Making the Most of First Semester: Upper-Division
Elliot Tran '26 BSBA (Marketing) shared his thoughts on First Semester Upper-Division Eller.
When I first caught wind of what the first semester of Eller was like, all I heard was how difficult it was—how your group members make or break your semester, how you will spend countless hours working on presentations, and how it was close to impossible to get all A’s. While these challenges were real, I didn’t anticipate just how rewarding the journey would be:
Overcoming Obstacles: With the support of the Pit Crew (team name), we got through the countless presentations and reports that felt never-ending at times. This team became the cornerstone of my success and pushed through the hours of stress to show up for one another. While we did not win the end-of-semester case competition, I can say with confidence that we won over everyone’s hearts.
Elliot working at a Roadrunners game
Image Credit: Kate Dilidox
Building Community: Through my role as Director of Marketing and Social Media in the Asian Corporate and Entrepreneur Leaders (ACEL) Club, I was able to build many connections and contribute to something meaningful. This semester, we hosted several professional development meetings, traveled to Phoenix for a tour of Ernst and Young, and participated in several volunteer opportunities.
Time Management: I have finally set up a Google Calendar.
Academic Success: Balancing classes, clubs, work, and life’s numerous obstacles, I’m proud to have finished the semester with a 4.0 GPA.
Professional Growth: In the middle of the semester, I accepted a job as Social Media Intern with the Tucson Roadrunners (Arizona’s minor league hockey team). This was completely unexpected, but has been so exciting being in the sports world and working in social media.
New Opportunities: Through my involvement in RSIM, I was able to travel to Los Angeles, where we toured Disney Studios and Live Nation, and participate in Arizona’s largest volunteer event at EMADD. Starting this Spring, I will be stepping into the role of VP of Marketing for RSIM, and I can’t wait to contribute more to the program!
This semester was undoubtedly the most challenging, yet rewarding, part of my academic journey. It was a much-needed reminder that “it’s what you make of it”. I am incredibly grateful to have been surrounded by so many amazing individuals and to have been involved in many great experiences. Looking forward to the next semester and the new year!
Credit to Elliot Tran on LinkedIn