Primer to The Hotel School
Entering The Hotel School as a freshman, I could not have imagined all of the experiences and opportunities I had ahead. It was simply overwhelming, and with so much happening at all times, it was hard not to be distracted. There are numerous opportunities that you can get involved in to make your time at SHA truly enjoyable.
Here are a few tips to keep in mind while navigating your first year at The Hotel School.
1. Make friends with your classmates.
Now I’m not saying to be best friends with all of them (though if you are that’s fine too!), but at least be friendly with all your classmates. In times of tough prelims or draining group projects, they will be your biggest allies and support system. And I know, I’m going to repeat what you’ve already heard (probably for numerous times from admin and professors), but it is important. So here we go: your classmates will be your fellow industry professionals one day, so make great first impressions.
2. Join clubs that genuinely interest you.
And that doesn’t necessarily mean clubs only in The Hotel School (though The 180 IS AMAZING). With so many in SHA alone, it might seem tempting to be a part of all of them, but you will soon learn that by joining 12 different clubs, you really can’t commit to any one of them. It’s also never too late to join a club either. During the spring semester many organizations will still recruit. Or, you can even wait and find something new sophomore or junior year; it is never too late to get involved with something that interests you.
3. Don’t stress about finding an internship right away.
During my freshman year, I was so worried about not finding an internship that I let it consume me. Looking back, it was definitely not the way to go. Although having an internship is important, I wouldn’t say it’s more important than studying for a prelim. After all, we are students first. Don’t stress yourself too much if you don't find an internship in your freshman year.
4. Learning what you don’t like is just as valuable as what you do like.
On the topic of internships, if you don’t like what you’re doing, even that can be a great learning opportunity. Even if you hate your first internship, at least you know your preferences and will have a better idea of what industries and roles may better fit your personality and goals. It’s also super important to sit down and think about what you didn’t like about it and evaluate the skills that you did learn, because I can guarantee you learned something.
5. Stop comparing yourself to others.
It is so easy to look at others and feel like you are not doing enough or are doing the wrong thing, and I know this is something I still struggle with myself. Everyone is on a different path, and just because someone is doing something doesn't mean you have to. Take career paths for example: some jobs recruit a lot earlier than others. Even if one of your friends has secured a job in the fall, the industry you want to go into might not recruit until the spring, so there's no need to feel bad about your job seeking efforts.
6. Connect with professors.
I know I’m not the best at keeping up with former professors, but it really is important, especially if they are experts in a field of hospitality that interests you. They truly care about you and want you to succeed. Plus, they are super approachable, so don’t be nervous. Go say hi or show up to their Zoom office hours!
7. Ask for help when needed.
And last, but certainly one of the most important pieces of advice: ask for help when you need it. From upperclassmen, club leaders, student services, or your professors -- someone will be willing to help you. In a difficult class? TA’s in The Hotel School are GREAT! Part of a new club? I’m sure there is someone there who is more than happy to listen and help you. There’s no need to be embarrassed about asking for help and maybe you’ll even learn something new.
As with anything, there’s just some things you learn along the way, but at least you get to do it with the support from the SHA community backing you.
Yours in service,
Hayley and The 180 Team