My name is Jan Dela Cruz and I am a sophomore from Chicago. I came to Carleton through the Posse program and I am interested in studying Economics and Chinese as a major. I enjoy going to the rec to play basketball, tennis and just hanging out with friends. I am heavily involved in campus being the next president of Asian Students In America (ASIA) club and the Chair of Global China Connection (GCC). I am looking forward to having my own mentees this year and being wonderful resource for all of their needs in campus.

Academics at Carleton can sometimes be debilitating; however, there are ways you can mitigate that and manage in campus. I can attest to the rigor of Carleton academics as I complete my first year here, but I can assure the rewards and joy of having been here as well. The most important thing is to seek your resources (I’m one of them) and manage your time well. It is imperative that you keep up with scheduled events, whether it involves using your lagniappe, phone, calendar, or some sort of agenda.

It can be a bit overwhelming at first since there are a variety of things you can be doing at Carleton. Being on top of things and prioritizing what needs to be done vs. what you want to do for leisure is imperative is leading a successful life in campus. You also need to be able to anticipate things that may come up and do not belittle professors here, regardless of how friendly and helpful they are. These professors are here for you; however, it will be a mistake to expect that your experience here will be a reflection of your high school years. Essentially, be prepared, responsible, and ideal in everything you do. Carleton is an amazing place and you can mold it to fit who you are!