Junior marketing student shares her journey navigating the ups and downs of college life
You might say things are starting to fall into place for Alexandria Kruk and her college career.
The native of Tucson is in her junior year at Arizona State University, looking to take her passion for creativity and business to the next level by studying marketing in the W. P. Carey School of Business on the Tempe campus.
“A few years ago, I ran a small business through Instagram selling handmade string bracelets. Owning my business, I learned I loved the creative side of the job but not the back-end management piece, so I went into marketing to satisfy those preferences,” she said. “Now I am a marketing major and I’m loving it.”
Along with her studies, Alexandria has two part-time jobs on the ASU campus, working as a Gold Guide with the New Student Programs office and as a House Manager for Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts performances. The Herberger post is a recent promotion after she worked as an usher, an achievement she’s very proud of.
“Moving into the House Manager role, I feel like I have really grown up and become more professional. I manage a team of ushers and run the performance venue, giving me more responsibility and leadership experience. I can’t wait to see how I grow in this position this year.”
In her other job, Alexandria has found working with new students and families as a Gold Guide during ASU’s orientation and welcome events has some side benefits.
“Although super tiring, Welcome Week is truly the most fun and rewarding experience,” she said. “To say I get to help with all the amazing events at ASU is super cool. Speaking to so many new students and families, impacting their college experience brings me so much joy. It’s especially cool when you see someone afterward and they recognize you.”
And as she works to balance her classes, the two campus jobs and all the other challenges that college presents, Alexandria relies on what she describes as “an amazing family” at home in Tucson for support.
“I am so blessed to have the parents and younger brother I do because they are the most loving and supportive people in the world,” she said. “Their love and support inspire me to keep going and be the kind and positive person I am today.”
Alexandria said her grandmother, who is from London but lives in the U.S., introduced the family to the beauty of traveling. Because of that, she has been fortunate to visit several cool places, including her two favorites: Australia, where she has relatives, and in the mountains and fresh air of Colorado, the family’s frequent summer vacation destination and her “happy place.”
While the marketing major has settled into a good rhythm in her junior year, she remembers that her first year at ASU wasn’t as smooth. During a bumpy transition, Alexandria found that having a job on campus was helpful.
“As a freshman in college, I struggled more than I have ever before. It was hard for me to adjust to being on my own for the first time, especially since I didn’t have any friends going to ASU with me,” she said. “Becoming a Gold Guide was a gift because I was able to meet so many cool
and diverse students, helping me make connections and find my place at ASU. Once I found my footing, New Student Programs helped me really feel connected and involved on campus.”
Alexandria said that while the first-year transition was rough, it taught her about herself. She discovered she has anxiety and decided to turn to university resources for help.
“Learning I have anxiety gave me the direction to finally be able to help myself get back to the positive and chipper me I had lost. I started going to counseling through ASU for the first time and learned so much about my body. Being able to talk to someone who could tell me my brain was lying to me in an unbiased way was so helpful.”
Through counseling, Alexandria learned some simple tricks to help manage her anxiety whenever she felt it ramping up, such as the “box breathing” technique of holding and releasing your breath, and regular walking and exercise. Over the years she has even created her own “My Anxiety” toolbox, a collection of information and tips on how to manage anxiety.
Another tool she found helpful was using a good planner to stay organized.
“Trying to balance going to class, homework, a job, maintaining your health and having a social life is a lot. Being able to plan out my days puts me at ease. I always make sure I have some ‘me time’ in the mix because I would go crazy if I didn’t. I love being busy and social, but I need some downtime every now and then to reset myself.”
For Alexandria, “me time” is often relaxing at her favorite hangout on the Tempe campus, her residence hall. She said she loves having friends over to her Vista Del Sol residence to swim or just to chill. She also enjoys attending ASU events designed for students.
“I love being able to be on campus and have access to such a wide range of events and activities.”
As a student who overcame some initial difficulties in her first year, Alexandria has advice for the families of new students. If they are struggling early on, don’t let them give up, she said.
“When I was at my lowest, I kept calling my parents and telling them that I felt like I couldn't do it. I thought things were always just magically better at home. Turns out I was homesick, but my parents didn’t give in and I persevered my way through the whole first semester. The first semester can be tough, but I am here to say that it gets better and better every semester.”