Making it to and through college is no small accomplishment—but how do you transition from the classroom to the workforce? Michelle, Jessica, and Ohtli are all UCI students looking to the future, and finding it full of uncertainty. So they set out on the road to speak with alumni who’ve faced unique hurdles, and can help them embrace the winding road ahead. After meeting with people in diverse fields like aerospace engineers, choreographers, CEOs, and more, the roadtrippers realize that it’s impossible to map out the future perfectly—but there’s no such thing as a wrong turn if you listen to yourself.

UCI Roadtrip

INSIGHTS FROM THE FILM

FUELED BY:

Unsure how to navigate life after college, three students seek out professionals who give them the direction—and confidence—to move forward

Everywhere you turn, people try to tell you who to be, and what to do. But what about deciding for yourself? Roadtrip Nation is a movement that empowers people to build lives around doing what they love. This year, Roadtrip Nation teamed up with UC Irvine to send three of their students on a road trip around California. They hit the road to talk to UCI Alumni. About how to get the most out of college. This is what they found. This is Roadtrip Nation. 

Three UCI students set out to meet alumni and get some perspective on post-grad paths.

UCI Roadtrip Trailer

[MUSIC] Everywhere you turn, people try to tell you who to be and what to do. But what about deciding for yourself? Roadtrip Nation is a movement that empowers people to build lives around doing what they love. This year, Roadtrip Nation teams up with UC Irvine to send three of their students on a road trip around California. They hit the road to talk to UCI alumni about how to get the most out of college. This is what they found, this is Roadtrip Nation. [MUSIC] &gt;&gt; What should I do with my hand? &gt;&gt; Wait, should I look at the, I'll look, yeah, okay. &gt;&gt; Sweet. &gt;&gt; Cool, let's do this. &gt;&gt; My name is Jessica Baca. I am currently 18 years old and I, wait wait wait. My name is Jessica &gt;&gt; Okay, so right now? Okay, so hi, I'm Michelle Cornelius. I am 19 years old, and I live in Placentia, California. &gt;&gt; My name is Ohtli Garcia Baron. I'm 18 years old, and I'm from Cambria, California. [MUSIC] &gt;&gt; We all go to UCI, and the mascot is Peter the Anteater. So bring these two down, and you go [NOISE] [LAUGH] [MUSIC] We're the same, we're all still students, kind of unsure about where we're going with our lives and if we're doing the right things. This is happening. So we're going on this big green RV, it's huge. &gt;&gt; We're gonna go on a road trip around California. &gt;&gt; Interviewing UCI alumni. &gt;&gt; We're gonna get to talk to them about their experiences. &gt;&gt; What they do, where they came from, how they got to be there. &gt;&gt; I just wanna talk to people who actually have been in those fields, and give me a little bit more direction. Cuz I feel a little bit of worry when it comes to my career field and my passions. [MUSIC] &gt;&gt; A lot of students struggle with knowing what to do, or like where to go next. And I'm definitely one of those people, because there is just so many things you can do with your life that you just don't really know where to start. [MUSIC] I want to do all these things and I stopped myself. There is just so much pressure like, what am I doing, I don't really know what I'm doing anymore. I want to enjoy coming to work because like that's where I'm gonna be coming everyday. [MUSIC] &gt;&gt; When we were applying for colleges, I just didn't really have a plan of action. I initially applied to UCI as a nursing major. I don't like nursing, [LAUGH] but my parents really did. [MUSIC] Now I'm playing Indian songs. Okay. So this is my dad, my dad, me, my mom, and my sister. The general uncertainty about my future makes me a little fearful. I want financial security, I want a feeling of stability, I'm trying to combine the importance of finance with the importance of being true to myself. And I'm trying to combine that into one cool awesome profession, I just have to find it. [LAUGH] [MUSIC] &gt;&gt; When it comes to college or a career, I have to make sure I finish. What's mostly on my mind is my own academic success. I think everybody feels some sort of pressure to do well. Let's do it. Pressure to succeed. You start taekwondo, you get your black belt. [MUSIC] But even after your black belt, there's more of a journey to keep going. One more? [MUSIC] So I don't know exactly what I want to do and I don't know where I'm gonna be in ten years, but you have to select a major when you apply for college. And I think it's so difficult to choose it at such an early age, and you feel like if you do one, you can't really do the others. &gt;&gt; I never heard much about other career fields. &gt;&gt; I can't picture myself as a working adult. &gt;&gt; So I think that's a bond that brings us together, as we move up into a professional world. &gt;&gt; We all have this feeling of uncertainty like, what if I change, what if this isn't my purpose? Interviewing UCI alumni, I can see a part of myself in them because this could be what I'm doing with my life. &gt;&gt; I don't know what it's gonna be like, I don't really know what to expect. I really want to be like a sponge and just absorb all the knowledge. &gt;&gt; I'm excited for driving. I'm excited for talking to new people. I'm just excited. This is one of those times of uncertainty that I actually enjoy. [MUSIC] 

