now.

Meredith Aliff 

Just have my mom, like, run her fingers through my hair for a little bit.

Maggie 

Like, I mean, even as recently it was right before spring break, I lost my grandmother, and my mom and dad called me, and I'd been sick all day, so I'd stayed in my dorm, and I'd seen that I'd missed a call from my mom, and she texted me, and she was like, Are you in class right now? And I was like, Oh, she's probably just calling to, you know, check in, whatever, and it's this call that is... it leaves you crying on the other end of the phone because you just lost someone you love very much. And I just remember thinking I was like, Spring Break isn't until next week. But like, this just happened, and like, all I want is to be with my family right now. Like, it is so true that when stuff like that happens, school kind of becomes an afterthought.

Meredith Aliff 

Very secondary thought, yeah

Maggie 

And I remember it was like eight o'clock at night, and I emailed all my teachers, because it was Monday when I found out, and I was like, I need to go home. It was the week before spring break. I was like, I need to go home. And I emailed my teachers, and the entire email, I was so apologetic for something completely out of my control. That was very left field, and just kind of came out of nowhere. I was so apologetic the entire email. I was like, I'm so sorry for emailing so late. And like, I'm so sorry that I won't be in class, but this was so unexpected. And like, I just need to be with my family, like, all this stuff. And every single one of my professors, every single one was like, take the time you need. And I feel like, again, going back to what high school teachers tell you about college professors, is that they're gonna be tough on you, and they're not gonna be soft.

Meredith Aliff 

Oh, they are.

Maggie 

Yeah, if you reach out to your professor and say, this is happening. This is what I need. Are you able to provide that? Nine times out of 10 Your professor will be like, Yeah, of course. Take the time you need. Not one of my professors made me feel bad for something that was out of my control. They were so kind and caring once I got back to campus. And you know, I think that just goes to show that no matter what you face in college, because you will face hard stuff in college, it just happens to everyone one way or another. You have to be willing to reach out and say, I'm going through this really hard thing, and I need time, or I need space, or I need help. You have to be willing to reach out and say, I need that, and people will help you with it. They will give that to you if you just reach out and say it, which is something I struggled with astronomically in high school, which is just so... if I could go back and just shake High School Maggie by the shoulders. Go like, what are you doing? Get it together. Ask someone for help. You don't know how this works. Ask someone for help, but yeah, I mean, any challenge that I have faced in college, I have been able to overcome with the help of the people who care about me, whether it's my family or my friends or my partner or my professors. There are people who want to help you and they want to see you succeed. So the challenges that you face in college, you can overcome them.

Meredith Aliff 

Every challenge has a solution. And I love that you kind of have found your own version of your family here at Miami. And that's so, so important to do in college. You just ...

Maggie 

Oh, found family in college is like, in my opinion, it's next to, yeah, you're getting a degree, yay, but you're also meeting the people that you will be friends with for the rest of your life.

Meredith Aliff 

Literally, the rest of your life, yeah.

Meredith Aliff 

 Okay, what is the single best decision that you have made in college?

Maggie 

Oh, gosh, just one? Because I've done so much stuff that I love and I'm so happy about.

Meredith Aliff 

That's a good thing.

Maggie 

Is it really cheesy if I say, declare the GIS certificate.

Meredith Aliff 

No, not at all.

Maggie 

Because honestly, like as much as I do love zoology, and I love that field of study because I I love animals, but I also just, I love science as a field in general. I love understanding how and why things work the way they do. But I think when I declared GIS, and I started taking the classes for it, and I looked into it as a field, and I realized how applicable it was to zoology as a study, and the things that I was passionate about, I think I had that moment that everyone talks about, where they're like, and then everything made sense. I feel like that was kind of that moment for me, because I found something that I was genuinely passionate about, that I really do love doing. Like I feel now I'm like, I know that opportunities await me after college, you know? And that's just such a cool feeling of like I found what I love to do.

Meredith Aliff 

I think that's really good advice for anybody. Things have a way of working themselves out. Always.

Maggie 

100%

Meredith Aliff 

You will figure it out. You just ...sometimes you have to try a little bit harder than the person beside you, and that's okay

Maggie 

Oh my gosh, yes.

Meredith Aliff 

But it will work out. And I think hearing that as a high school senior coming to college would have been so wonderful, just to know like, Hey, you're gonna mess up, and there's gonna be personal challenges and academic challenges and career challenges that will come about, because that's just life, but everything will work out the way that it's supposed to work out. I'm such a firm believer in that.

