Jindal Young Scholars are business students who show exceptional talent and ambition. Read as they share about their invaluable academic experiences at the UT Dallas Jindal School of Management, providing advice, perspective, and vision.
Oscar Urrutia
At UT Dallas:
Junior in Healthcare Management
What’s the most surprising thing about being in college?
The most surprising aspect of college is the amount of new information you learn in one hour when you go to class. There’s so much to process and that forces you to ask questions in order to understand the topic. This is critical to your development, since asking questions will enhance your understanding of objectives and the task at hand.
What is a class you enjoy and why?
I am enjoying Medical Terminology. The information I have learned has been fascinating. If I decide to pursue a career in a hospital setting, knowing medical terms will allow me to better interact with doctors and staff, while also making good decisions that support the hospital.
What is a class that was particularly hard that, in the end, you mastered?
The hardest class I have taken so far was Financial Accounting. If you have never taken anything related to accounting, the course gets really difficult really quickly. In all honesty, it took me a while to find a way to comprehend this class, but I developed new study habits and began solving practice problems to get better at recognizing different accounting scenarios. I finished the class with a good grade and with the relief knowing I was done with it.
Jason Manzala
At UT Dallas:
Junior in Finance
If you work off campus, are there things you’ve learned at UTD that you apply at work?
I work at CVS Pharmacy as an inventory specialist. I have learned at UTD about being able to adapt to different environments and this helped me learn the ins and outs of the pharmacy quickly. The critical thinking skills I acquired at UT Dallas helped me become an integral part of the pharmacy team.
What’s the best thing about being at UT Dallas?
The best thing about UT Dallas and Jindal School is the diversity and feeling of comfort overall. Being able to be in a community that is extremely diverse allows me to gain new experiences. When I am walking around the campus or in class, I feel like I am welcomed and that they are happy that I am there. It made me sad last year when we had to switch to online classes because of COVID19. It took away that feeling of comfort of being on campus.
What’s the most surprising thing about being in college?
The most surprising thing about college is the amount of freedom I have. I was able to develop more as a person.
Giovanny Lopez
At UT Dallas:
Junior in Finance
What’s the most surprising thing about being in college?
The most surprising thing I have found out about college is how the professors and staff are so willing to help.
What is a class you enjoy and why?
A class I am enjoying right now it my Commercial Property Risk Management and Insurance class, mainly because it has opened my mind on how I view the different aspects and impacts of how risk is all around us.
What is a class that was particularly hard that, in the end, you mastered?
The most challenging class I have taken would be Business Law. By far this is the class I studied for the most and would not mind having to take it a second time!
Jacob Gonzalez
At UT Dallas:
Junior in Accounting
What student groups or organizations are you involved in?
I’m a “family mentor” with the Undergraduate Success Scholars where I have the responsibility of mentoring four Jindal School freshmen. Mentoring these students allows me to answer their questions about academics, organizations, social life, careers and even more. I love hearing about their aspirations and interests. I can see my impact in their lives.
If you work off campus, are there things you’ve learned at UTD that you apply at work?
I work part-time at C&B Electric Co. in the estimating department. It’s really exciting when I can implement the skills I’ve learned at UT Dallas in my job. Everything from Excel spreadsheet tips to organizational behavior techniques have helped me thrive in the real world.
What’s the best thing about being at UT Dallas?
I met an amazing group of people during the summer before my freshman year thanks to the Academic Bridge Program. I think it’s very important for people to find a solid social community when they get to college. It makes the experience so much more enjoyable. I feel accepted and supported within my group of friends.
Samuel Villalobos
At UT Dallas:
Sophomore in Supply Chain Management
What’s the best thing about being at UT Dallas?
One of the best things about UT Dallas and Jindal School is how diverse the student body and faculty are. Everyone is so different, but in the end, it only brings us closer, allows us a richer college experience, and is a great steppingstone into the real world.
