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By Karina Lopez Duran ’25

Karina Lopez Duran ’25 is a business administration major and a communication studies minor. She has mastered balancing academics, extracurriculars and internships while being a student-athlete at Â鶹ɫÇéƬ. Read how getting involved around campus exposed her to career development opportunities in Atlanta.

I wasn’t involved in anything as a first-year student, and I felt it. I lacked a sense of community and knew I could be more proactive. It wasn’t until I decided to put myself out there that things started to change.

I jumped in and joined the executive board for OU Monarchs, PRSSA, the Student Alumni Association, and even walked on to the Women’s Tennis team. Last year, I co-founded the Business Club and worked as an account executive for the Weltner Consulting Agency. Every single one of these experiences pushed me out of my comfort zone and gave me skills you just can’t get sitting in a classroom: teamwork, leadership, communication, and confidence.

Those skills opened doors I never imagined, leading to opportunities with the Latin American Company and Atlanta United FC. Hiring managers notice when you take initiative. They want people who not only create opportunities for themselves but also help create them for others. That’s exactly what campus involvement taught me: how to show up, work hard, and make things happen.

I am not saying you have to be on an executive board to make a difference, but be a valuable and intentional member. If I could give one piece of advice, it would be to not just go through the motions in college, but be intentionally present in it, and reap the benefits of it. Be open-minded, say yes to new experiences, and watch how it all comes back to help you when you step into the professional world.

Find campus events at and explore student organizations and clubs to get involved!