The roadtrippers introduce themselves, sharing stories, hopes, and why they’re here.

Episode 1: Meet the Roadtrippers

Everywhere you turn, people try to tell you who to be and what to do, but what about deciding for yourself? Roadtrip Nation is a movement that empowers people to build lives around doing what they love. This year Roadtrip Nation teamed up with UC Irvine to send three of their students on a road trip around California. They hit the road to talk to UCI alumni about how to get the most out of college. This is what they found. This is Roadtrip Nation. [MUSIC] &gt;&gt; Gas in next one, try and go south. I'm a little bit nervous about what the future holds. I don't really have like a set plan yet, and that's kind of scary. I definitely am kind of anxious and overwhelmed. I don't really know if I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing. It's just like, is this right? Like, I don't even know. [MUSIC] I can't picture myself as a working adult. Jessica, [LAUGH] is feeling a little, a little weird. Interviewing UCI alumni, I feel like they probably didn't either. I just kind of wanna to see where their head space was at when they were my age. &gt;&gt; We're in downtown L.A. and we're gonna interview Sashee, the founder and the owner of Tea Drops tea company. &gt;&gt; What's unique about her company is that it was founded by a minority and founded by a women, which is something that you don't really see a lot of. It's a very small percentage of small business are owned by women. [MUSIC] &gt;&gt; So I grew up, not just with loose leaf tea and appreciating that, but also realizing that tea was this vehicle to community, and I always was drawn to that experience. I always try to make loose leaf tea at my desk and there's a lot of steps involved. It's just not conducive to a fast paced lifestyle that I was leading. It was always in the back of my head like, someone should do something about that, and I started realizing this actually could be a pretty big problem. In the US, coffee is worshiped, and is the go to beverage, but if you look at the world, second to water, tea's the most consumed beverage in the world, and why is it more popular in America? And it just dawned on me that, because it's not convenient to drink. That was my first point of inspiration to think about the idea for Tea Drops, and I started blending things together and incorporating spices, and soon enough, that's kind of the inspiration for the drop format of the tea being ground so fine, and compressed together with other spices, now we're available in over 1600 retail stores, and we also sell online, and on Amazon. &gt;&gt; Did you have moments where you thought this business wouldn't succeed? &gt;&gt; Even if this failed, I know I would've gained so much in trying. If people buy into that message of building community through tea, I don't really see it as something that can fail. &gt;&gt; So, how did you find out, this is what I want to study, this is what I want to do? &gt;&gt; After I started just catering more to my curiosity that's when I feel I got more clarity on what I wanted to do. &gt;&gt; There's so many different things that I want to try while at UCI. Things that I'm thinking about that I'm like like one foot in, one foot out. I'm just not too sure about it. I should really just go out and do what I wanna do. I feel like I should just go for it really and just see what comes of it, because you can totally change your path, you just have to keep going and see what happens. &gt;&gt; If you could tell one thing to your 19 year old self, what would of be? &gt;&gt; One thing I struggled a lot with, and I can relate to, is just this idea of self-confidence. I would tell my younger self that the only thing that matters at the end of the day is persistence, and trying, and even failing one day. If something doesn't work out, next day having a refreshed attitude about it and trying again. I always felt there was something outside of me I needed. It really is a fallacy to think that, I think you have everything you need to start whatever you want to. [MUSIC] &gt;&gt; It's tradition to sign the RV, so, here you go. &gt;&gt; Leave people and things better than how you found them. [MUSIC] &gt;&gt; I'm never buying tea from anywhere else ever. &gt;&gt; [LAUGH] &gt;&gt; It's okay if you do. &gt;&gt; That was really inspiring for me because I am a woman, and I am a minority as well, and I wasn't really sure if I would be able to have my own business, and I guess it also leads back to self-confidence, and having enough faith in yourself. To see her living that life that she wants, even with all of these obstacles, she still does it, and she has a really successful business. I thought I would go to college, and just be like this is my major, this is what I'm gonna do, but it doesn't seem like that's the case at all. &gt;&gt; Everyone's faking it. Even in the most confident person you see,- &gt;&gt; Mm-hm. &gt;&gt; There's probably something that they're insecure about or fighting through. &gt;&gt; She was so optimistic. She was like, I never really saw myself failing, because I'll be passionate about it, I'll work towards it, and if it doesn't happen I'll do it a different way. &gt;&gt; I didn't think I would get so much out of this to be honest, and I'm keeping an open mind, going with the flow, and just taking as much as I can from this. [MUSIC] 