What’s most surprising about college?
From the moment I stepped foot on campus up until today, the most surprising thing about being in college is the level of freedom we have. There is guidance but we, as students, decide if this newfound freedom will make us or break us!
What is a class that you enjoy?
One of my favorite courses this semester is my International Business class. I find the various connections and entities involved in every single aspect of business very intriguing. My professor also goes the extra mile to ensure every student is successful.
Julio Tovar
At UT Dallas:
Sophomore in Accounting
If you work off campus, are there things you’ve learned at UTD that you apply at work?
I am part of the environmental services at UT Southwestern. Thanks to some of my Jindal School classes, I have been able to understand how management works on a much larger scale and see how inventory is managed.
What’s the best thing about UT Dallas and Jindal School so far?
I think the best thing has been learning and being able to understand how systems work. When I was kid, I would always wonder how and where businesses would get large amounts of food or supplies and how they would keep track of it all when there were at least 100 items on every order. Understanding the infrastructure of companies has been the thing I have been intrigued with most. Jindal School classes have been answering those questions.
How have your personal goals changed since you’ve been at UT Dallas?
My idea/goal when I got here was that I would be here for four years and get my degree. But now I see that these four years are for me to better myself.
Jenna O’Brien
At UT Dallas:
Sophomore in Finance
What’s the best thing about being at UT Dallas?
The best thing about UTD is that the community is open and diverse. It’s amazing to meet so many people from different backgrounds who I can share ideas with and become friends with. Jindal School has a wide range of resources and are geared to help guide me to be successful. It’s great to have such a supportive system in place for when you need it.
What’s most surprising about college?
It’s surprising how much freedom I have. It’s up to me to go to class, study and turn in assignments. No one is telling me what to do, which was definitely a shocker. Since being here, I have developed more self-motivation and time-management skills.
What is a class that you enjoyed?
I really enjoy my Business Communications class. It’s so important to know how to communicate effectively with others, especially in business. Those around you gain insight into who you are through what you say and do, and this can greatly impact a person’s future.
Ariana Morales
At UT Dallas:
Sophomore in Accounting
What’s most surprising about college?
Being in college allowed me to grow as a person and develop different perspectives. Of course, with the newfound freedom of being independent, huge adjustments had to be made due to “mommy not being here.” I never knew adulting was this hard but being here gives me access to people who can help with the transition.
How have your personal goals changed since you’ve been at UTD?
Before UTD, I had the mentality of only going to school and work with little to no social time. But with how diverse this university is and how accepting everyone is of each other, I strive to enjoy myself and my time here. Life shouldn’t be just a narrow line. You need to have some bumps and curves in there to learn about life.
If you work off campus, are there things you’ve learned at UTD that you apply at work?
I am the AT&T certified adviser at Best Buy where I manage AT&T customers’ internet, cable, landlines and wireless devices. To manage what is a very stressful occupation, I need to be detailed, organized and disciplined – which I have learned at UT Dallas. Not only has my time at UTD helped me with my work, it has put me in line for a promotion.
Christopher Adkins
At UT Dallas:
Sophomore in Information Technology and Systems
What student groups or organizations are you involved in?
I enjoy being part of some great organizations. I am a board member for Helping Hands, a volunteer service organization that addresses domestic violence. I am also a Nova Ambassador for Jindal School. With Nova, I serve on panel discussions and lead visitor tours.
What’s the best thing about being at UT Dallas?
If you want to, there’s plenty of ways to make a big impact on campus, and I enjoy that a lot. I have the opportunity to participate in theater and I play club and intramural sports. UTD and Jindal School give students tools needed to succeed – from the Career Management Center to multiple ways to get academic support.
What is a class that was particularly hard that, in the end, you mastered?
My first Jindal School class was Business Law. Honestly, it was quite intimidating. But I really enjoyed the class, and the professor was the best I could have had going into my first year in college. I really appreciated his class and teaching style, and it made me want to work harder.
