Welcome to Brazos Matters.

I'm Macey Litterst.

For my final time on Brazos Matters.

Before I graduate, I wanted to bring in some of the other graduating KAMU seniors to chat about highs, lows, surprises and memories during the years at Texas A&M.

Our two KAMU.

Senior student workers.

Joining me today are Jade Torres and Grace Barr.

Welcome.

Hey.

I just want to start with a little background.

Jade, where are you from?

So I'm from Deer Park, which, if you don't know where that is, I always say we're about an hour out from Galveston on the southeast side of Houston.

So we're kind of in between Pasadena and La Porte.

And that's also where I went to high school.

So.

And, Grace, where are you from?

I'm from Lindale, Texas.

That's like up near Tyler and Dallas.

Cool.

So three hours away.

And how and when did y'all both get into A&M?

Grace?

Well, my mom and my sister were both in A&M, and so I, like, just applied here.

And I was like, I don't know, it seems cool family legacy kind of thing.

And I got in my senior year of high school and I was like, let's go.

Awesome.

Yeah, my I was similar.

My, mom was an Aggie, actually.

My mom took me out of the hospital in an Aggie onesie when she had me.

And so I feel like.

Right.

And so I feel like that was just, like, always fit.

But on top of that, my, aunt was an Aggie and my uncle was an Aggie.

And then my cousin was an Aggie.

He graduated in 2022 with his bachelor's and then with his master's later on.

And so I was like, oh, well, my I was like, I'm going to go because my cousin's going, but also I it was only school I applied to.

I've always wanted to go here.

Yeah.

Same with me.

I'm a fifth generation, so.

Wow.

Oh my parents go here.

My uncle's like literally everyone and my whole family lives here.

So it was an easy end for sure.

Not an easy end to apply, but an easy and on decisions to make for sure.

Jade, what is your major and did it change at all?

Oh my gosh, I just talked about this, right?

So, I'm a communications major.

I'm a Bachelor of Sciences, and then I'll also be graduating with a certificate in social media studies.

But it wasn't always that way.

In high school, I was a big computer science girly.

I love Stem, and then I did a bunch of other extracurriculars.

So I actually came in to A&M as an engineering major, and I did it for about a year, and I got okay grades.

I got like CS and BS and, coming from being like an elite student high school, you're like, well, this isn't normal kind of thing.

And so I went home and, in high school as well.

I also took like, audio and visual like production classes.

And I did broadcast journalism for so long, but no one really told me that it could be a job like this.

Could be something to do.

I always kind of looked at it as a hobby.

Yeah.

So that summer after my freshman year, I, like, talked it over with my mom, and I was like, well, either I redo my entire freshman year and redo all my classes to ETAM or I just, like, make the switch.

And so, I made the switch and I jumped in general studies, the taps people were super nice and helpful.

And then, I went and I am in comm and I've been in comm ever since.

And honestly, it's the best decision I've ever made in my life.

Are you happy with the decision that you made?

The switch?

Yes, it it just opened my eyes to something that's totally new, like.

And an avenue that I didn't even think that I would be doing as, like, a real job.

Like I said, like, I always thought about editing videos and like, doing all the new stuff was like a hobby to me.

And I always found it, like super fun.

But in high school, I was like, I don't really know if I'm going to like, make money at this.

I don't really know if it's like worth doing.

But then when I started to work here, I definitely felt like it was like, yes, like, this is my avenue.

Like, this is what love.

Yeah.

And Grace, what about you?

Yeah.

I am actually currently a telecom major.

Bachelor of Arts and with a minor in film.

But I started out as a journalism major.

Accidentally.

I, like, applied to be in the Viz program and, like, tried for a couple of years to get into that, but they kept, like, changing the requirements and like, yeah, it's very math heavy.

And I just really struggled with that.

Like I almost failed the physics class.

And that was the point where I was like, okay, I need to like switch up here and like figure something else out.

But I think it was really good.

I actually met this guy named Alazar.

He used to be, he used to work here at K and.

Yeah, KAMU.