Maggie 

And coming in, especially, like, I know in high school, I was former gifted kid, so by high school, I was burnt out and just longing for the sweet release of graduation. And especially too. I mean, like my high school was decently sized. My class was around 350 people. But even still, you know, like when you're in high school, you're taking classes with the same people, especially if you're doing the honors and the CCP and the AP, you are in classes with the exact same people, and especially what you said about like, sometimes you have to work harder than the person next to you - in high school that can just drag you down and make you feel terrible. Because, like, I mean, I went to high school with brilliant people. I went to high school with people who are gonna do amazing things in the future, and honestly, work, I'm so happy for them. They're gonna do amazing things. But sometimes the feeling of like, am I supposed to strive for that? Like, am I supposed to want to be the next, you know, like, great, genius, and it's so hard sometimes to feel like you have to be great, you have to be exceptional, and you have to be extraordinary in order for what you do to mean something. And I think I for a very long time, especially my first semester, it felt more like I was doing work for other people, as opposed to: I'm doing this work because this is my college education. It's my future. It's my career, it's my life. I felt like for a very long time in high school, and then leading into college, I was doing work to please other people and to get other people to say, oh my gosh, you are so smart and you are doing so well, and as much as I do, still sometimes strive for.. I want, you know, I ...

Meredith Aliff 

I love a little pat on the back.

Maggie 

I want my parents to be proud of me. I want my professors to see that I'm doing a good job. And as much as I do still strive for the occasional academic validation, I feel more confident now that what I'm doing is for me, like this is my life. It's my future, my career, my work like this is what I want to do. So I'm doing it for myself, and it is for nobody else.

Meredith Aliff 

And that's so important, yeah, keep in mind, as you go through because it can... it's very easy to get lost. Oh, yeah, in the thoughts of, I want to be the best because of this reason or this reason or this reason. You do the best for you.

Maggie 

Yeah, success for you is enough success. You do not have to be viewed as successful by other people in order for you yourself to say, I'm successful because I'm doing what I love and I feel fulfilled by it. Like, for me, now, that is success enough for me. I think freshman year me was like, no. I want to be a vet. I'll be the greatest vet in the world. And if you think I'm the right person to tell someone that I have to put their dog down, absolutely not!

Meredith Aliff 

Hahahaha! Nice.

Maggie 

I thought about it for five seconds, and I was like, I don't think I want to be a vet because it's the career I want. I think I want to be a vet because other people view ...think of vets and they're like, oh, wow, they're successful and they make a lot of money. Like, you know, just think about it. It should be a career you want. Do what you want. It's your life.

Meredith Aliff 

Yeah. You heard it here, folks, yeah, live on your own timeline.

Meredith Aliff 

You are stepping into this amazing role that I've been lucky enough to have for the past two years of my college experience.

Maggie 

I'm very excited about it.

Meredith Aliff 

How are you feeling? Talk to me. Chat with me. Do you have any questions?

Maggie 

Oh, gosh. I mean, I've been involved now for like, probably in total, like a semester, because I reached out to our wonderful producer, James. I reached out to him after seeing an email that he sent about the new host position, and I saw it, and I had listened to major insight my freshman year. I was having, in Armstrong, a freshman year breakdown of like, what am I doing with my life? What am I going to do? And I saw an ad for it on one of the TVs that just kind of like cycles through ads. And it was this girl who was, like a triple major in, like, fashion and, like, I think, strategic communications or something. I cannot remember the full details, but that person, if you're listening and you think, this is you, thank you so much. And I listened to the podcast, and I heard people talking about the exact same things that I was experiencing, a feeling like I have no idea what I'm doing and like I felt very lost. And it's kind of what inspired me to get on top my education and learn about how college works, and like, what the next few years of my life will look like.

Meredith Aliff 

Major insight works.

Maggie 

I mean, hey, I am a testament to that, and now I am the host, the new host, which is so cool.

Meredith Aliff 

Yay! Very full circle moment.

Maggie 

I know. And so I had started coming in to meet with James, and then I got to meet you and Maya and all these other people who have been involved in getting the podcast where it is now. And I specifically remember when I was meeting with with James, and then someone from the University Communications and Marketing Department, when James actually said, we'd love to have you as the host if you want the job. And I was like, I love the job, actually. I was so I was so excited about it, like I told my mom and dad about it, and my sisters and my friends and and everyone in my life. I was like, I'm like, gonna get to do this really cool thing.