Melissa Zurita
At UT Dallas:
Freshman in Accounting
If you work off campus, are there things you’ve learned at UTD that you apply at work?
I work off-campus as a customer service representative at PLS Check Cashing. I was able to attain the job because I took only online classes last fall for my first semester of college. I have learned a lot from my previous classes, such as Speech and Business Communications. Some of the major things that I learned was how to professionally communicate with my customers as well as handling certain situations that could potentially rise in the business environment.
What’s most surprising about college?
The first year of my college has been very different from a typical freshman year because of COVID-19. Even so, I have experienced the overall impact of what college is supposed to teach you. I took all virtual classes from my home in the fall and worked full time which meant that I had to manage my time, keep track of my assignments, and be able to work both at home and at my job. At first it seemed too much for me to handle, as I had never had so many things to keep track of. But I soon was able to overcome that major challenge. I’ve been able to experience a bit of the adult life and I hope to continue to expand those experiences when I take on-campus classes next fall.
Samuel Tiburcio
At UT Dallas:
Freshman double majoring in Accounting and Information and Technology Systems
What’s the best thing about being at UT Dallas?
The best thing so far is the staff. I had schedule conflicts for Spring 2021, and I got responses from advisers right away to fix my issues. When I had a career crisis at the beginning of the fall semester, my adviser gave me insight as to what I needed to do and gave me advice on how I should tackle my problem.
What’s most surprising about college?
The most surprising thing about college so far is how flexible my time is. This could be a double-edged sword. It could help you be more efficient with how much work you’re going to finish for classes, or it could also let you procrastinate.
How have your personal goals changed since you’ve been at UTD?
My personal goals changed drastically since I’ve been here. I was originally just an accounting major but now I’m also pursuing an ITS degree. Taking college classes changed my outlook on life, especially what I want my career to be.
Olabanji Osifowokan
At UT Dallas:
Freshman in Information and Technology Systems
What’s the best thing about being at UT Dallas?
The best things about UTD and Jindal School are the opportunities and resources provided to the students to enable them to thrive academically, socially and professionally.
What’s most surprising about college?
I don’t have to wake up so early for my classes. And I have the ability to create a schedule that accommodates my personal needs and this has been so beneficial.
How have your personal goals changed since you’ve been at UTD?
Prior to enrolling at UT Dallas, my personal goals were tied to my high school career. I aimed at being the best high school student I could ever be, but now I am aiming toward building myself professionally while also being the best college student I could ever be.
Carolina Mendez
At UT Dallas:
Freshman in Accounting
What student groups are you involved in?
I take part in Undergraduate Success Scholars. USS is a UT Dallas student group that is for underrepresented minority undergraduates. We go to individual meetings and have group events for workshops and networking. We create our own personalized success plan and as a group, do on-campus and off-campus service projects.
If you work off campus, are there things you’ve learned at UTD that you apply at work?
I work at TJMaxx as a coordinator. In my classes at UT Dallas, I’ve learned customer service skills and improved my leadership skills.
What’s the best thing about being at UT Dallas?
I think that the UT Dallas campus is very beautiful. I love seeing the modern buildings when I go to class.
Dayton Greene
At UT Dallas:
Freshman in Finance
What’s most surprising about college?
At the start of college, I assumed that my professors would be rigid and tough to deal with, but they have all been very helpful and have made some of my more difficult courses much more manageable.
What is a class that was particularly hard that, in the end, you mastered?
I like learning about history but the history course I took required a heavy amount of reading and a paper based on a book that was repetitive and ponderous. However, I put in the work, studied and ended up with an A+ on the paper and an A- in the class overall. I did enjoy learning about the different topics presented, but it did take up the bulk of my study time.
How have your personal goals changed since you’ve been at UT Dallas?
My personal goals really haven’t changed much. I simply want to do the best that I can in all of my classes.