Sashee Chandran, founder of Tea Drops, shares her path to success with the roadtrippers.

Episode 2: Dipping Into the Future

Everywhere you turn, people try to tell you who to be and what to do. But what about deciding for yourself? Roadtrip Nation is a movement that empowers people to build lives around doing what they love. This year, Roadtrip Nation teams up with UC Irvine to send three of their students on a road trip around California. They hit the road to talk to UCI alumni about how to get the most out of college. This is what they found, this is Roadtrip Nation. [MUSIC] &gt;&gt; It's been fun. It's been a great trip so far. &gt;&gt; [LAUGH] &gt;&gt; That's the first time I've ever done it! &gt;&gt; Right now I'm engineering major. The level of academic difficulty is different than high school. I have to put in a lot more hours studying, sometimes I doubt myself. I don't know if I'm good enough for this, and I think that's the biggest challenge I face right now. &gt;&gt; So we're on our way to Northrop Grumman in Redondo Beach. &gt;&gt; To interview Ricardo Laura. &gt;&gt; An engineer working on the James Webb Space Telescope. &gt;&gt; All the work that goes on at Northrop Grumman is incredible. They get to work on this amazing telescope that's gonna go into space, but they also get to work on military jets, satellites. It's the stuff that I dreamed about building as a kid. &gt;&gt; I majored in physics and materials science engineering. Well, I was just taking physics because I liked physics, and I figured that somebody's gonna hire a physics major. My brother's friend, his dad actually worked here at Northrop. I was like, hey, I'm wondering if you can just take my resume and give it to whoever you think is looking for an intern. And I didn't hear anything back for six months. I went on a trip with my sister to Europe. And while we were in Spain, I got a phone call. And I had an interview over the phone with the chief engineer on James Webb asking me if I'm interested and I mean hell yeah, I'm interested. &gt;&gt; So I'm curious to hear how your first day here at Northrop compares to how you feel coming into work now. &gt;&gt; I remember I was really nervous and I was like, I have no idea what I'm doing. But I will never forget the first day I walked into the high bay, it was amazing. [MUSIC] Having to put all these smocks or bunny suits on, I felt so cool. And seeing the hardware for the first time was mind-blowing. It changed my life completely because I was there and I was actually getting to work with the things that I wanted to work with. From an engineering perspective, it doesn't get better than James Webb. I mean, this is as complex as you're gonna get. [MUSIC] The primary mirrors, which are the gold mirrors that you see that everybody loves. Any kind of contamination on a surface can stop you from possibly getting light that you're looking for. We've put a lot of protocols in place to make sure that, first of all, we don't contaminate whatever we don't want to contaminate. And if we do contaminate it, we figure out a way to clean it without harming it. &gt;&gt; The tour was so amazing. We saw stuff that we weren't even allowed to film. &gt;&gt; We were lucky enough to see some of the actual telescope, and it really made me think, wow, I can actually do some really cool stuff. &gt;&gt; There's engineers from every single part of the engineering field like chemical engineers and material sciences, designer, mechanical, working 24 hours to complete this amazing project. [MUSIC] &gt;&gt; Physics is interesting and it's cool, but sometimes you struggle. &gt;&gt; Yeah, no, I remember those days. &gt;&gt; And I was wondering, was there ever a time when you felt like maybe I can't make it or maybe you're doubting yourself? &gt;&gt; I remember my junior year, when I was taking a really heavy quantum mechanics courses with physics and trying to balance that out with just starting my engineering degree. I was taking 20 to 25 units every quarter and just struggling to get everything right. &gt;&gt; Yeah. &gt;&gt; I struggled really, really bad within electrical engineering classes or any kind of electricity and magnetism &gt;&gt; Yeah. &gt;&gt; Courses. &gt;&gt; [LAUGH] &gt;&gt; They were like my arch nemesis. They were the worst. It takes a toll, especially on an engineer. But all kinds of majors, you're always gonna run into problems. You just have to find the good support network. Find somebody who's always gonna be cheering you on. You can't let the pressure of all the classes get to you. Because eventually you're gonna look back and you'll be like, I wish I enjoyed myself a little bit more while I was there. &gt;&gt; If you could say anything to your 19-year-old self, what would it be? &gt;&gt; Don't stress so much man [LAUGH]. &gt;&gt; [LAUGH] &gt;&gt; Don't stress so much. There was so much going on when I was 19. Don't stress yourself so much on what grades you're getting or how much homework you're getting done every night. I realized later on when I graduated that what you really take from college are the skills that you learn while trying to learn what you're supposed to learn in school. How to be compassionate with people, how to take pride in your work, how to be humble and not let success go to your head. You only have as much power as you have knowledge. &gt;&gt; Nice. &gt;&gt; Thank you. &gt;&gt; Thank you guys. &gt;&gt; Ricardo mentioned that when he took classes, they weren't always easy. And now he's doing engineering at a professional level. Being able to hear that, that was super helpful, because I was doubting myself. I think it brought back that confidence, and it kind of made my love for engineering even stronger. [MUSIC] 