Yeah.

And he was like, also a telecom major, but he was doing things that I like, felt passionate about.

And I was like, oh, I don't have to be in business to do like, you know, video production things and like art stuff, like I can totally like, you know, I don't know for sure.

Yeah.

And when y'all both applied to A&M, was it like straight acceptance or did you all have to go through different pathways?

Personally I did the gateway program, which is like going taking two classes the month before the actual start of A&M classes to like confirm your admission.

Did y'all have any experience or was it just straight into A&M for you?

So I was auto admit from high school.

So it's it's a lot of like, I came in to college with about 22 hours or so of dual credit and AP credit.

So I came that's how I'm able to graduate a semester early.

So I was auto admit from high school with like, my GPA and stuff.

So, Grace, what about you?

Same here, same here.

Okay.

Everyone has different experiences for admissions.

And so I was just wondering, what are both of y'all's roles here at KAMU and what are some examples of some work that you've done?

Grace.

I am a production assistant.

And so, like, they just have me doing anything and everything that they like me done.

It's kind of fun because, like, every day I come in, I'm not sure, like, what they're going to ask me to do.

Like, I could be, like, cleaning out a storage closet or, like, going out and shooting, like, B-roll for something.

It's just a lot of different stuff.

Yeah, I'm the same.

I'm also a production assistant.

I work with Grace all the time.

And like she said, like you could come in.

And that was something I told, a lot of freshmen when they first.

Like, whenever I talked about my job to them, like in high school, I was like, yeah, I was like, sometimes you can come in and, like, you're editing, like a really big project for one of the shows or like you're doing setting up for a production or like you're going to the storage unit at like 9:00 in the morning searching for a tape.

I remember one time they made a search for a tape of like, a commencement or like a, like a football game from like 1987.

I heard about that one.

Yeah.

So I remember that, like, we had to go on like a wild goose chase for 12th Man Productions to find a tape there, like all those boxes.

Was it that you had to go with 12th Man Productions or.

Well, like they were asking for the tape.

Yeah.

And so they because I guess for like a hype video or something and they needed to work there and we had like four months of straight just checking tapes, like they would shift us for like sorting through tapes.

And it was crazy.

But yeah, I understand the pain.

It was really brutal.

But anyways, what are y'all's involvements on or off campus or any, any orgs or clubs or anything like that?

So I'm involved with, cephid variable is one of them.

And we're like the nerd club on campus, actually, when, on heart of Art, we interviewed Martha Wells, who's also was in it when she was here.

But we're like one of the oldest clubs on campus.

We do a bunch of I'm a Dungeons and Dragons and cosplay and anime nerd.

So that's where my love comes from.

When I'm not doing production.

But I do that, and I'm involved in that.

I was involved with Photography Club for just a little bit, and then, with Cosplay Club and other fun clubs, it's awesome.

But then off campus, like, in addition to all of that, I run my own little, like, photography business on the side.

So I have a little like my it's like my freelance, like, type of work, like I do.

But a lot of it is photography.

So I picked up photography, kind of like when I started college, and then I've stuck with it kind of ever since.

And it's been super awesome to do that.

When did you start your freelance?

Maybe, like 3 or 4 years ago.

Oh, wow.

So for a while, yeah, for a while, and it was a big transition for me because I had filmed video, I've filmed video for like maybe seven ish years at this point.

So it's been for a while.

But like photography, I've only done for four.

So in photography and videography are like so different.

I think they are, but they are so yeah, having to learn like all of the different stuff you have to do for photography was super fun.

And that's why I went into and did photography club for a little bit and helped me learn my camera.

So like, that's really cool.

What about you?

Yeah, I actually was not in that many orgs in my time here.

College station I was in the radio org for a little while for, for a few semesters.

KANM.

I keep getting that mixed up with all of you because it's like, so I keep, like, trying to be always with everyone.

But I was in that one, and I was in, like, an artist.

Org for a second, like my freshman year.

But honestly, like, I found the most community and friends, like, at places that I've worked more than, like, yeah, actual orgs on campus.

