Susan Silva was a Junior Paleontologist in 2000 and is currently enrolled at Robert
Morris College in Chicago.
Susan Silva
as a Junior Paleontologist
Photo: G. Lyon © Project Exploration
Kaitlin: What's your
full name?
SS: Susan Silva
Kaitlin: Where did you go to high school?
SS:I went to Amundsen High School and
graduated in 2003.
Kaitlin: Where do you currently go to
college?
SS:Robert Morris
Kaitlin: Where do you live?
SS:Rogers Park
Kaitlin: What PE programs were you involved
in? What age were you when you came into
the program?
SS:I was a JP, SuperCroc Delegate, and
I did a lot of internships in Montana
and Wyoming. I was 15 years old when I
came into the program.
Kaitlin: How old are you now?
SS:I am 20 years old
Kaitlin: What year are you in, at your
college?
SS:I am in my Senior year.
Kaitlin: What were your feelings or thoughts
towards college while you were in your junior
and senior year?
SS:Junior year I was excited about being
a senior, but I was also very nervous
about going to college. I did more preparing
in my junior year for college than I did
in my senior year, which was a bad choice,
[but] I had very supportive people surrounding
me like Project Exploration, family, and
friends.
Kaitlin: What advice do you have to students
who are in high school about thinking
and preparing themselves for college?
SS: The most important advice I have
is to get focused and organized because
during your junior and senior years there
is a lot of important decisions you have
to make, and a lot of important things
you have to do. So it is very important
to learn how to manage your time. Another
thing that's important to do is to know
what you want, and to realize that if
you don't take advantage of your opportunities
or go out looking for them, you will never
get anything accomplished. It's always
great to take a chance and have a positive
attitude about what you're doing or what
you're trying to accomplish. Because at
first I didn't go through with the college
application process the way I should have
but I had a lot of people surrounding
me like my family and definitely Project
Exploration, who stood by my side and
coached me through my whole college application
process until I got in.
Kaitlin: What sorts of things should
students be thinking about and doing before
they even go through the application process?
SS: Managing their time. Time can get
away from you so fast if you let it, and
during your junior and senior year time
goes even faster! It's a good thing to
surround yourself with as much support
as you need, I always went to my guidance
counselor and always had Project Exploration
to go and get help or advice from.
Kaitlin: What types of things were you
scared or hesitant about when thinking
of college, and how did you deal with
those feelings when you got closer to
your senior year?
SS: I was very nervous because I was
scared I wasn't going to make it to college.
I dealt with my fears by talking to Gabe
[Lyon, Project Exploration executive director]
and Conor [Barnes, manager of youth programs]
and I either received information from
them or my guidance counselor. I also
procrastinated a lot which was very bad.
I almost didn't end up graduating from
my senior year in high school, but I thought
about certain things that inspired me
a great deal to move on like my family
and the fact that I had a lot of support
so I eventually made the decision to pull
through and overcome my fears.
Kaitlin: When did you start filling out
college applications? And what process
did you go through? Where did you get
your applications?
SS: I started filling out my college
applications during my senior year, but
what ended up happening was that I never
sent any of them off. Gabe kept pushing
me to stay focused and do what I had to
do so I finally got back on track and
was able to get into my college. A lot
of colleges ask for your original transcript,
test scores, and they require you to do
essays. But the application that I think
is awesome is the common application!
Once you fill out that application you
can use it for almost any college. I got
my applications from my counselor or Gabe.
You can also visit colleges and get their
applications.
Gabrielle Lyon
and Susan jacketing a fossil in Wyoming
Photo: © Project Exploration
Kaitlin: Why did you choose the college
that you attend now?
SS: Well, my college kept calling me
and harassing me to come to their school,
so after a while I just gave in because
I figured it was a good school to start
off in for my education. And I am glad
I chose the school because the teachers
are great, they really know what they're
doing.