Northrup Grumman engineer Ricardo Lara tells the roadtrippers how he got his dream job.

Episode 3: Engineering Success

[MUSIC] Everywhere you turn, people try to tell you who to be and what to do. But what about deciding for yourself? Roadtrip Nation is a movement that empowers people to build lives around doing what they love. This year, Roadtrip Nation teams up with UC Irvine to send three of their students on a road trip around California. They hit the road to talk to UCI alumni about how to get the most out of college. This is what they found. This is Roadtrip Nation. &gt;&gt; You're looking a little run down. &gt;&gt; I'm a little tired. It's really cool. It's an experience like no other. [MUSIC] In the Indian culture, parents usually choose exactly what you're gonna do for the rest of your life. They really want something that's like doctor, lawyer, engineer level and it happens wherever you go. It's with my family, it's with talking to a lot of people. We're all just like one big community. I don't wanna disappoint them because my view of success is different from their view. I'm worried that there'd be a slight bit of disappointment, which I don't want them to have. [MUSIC] &gt;&gt; We're about to interview Gabrielle Lee who was a dance major and now she works at NASA. &gt;&gt; I thought I was gonna be a professional dancer, then I transitioned into creative writing and probably one of the best decisions I ever made in my life. I started off with dance choreography and then somehow made it to contract management in government aerospace. These are Hubble, Spitzer and more telescopes. In my experience, the major that I picked has been totally irrelevant. It's been mostly about how I've handled the work that was given to me in that major, regardless of what it is. And what I decided to make from it, and how I decided to critically think about it. &gt;&gt; How did you get to this place where you have so much confidence and you're willing to be yourself no matter what others say? &gt;&gt; In college and in high school, I was just so insecure to the point where it was debilitating. In UCI classes, that I just felt like I was just like [SOUND], all of these people are more brilliant than me, I don't belong here, like mega imposter syndrome. That's a real thing, by the way, look it up, because then you'll realize you're not alone [LAUGH]. &gt;&gt; Talking about imposter syndrome, like you don't feel like you belong It made me connect with her more. Especially because some of her experiences, they were very similar to mine, and I was like I'm not alone. &gt;&gt; I think understanding that and realizing I didn't have to be perfect, and I didn't have to live up to these super perfect, clean expectations that I had set for myself and that my parents had set for me. And that I thought that people expected of me. I just sorta embracef that imperfectness. &gt;&gt; Okay, this is the beginning of that confidence. Just own it. You have to look good for the aliens. I'm going to say something really inspiring right now. Hold on. &gt;&gt; She wrote, don't try to be brilliant, just try. &gt;&gt; It's more of a conscious effort to not overthink. I just have to calm myself, not think about all the various consequences that could happen. Just do it. She just made me feel really happy. [MUSIC] &gt;&gt; We're on our way to interview Ben Dragon, who is a music producer. [MUSIC] I always knew I loved music from a young age but I never thought it was like a thing that I could pursue seriously. It's like this stuff sounds like really different too when you're in a huge club. &gt;&gt; Yeah. &gt;&gt; And like there's lots of bass. It's a whole different experience. So I kind of just followed my heart and my vision just kept getting more clear the harder I worked at it. And that was like a self discovery that I'm still discovering now. The more that I learned who I was the more I knew like what I wanted to do. &gt;&gt; You had some pressure from your parents so if you'll speak more to that? Like how your relationship with your parents like maybe affected your life. &gt;&gt; So my parents were first generation. So my dad came from a really poor providence in the Philippines called Tarlac. It's funny cuz he was like you can do whatever you want as long as it makes you happy [LAUGH]. And I was like, okay can I do music? He's like no. &gt;&gt; [LAUGH] &gt;&gt; Like okay he wanted me to do something stable like being a doctor, or an engineer, or a lawyer. Me wanting to pursue music was always out of the question. [MUSIC] &gt;&gt; It was like a very similar situation to what I had, in like Asian culture, in Indian culture the three jobs that they want you to have are, doctor, lawyer, and engineer. And he said that like straight up &gt;&gt; It's been a long journey for them to accept what I wanna do but I think that the end of the day you can never just give up on what you wanna do because you have one life to live and one chance to do what you wanna do. So you have to do it no matter what anyone else says. You're the only one who has to live with your life and live with the consequences of the choices you make. &gt;&gt; You have to take action, and I think that was really important. And I think I didn't realize how important it was until he talked about it. [MUSIC] &gt;&gt; Life is like an onion, keep peeling away the layers and find your core purpose, and action. [MUSIC] &gt;&gt; I feel like I can do a lot more than I thought I could. In talking to all these people that were like yeah, I did this major and I'm in a completely different field now. Or I didn't know what I was gonna do and now I have this really great job that I enjoy and I'm passionate about. I'm slowly getting better. Every single say, every new person. [MUSIC] 

Meet a dance major turned NASA employee and a engineering student turned DJ.