I know I was in a sorority for two years and just wasn't a good fit, so I joined a Christian org, last year.

It's been the best change I've made because just two black and white, literally two different things.

So just finding your people, finding your community, it's can be very hard.

I feel like.

Yeah, and it's it's a it's tough.

You don't always have to stick with like the first thing you join because odds are it's probably not the best fit.

It doesn't have to be.

But yeah.

What has been your most difficult adjustment since you've been here?

I could such as academics being on your own, finding your people.

Grace, I was thinking about this a lot.

Actually, I think the most difficult thing has been technology transition.

Because, like, whenever I first started, like, we were fresh out of the pandemic and like, education had done a total overhaul to, like being totally online and so like having to learn that.

And then just a couple years ago, I became like a big thing.

Yeah.

And so like, not only am I going into a new class like learning a new subject, I'm also learning, like, what kind of technology is this professor going to use?

Like how much are they really into, like using AI or like different software like Jasper pack back or something versus like having a professor that's like, oh man, I hate technology and I don't want to see laptops in here.

And our entire class is going to be run out of Google Drive.

And so it's like there's such a crazy, like whiplash, like I have no idea where things are going to go.

And it's like kind of difficult sometimes to keep up with that for sure.

I feel like the past couple of years, especially like these past two years, I've had to really like dig in on the syllabus to make sure, like they're if they're okay with the usage of AI for like helping with writing stuff or they're like, absolutely not.

You will get like, I mean, there's like no, like standard across the board.

So it's like it's so it just depends on the person.

But it's been really scary like the past couple of years trying to navigate that stuff because I don't know much about that.

So I'm like, and you have like some professors that are like, I want you to use it.

And some professors that are like, if I even see that, I will tell you it's crazy.

It's scary though.

I think we're almost done now.

We can.

What about you?

What has been your most difficult adjustment?

I feel like for me, at the beginning of, I believe at the beginning of college, coming from, like, doing so much in high school, like in I was, I mean, I was student body president.

I was in like 5 billion different clubs and then like, whenever that all kind of stops for me.

Like my freshman year, I was just like, oh my God, like, what do I do with myself?

So like that part learning like how to like find time to like relax in the points that you're not busy was super hard.

And I'm still like struggling with that too.

And so I guess that would be really hard, like going from being super duper busy to being like, just like, oh, I can sit at home and like, read or like do something else.

So that that transition was hard.

But like, I feel like I've gotten better at doing that.

Like as I've been older and like, that's why I always tell freshmen is like to join a club because or join an organization in college because those people are going to be the people that you're going to look to for whenever, like you hit that first final or you hit that first midterm and it's like really hard and you just feel like the world is like all crashing down.

Like at least you have people you can, like, go to relate to.

Yeah, you can be like, it's okay.

Like everything's going to be fine.

And it was because I'm graduating.

Like, yeah, for me it was definitely like finding my people.

I feel like like I was in a sorority for two years that wasn't a fit.

And I kept asking myself, like, what am what's wrong with me to where I feel like I don't fit in with those girls?

Like it's okay to not fit in.

And I feel like it was so hard for me to realize that because I was trying so hard to, like, fit in with people and like, mold myself into this certain crowd.

And over the years, especially in college, like I've realized I don't have to fit in everywhere.

And it's okay to not fit in with people and just keep exploring.

Like if you don't fit in with someone, go find someone else.

Like, it's it's hard to find your people in college because everyone's so busy with their own lives and like, it's so hard to hang out with people and make plans like that, like genuine plans.

But yeah, I found my people and it took me a while.

But yeah, that's so real.

I feel like for every like group of people that I didn't quite click with, like, I don't know, I would find like one person that I really like, understood and understood me.

And it's so important to like just move on when you like, you like you don't fit because like, I don't know, that's a necessary process.

Like it takes a while to find your people, but you definitely case it's hard at first home if you're just tuning in.

I'm Macey Litterst.