Meredith Aliff 

It's such a cool thing.

Maggie 

And I'll ask you a question now.

Meredith Aliff 

Oh my gosh. Okay.

Maggie 

If you had to give just kind of one full circle takeaway from everything you've been able to do on this podcast, like the people you've gotten to talk to and the experiences you've had. What's just one ... the major takeaway, we'll call it the ...

Meredith Aliff 

The major insight that I've gathered?

Maggie 

Yes

Meredith Aliff 

Well, first of all, I think what has helped me continue to love this job so much for the past two years is the connections that you make with the people that you talk to. And I think obviously those first couple conversations that I was having, and I was hearing that, oh my gosh, this person who is so accomplished in college, who at the time, was usually older than me, yeah, I was a junior, interviewing seniors, and hearing that they had similar struggles starting out as I did was very, very helpful to me, yeah, and so that started happening immediately in the first couple episodes when I first started. But now I have this really awesome time this year where I get to look back with seniors and be like, Oh my gosh, yeah. Like, it all works out. And fun little tidbit, my cousin is a freshman here this year, so I've gotten to watch her, quite literally, go through, yeah, everything. And literally, she'll come to me and have a question, and I'm like, oh, there's an episode for that. Go here. Go here. Listen to this. Go here, and listen to minute 20 of this. Like, it's so funny, and honestly, the full circle for me is getting to put advice out there that I know is directly impacting my loved ones and the people that I really care about, like people that are on this ride and it's just beginning for them, and being so excited for them, but also knowing that there are going to be challenges and there are going to be things they have to go through, but there's a lot of comfort in knowing that every single person is going through it too.

Maggie 

Oh yeah

Meredith Aliff 

You're all living this for the first time, and everybody's learning and growing. And it's really cool to be able to look back and know that the things that I talked about on this podcast with people mean something and do have an impact on people. And obviously you telling your story about it did help me and make me feel like I could manage what was going on in my life, like that's what I want this podcast to be about. So that's been a very full circle moment for me.

Maggie 

Oh, 100%. It's just really nice to be able to sit down and talk with someone about, like, yeah, I went through it my freshman year, you know. And, but hey, here I am now, and here's this really cool thing that I am doing now because of how my freshman year helped shape me as a person in college, you know, like, I just think that there's something very humanizing about hearing people who have done extraordinary things in college and who are on track to do extraordinary things in their lives. It's very humanizing sometimes to hear like, Yeah, I like, barely passed this class my freshman year. Those roadblocks that you face that in the moment, they feel so monumental and so, like, insurmountable that you're like, What do I do? Like, I very much get caught up in the like, uh, what do I do? I don't know what to do. And then you get over it, and you're like, oh, it really wasn't that big of a deal. And I'm still fine, and I'm still doing okay. Like, I feel like it's so easy in college to feel like this one thing is going to just completely screw you up as a person, and you're never going to be the same afterwards. And then you get over it and you're like, actually, everything's fine.

Meredith Aliff 

I don't have anything else for you. Do you have anything else to ask anything that you want to... any tips, advice before I close out my final podcast here at Major Insight?

Maggie 

Gosh, that's so emotional, I think I just have to leave it at "I'm so excited."

Meredith Aliff 

I'm so excited for you.

Maggie 

I like I'm just so very excited to get started.

Meredith Aliff 

You are going to be fantastic. I already know that you are just gonna initiate some amazing conversations with some amazing people on this campus. I can't wait to keep listening. I'm gonna be an avid major insight listener. And I am just so excited to watch you go through this journey. It is so rewarding.

Maggie 

I am so excited for it, for real, I cannot wait. It's gonna be so much fun.

Meredith Aliff 

Yay. Well, I'm so excited for you, and I am gonna miss you Major insight. I'm petting the microphone right now. You can't see but, yeah, it's been an absolute honor, and I'm so excited to be passing the torch into the capable hands of Maggie. Okay, bye.

Meredith Aliff 

Maggie Snee is studying zoology, geography and geographic information systems at Miami University, where we are also so thrilled to welcome her on board as the new host of Major Insight. So please keep listening, because we're just getting started. Many more episodes of Major Insight are available wherever podcasts are found.

And we out.