Episode 4: The Beat Goes On

Everywhere you turn, people try to tell you who to be and what to do. But what about deciding for yourself? Roadtrip Nation is a movement that empowers people to build lives around doing what they love. This year, Roadtrip Nation teams up with UC Irvine to send three of their students on a road trip around California. They hit the road to talk to UCI alumni about how to get the most out of college. This is what they found. This is Roadtrip Nation. [MUSIC] &gt;&gt; It's been a good trip. It gets really inspiring to hear everyone we've talked to so far. &gt;&gt; Just the small amount of time that we've had, I've already learned and grown so much, and looking forward to what's to come. [MUSIC] &gt;&gt; We've been driving the RV up and down the coast, it's been fun. This is Sycamore Beach, on the left. &gt;&gt; Where One Direction was? &gt;&gt; Yeah. &gt;&gt; Aah! That's where my husbands were. &gt;&gt; Who? &gt;&gt; One Direction. [MUSIC] &gt;&gt; We're in San Luis Obispo, California, and we're gonna interview Robin Conrad, a dancer, choreographer, and professor at Cal Poly SLO. &gt;&gt; I never thought that I would choose dance as a major, right? I went into business administration cuz I thought it was a bit safer. And I was wondering how she decided that dance was for her. &gt;&gt; Hello, welcome. Robin, nice to meet you. So my path has been very circuitous in many ways, but always centered around dance. When I left Irvine, I went to New York, and then I realized, I actually really wanna choreograph. I wound up choreographing this White Stripes video. And then I started to get more commercial work, so I started working the entertainment industry at the same time I was teaching. The teaching aspect of it has been really critical for me in terms of just keeping my practice going and staying inspired. And I feel like the longer I teach the more I realize I have to keep refreshing myself so I can hopefully inspire the students in my classrooms. There was one year where we were assigned this tiny little room and it wasn't really a space for dance, so I took the class out into the campus. I think we all have to stay inspired no matter what it is that you're doing. &gt;&gt; Dance is very competitive. Were there any points where you felt like you couldn't make it, or maybe you felt like you weren't good enough? &gt;&gt; I think the biggest obstacle that I faced is just how do I continue on and feel confident? You almost have to do a daily self-talking to where you just tell yourself when you get up, this is what I'm doing today. And it doesn't always have to be the big, today, I conquer the world! &gt;&gt; [LAUGH] &gt;&gt; It could be today, I'm just gonna do this thing, and I'm gonna do it really well. &gt;&gt; Could you tell us how you keep staying inspired and keep it fresh, I guess? &gt;&gt; I think it was a grad student that said something to me about if you saw a dance class and you didn't know what it was, go take it. And I feel like that kind of buffet approach to sort of learning is actually really good. So you might as well see what's out there as much as you can and then figure out how to integrate all those things into whatever it is that you wanna do. It's a little scarier, but I think it's a little richer too. &gt;&gt; She has all of these different areas that she can go into because of dance. That's inspired me to just go out and take more risks, try something that I thought wasn't safe, and just pursue what I wanna pursue. &gt;&gt; Yay, it says lead with love. &gt;&gt; [LAUGH] &gt;&gt; Thank you. [LAUGH] &gt;&gt; Yeah, thank you, guys, my gosh. &gt;&gt; Hearing Robin's journey was really impactful to me. There's so many different parts of engineering. I feel like when I pick one, I'm supposed to be stuck with it. And I think that's important to know that you're not locked into one specific path. &gt;&gt; All of these people that I've met so far, they love what they do. It just seems like it fits them so well. It's just so awesome to see people that came from UCI and that are living their best life. [LAUGH] &gt;&gt; Meeting with these leaders, it brings them on a level where it's person to person instead of student to engineer, or student to music producer, or student to business owner. I feel like there's a lot more I can learn from them. [MUSIC] &gt;&gt; The more I go through these interviews, the more I realize, I'm not really as nervous about trying new things by myself, or being vulnerable. If you want something, you really have to go out of your way and do it. [MUSIC] If something sparks your interest, even a little bit, go for it. And don't think about it, just go. [MUSIC] 

The roadtrippers get inspired by a meeting with prominent choreographer Robin Conrad.