And our guests today are Texas A&M seniors, Jade Torres and Grace Barr, who are also student workers at KAMU And we're talking about our time at A&M over the years.

Okay, best moments versus hardest moments.

Go Jade.

Gosh.

Whoo!

Best moments.

Definitely.

Gosh, any time I worked here, I feel like came you is just been full of, like, all of the some of the best moments I've had in, college, just being able to have all the opportunity that I've had here and do all of, like, the live productions and having all of those opportunities like that, that was those are definitely some like my best memories from college is like just being on the production team and like having all those stories and stuff.

It's been really nice.

Worst moment any time that I wasn't engineering during finals, oh my gosh.

Or even like, oh gosh, I remember and this wasn't even I wasn't even in engineering at this point.

I was in a stats class here, which was awful.

And so I walked out of the final, I took the final and we reviewed for like several nights, like on and on, on.

And then I went to take the final and it looked nothing like the review.

And so then I walked out and I remember walking out of the ILCB it was like passing the clock tower to go back to my dorm, and I called my mom and I was like, mom, I think I failed that test and I like start crying.

And I remember and she was like, well, she's like, you have Q drops.

I'm like, yeah, but that means I gotta take it over.

I was so, so good.

Those were like the, like, worst moments of my life.

When you, like, walk out of the test and you're just, like, failed it two.

And you're just like, it's so humbling.

Is that the first test you ever failed in college?

In college?

No, I failed multiple okay me too girl like Q dropped.

I've done all that.

And look at us graduating in this company.

And I was like, I engineering 1 or 2 was like.

It was so funny.

I knew how to code going into high school or going into college.

So I was like, okay, like this going to be fine.

Like, I know what I'm going to do.

Yeah.

And then like, I took the test, the second test.

And then like I saw I got a 40 on it and I like I was almost about like broke.

Yeah.

I was like, oh okay.

Yeah it's humbling for sure.

But that's how you grow I guess.

What about you guys?

Wait, did you have a best moment or was that just, you know, like, that's what you did here.

Yeah.

Working here.

Oh, right.

Yes.

Right.

Okay, okay.

I'm just making sure, I think my sorry, you're thinking.

Oh, my, my, my best moments have been like, just realizing that, like, change is really a part of, like, growing up and, like, being, like, not only being in college, but also like, growing up.

Like, change is not, like, necessarily a scary thing.

So, like anytime that I was like, feeling really down about, like feeling lonely or feeling directionless or something like I just wake up the next day and I'm like, I just keep going, you know?

I don't know if that's like, I know there's so, like, abstract.

I really I don't know, it's like, I don't know, like to be able to look back and like, look at my hardest moments in college and be like all of that, like meant something.

And it wasn't the end of the world.

Whenever I like, couldn't find somebody to like, sit with or like, you know, yeah, I feel like people don't talk about it enough.

But college can feel so lonely sometimes.

It's like it hurts.

Like it really hurts.

And you're like, what am I doing wrong?

Why do I see people like going out with friends all the time and going on trips like.

And I'm sitting at home by myself, like, what am I like?

What is wrong with me?

I feel so lonely.

But then there's like moments that make up for it.

I feel like it's it's it's normal, you know, like you have so much time and it's hard to to to realize that when you're in it.

But like and it's hard because like people tell you that and like you want to just roll your eyes and be like, whatever.

But like, it's so true and you don't know it till you know it like, and like something had to go through.

I didn't feel like to like you in those moments of loneliness, you kind of have to sometimes accept the fact, like it's okay to be alone, like it's okay.

Like it is okay to go to the restaurant by yourself like it is okay.

So it is, it is okay to like, go get boba by yourself.

Like, it's like kind of fun.

Yes it is.

It's like.

It's so relaxing.

Yeah, I definitely learned that over the years because at first I was like, ooh, this is really awkward and uncomfortable.

But yeah, it's okay to be alone.

Was that your worst moment or best with me?

Honestly, kind of both.

Yeah.

Like okay.

Yeah, I think I don't.

Yeah.

Okay.

Question we talked about before we got on.

