Close

Freshmen start on right foot with tips from experienced Phoenixes

August 14, 2019

The first day of the fall semester is just around the corner. The start of a new academic year can be a time of uncertainty for new students. That is why those who have been around Florida Polytechnic University for a few years provide some help to ease the transition.

Florida Poly juniors, seniors, and alumni offer their best advice for the class of 2023.

Florida Poly female student“Attend all your classes and pay attention to what your professor has to say. If you do not understand something, ask the professor because they are there to help and you are there to learn. Make sure your professor knows who you are; they are more likely to assist you later in the semester and they will see the effort you make as well. And make sure to try something outside your comfort zone, whether it be the Force Institute, the Latin American Student Association’s dances or laser tag with your friends. College is all about challenging yourself.” – Sinead Fernandes ’19, computer engineering graduate and graduate student pursuing a master’s in engineering

Florida Poly female student.“Something I wish I knew then that I know now is you don’t get what you deserve at this school; you get what you ask for. You really have to go and look for the opportunities and knock on professors’ doors and you’d be surprised what you get in return.” – Isabel Zimmerman ’21, data science major with a concentration in quantitative economics

 

Florida Poly female alumni“Ask a lot of questions and find a professor and people you feel like you could click with. They are the ones that are going to help you out throughout your college career and even after college.” – Veronica Perez Herrera ’18, mechanical engineering graduate

 

 

Florida Poly alumni“It’s going to be hard, but in the end, it will be worth it and you will have all the knowledge you’re going to need. Make sure you make plenty of friends – they’ll help you as much as you help them – and make sure you study.” – Nick Strosnider ’18, computer science graduate with a concentration in cyber security

 

Florida Poly alumni“Don’t stress it. There’s going to be times when you have a lot on your plate, a lot of projects and a lot of workload, but it’s honestly not as big of a deal. Do the best you can. I always found that just spending a few hours a night playing with friends online, going to game nights at the University, being in a club even – any type of break you can give yourself you can come back with a fresher mind and be ready to go.” – Nicolo Aimino ’19, computer science graduate with focus on cyber security

Florida Poly SGA President“Be open. Explore things you’re unfamiliar with because that’s what college is for: to explore what you don’t know and get a wider view with that perspective.” – Ryan Perez ’20, Student Government Association president and mechanical engineering major

Contact:
Lydia Guzman
Director of Communications
863-874-8557

Session Details

This session will demonstrate that practical risk management is for everyone, regardless of a formal program. Attendees will learn actionable and simple strategies that are easy to implement, enabling them to start immediately by focusing on their top risks to build greater operational resilience and ensure the sustained success of their auxiliary enterprises.

Presenter Profile

Michelle Powell serves as the pioneering Risk Manager at Florida Polytechnic University, the state’s sole 100% STEM-dedicated institution. Having been with the university for nearly 11 years, Michelle transitioned from a leadership role in Admissions in October 2023 to establish and evolve the risk management function from the ground up. In this solo capacity, Michelle builds robust frameworks for our dynamic, young university, overseeing our insurance portfolio, consulting on third-party and event risks, and developing critical campus-wide training programs. Michelle has obtained the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations (COSO) Enterprise Risk Management certificate and the Associate in Risk Management (ARM) and Construction Risk and Insurance Specialist (CRIS) designations. Her distinct background in mathematics and engineering, combined with extensive higher education leadership, brings an analytical and strategic approach enhancing the institution’s resilience.