Episode 5: Moving Forward

Everywhere you turn, people try to tell you who to be and what to do. But what about deciding for yourself? Roadtrip Nation is a movement that empowers people to build lives around doing what they love. This year, Roadtrip Nation teams up with UC Irvine to send three of their students on a roadtrip around California. They hit the road to talk to UCI alumni about how to get the most out of college. This is what they found. This is Roadtrip Nation. &gt;&gt; OHTLI thoughts, three. Last one. [MUSIC] &gt;&gt; Jessica, final trip thoughts. &gt;&gt; So it is the end of the road trip and we are in Orange County. &gt;&gt; The ending of the trip is bittersweet. &gt;&gt; It makes me feel sad because I'm not gonna see all these people that I was seeing every single day. But a little bit happy cuz I get to be in my own bed again. Overall, though, it was really good, so I'm left with this warm happy feeling. &gt;&gt; It feels kind of surreal but I feel accomplished, hopeful for the future. &gt;&gt; It's the last breakfast of the road trip. We're going home today. &gt;&gt; You know what? Do what makes you happy. That's what we learned. [MUSIC] &gt;&gt; If I was to give advice to someone my age, I would say to them, if you're thinking about doing something, just try it. &gt;&gt; You have to be an action taker. If you have an idea, you feel a certain way, you should just do it. And that will lead you to explore and discover yourself. &gt;&gt; Don't let yourself get pressured to do something else. You have to ignore the noise. &gt;&gt; You have to ask yourself, am I gonna be happy down this path? &gt;&gt; Don't be afraid. Once you get over that fear of failure, things just start to open up. &gt;&gt; It's not an easy thing to have something not work out the way you want it to work out but another moment's gonna come. And a moment that's probably better can come if you figure out how to shift things for yourself. &gt;&gt; Just go for it. Go for anything you want to do. &gt;&gt; When I made the decision to quit my job, my logic was even if this failed, I know I would have gained so much in trying. &gt;&gt; You just gotta remember to push yourself a little bit beyond what you think you're capable of. &gt;&gt; Don't overthink things, because you could miss out on something huge. &gt;&gt; I think what you have to take the most of the [INAUDIBLE] experience, the little skills that you pick up here and there. How to be compassionate with people, how to take pride in your work, how to be humble and not let success go to your head. &gt;&gt; You'll eventually get to this thing that you love and you shouldn't really be stressing too much about getting there, enjoy the ride. [MUSIC] &gt;&gt; Michelle, it's been so great to see you come out of your shell. You were a really great friend throughout this whole trip. &gt;&gt; Jessica, when I see you and I talk to you, I want to emulate that. I want to be that confident, laughing person. &gt;&gt; You have so many interests. You