Does it stress you out when people ask about your college plans after you graduate?

Honestly, I kind of like it because, like, I can just riff and, like, most of the time, I'm not going to see that person again.

So I can just say whatever I want to.

And like, honestly, I come up with my best ideas when I'm riffing.

Not so small.

I should do that.

Yes.

Like one time I was like, oh, I'm just going to be a TV writer.

And then I was like, wait, wait, that's good.

Yeah, like I'm gonna be a pilot.

Actually.

I start like in January.

Yeah, exactly.

I'm going to fly your plane.

That's so funny.

What about you?

I get all the questions.

And I'm just, like, sometimes I'm like, I don't, I don't know, like, I'm 21, like, my life is not like.

And it's like, you know, after you've been doing school, I feel like for so long you're like, man, like, what do I do?

Like, you're like, there's no more essays, there's no more test.

There's no like, school is like such a big part of your life.

Huge.

Time consuming.

Yeah.

And so then you're like, like, what do I do now that I don't have all this free, like all this free time?

What do I do?

Yeah.

How has being at A&M changed you as a person?

Oh, that's a big question.

I know, I know, we're going deep, but I feel like being away just from home and like being away like in being able to.

Being away from home, being in college, I feel like it's helped me like, matured.

It's helped me grown up, grow up a lot.

I did have the option to stay home.

I did have the option to, like, go to community college and stay in my hometown and whatnot and be there with my parents.

But like, I felt like and they felt like too, like it was time for me to, like, go and, like, branch out.

And then I feel like being at A&M has, like, truly helped me like, figure out, like who I am as a person.

Like coming from being like a teenager, like into an adult, like.

Sure, finding identity and like finding like what I like, truly like what I like and what I enjoy because, like, I'm doing stuff for me, not for other people.

So I feel like that there's been like a super, like cool thing in A&M and A&M just really has been really awesome.

Just like I think it's just so special to have like a place with all of the traditions that we do and all of the, like special things.

I've always said, like Aggie Muster is something that I appreciate because it's just like a nice memory of like the fact that, oh, I went here like, even after I'm gone, like, people are going to know, we're going to remember you.

Yeah.

It's such a sense of community.

It's great.

What about you guys?

That was really heavy headed to go for that.

Okay.

I think, like.

Wait, can you remind me of the question one more time?

I'm sorry.

I had it in my mind.

Of course.

How has being at A&M changed you as a person?

Oh, yeah.

I think like, being here has really shown me that, like, I know I keep saying this, but, like, change is a part of being a human being, and, like, you feel that so much in college because you're, like, changing where you live and like, honestly, like you jump from place to place a lot and you jump from friend group to friend group, but like, I don't know, you like, still have like College Station as your backdrop and like, I don't know, I think it's really sorry I kind of lost my train of.

But it's okay, girls, in my mind.

Sorry.

Okay.

I don't know, just, like change is a part being a person.

Yeah.

And, like, it's okay to change, I guess.

And, like, just, Yeah, yeah, yeah, I don't know.

I don't.

That was a great answer.

It's great.

If you could give advice to a freshman, what would you tell them?

Grace.

Man I would say like, just take it easy.

Like, stop being so hard on yourself.

And like, I know it's so scary, but just, like, take a moment, sit down and, like, just chill out.

Because, like, one thing my advisor told me my freshman year that, like, really changed my perspective on everything.

She was like, no matter what happens, you are going to walk that stage.

Yeah.

And like, you're going to get that diploma.

And like, I felt so like everything is ending.

It's the end of the world.

If I have to drop a class and it's like, no, I just you just keep going, you know, you either change your major or you try it again and you just like, get up and go.

And I think, like, just, you know, go for it.

You got it.

You'll be fine.

It might hurt sometimes.

Where you got it.

Yeah.

Jade, what about you?

Well, my one thing was like, again, like joining an org obviously had said that at the beginning.

That's how you find your people, tell you find your friends.

You're not gonna find your friends in your dorm room.

So go out and explore the world.

But also like going off of what Grace said, like you're going to get that degree.

I guess it's there.

It's in your mind.

Like, if you keep, like telling yourself, I'm going to get it, I'm going to get it.

Like, that's that's the motivation that you need to have and that's the mindset you need to go in.

And I also think that college is about exploration.

You go through high school like even as like a kid, as someone who came from a kid who would sit with like their top ten, like in their class, like literally like number ten.

Yeah.

You can feel like the pressure, like so much about, like how you have to get good grades and whatever, and like that's important.

Getting a grades is important.

Get doing well in your studies is important.

But also you are also important.

College is not about getting straight A's and being perfect 100% of the time, like it is in high school.

It college is about exploring like what you want to do in your future.

And so if you come in as engineering like me and you figure out like, this is not something you want to do with your future, you totally have the right to change it.

Like you have time.

Yeah, you have time.

So much time.

And it goes by so fast.

So which is which is so crazy.

Yeah, my advice would be you will find your voice.

I feel like as a freshman, you're so timid and so scared to, like, speak up about things you want.

Take opportunities that you're given, but like being able to take those opportunities and learn with them and maybe make mistakes.

That's totally fine.

Like you will find your voice.

I feel like if I did this podcast, this show, when I was a freshman, I would be shaking in my boots.

But I feel like I've really found my voice and I feel like that comes with growth.

And in age.

Honestly, it does.

But that would be my voice.

It my advice?

What is a piece of advice you've heard that has stuck with you?

Jade?

Me?

Yeah.

Oh, well, my mom and my dad are like my biggest cheerleaders, which they'll probably listen to this episode, and they are my biggest cheerleaders.

And, I think like knowing that they always have my back and they've always said, like, it's always they've always had my back and everything.

And, I feel like that my dad has always said and my mom has always said, like college is not a straight line, like it's a very bumpy line.

Like if there's very few people that go through college and it's like perfect, and they are super straight and they like they enter into a major and they get 4 or 5 shows and then they graduate and whatever, like, but for most people, yeah, it's this like very curvy line with ups and downs, up and downs and like you have to navigate that like as a person.

But college teaches you how to navigate that.

So I feel like knowing like just knowing that like college is a bumpy road, I guess is like something you have to keep in mind, like as you're going through it, I hope you my piece of advice, it's a great that's great advice.

I love that grace.

What about you?

I know I already said it, but it's just like really stuck with me is like what my advisor told me.

Like, you know, even though you're scared right now, you're going to get the degree and like, I think that's really important thing to keep in your mind because it's so easy to be stuck in, like whatever semester in whatever class and like, whatever assignment you're so stressed about.

But it's like in the big picture, like you're going to be okay, you're going to turn it in or not.

And like, you're going to wake up the next day and like, keep moving forward, I guess.

Absolutely.

Mine would be to not really care about what others think about you in their judgment.

I feel like people are scared to do things because they're afraid of like other people's judgment, and it hold you back a lot.

And so being able to do things because you want to do them because it will grow you as a person is so important to me.

And I feel like that's great advice for any freshman that is scared to to go do something, to go do some weird activity.

I mean, because the traditions here are a little weird sometimes, and when you're first getting into it, you're like, what is this?

Like?

This is weird.

Like midnight yell Like, but like being able.

I know it's it's a it's a rough topic, but, being able to go to those things and not be embarrassed of doing something that you want to do is probably the most important thing you can do as you grow here.

But yeah.

Well, Jade, Grace, thank you so much for joining me.

I appreciate your time.

Brazos Matters is a production of Aggieland's Public Radio 90.9 Kamu FM, a member of Texas A&M University's Division of Community Engagement.

Our show was engineered and edited by Matt Dittman.

All Brazos Matters episodes are available on YouTube and on podcast platforms like Spotify, Apple, iHeart, and Amazon.

Also on the NPR app and the KAMU website.

We love for you to rate and review and subscribe so you never miss an episode.

It was a pleasure being on the show and sharing it with Jay Socol.

I'm Macey Litterst, Thank you for watching and listening.