light up at things that you wanna try. I thought that was really inspiring. Thank you for letting us really get to know you. [MUSIC] &gt;&gt; Jessica and Michelle come from different backgrounds. They're different majors than me. But we're lucky that our paths crossed at this moment. And I think we're gonna keep these friendships forever. [MUSIC] &gt;&gt; I feel confident enough in myself and my ability to be able to go out and try these new things, so maybe I wouldn't have tried before, because it's better to try than to not try at all &gt;&gt; I feel like I learned more about confidence. During the trip, I realized the way I view myself is very, very different from the way other people see me. I guess I learned more about feeling comfortable in who I am. &gt;&gt; A lot of people who I've intereviewed, whether it's their own experience or something more towards my field, they have been able to kinda cement my passion. I felt like engineering was more daunting but now it feels like an achievable goal. &gt;&gt; It just feels like I have so much ahead of me now. &gt;&gt; I wanna learn more about this, so I'll do this club and I'll do this and I'll talk to people and I'll read. Yeah, I have a lot more drive now. &gt;&gt; Before I started, I was nervous to pursue something I wanted to but hearing all these people that are so willing to help and so willing to talk to the future generation is incredible. And all you have to do is just reach out to them. [MUSIC] 

The roadtrippers make it back to UCI and share their final reflections.

Episode 6: The Next Step

For many college students, the number of potential paths open to them can become paralyzing. Luckily, there’s an amazing network of alumni ahead of them—and they’re willing to help light the way. 

That’s why this summer, fueled by the University of California, Irvine (UCI), we’re sending three UCI students on a road trip through Southern California to connect with local alumni in the region. They’ll hear how members of the Anteater community used their experiences at UCI to propel their lives in exciting new directions, and gain the encouragement needed to confidently navigate college’s twists and turns. Follow along with the feed below to watch their journey unfold.


A college degree can help get your foot in the door—but where do you find the confidence to take the first step? 


University of California, Irvine students and alumni

CI students and recent grads have any number of doors open to them—but they need help seeing which paths will take them where they want to go. That’s why UCI teamed up with Roadtrip Nation to create a community where UCI alumni can share their career stories and insights with fellow Anteaters, giving them the guidance they’ll need to confidently navigate college’s twists and turns, and ultimately start blazing their own trails.

UCI Roadtrip

STOPS & INTERVIEWS

STOPS & INTERVIEWS

SHARE HOW UCI SHAPED YOUR STORY AND HELP FELLOW ANTEATERS FIND THEIR WAY FORWARD

FUELED BY: