For many students, arriving at UConn is their first taste of life on their own. Not for William Hiers: he was a middle school teacher with a young daughter when he decided, as he says, “I wanted more for myself, and more from life.” And it was “more” that he found: more activities, more learning, more connections, more reasons to be excited about the future. And now, as he’s ready to collect his degree and head off on a new career path, he’s looking forward to one moment in particular: hanging that degree on his wall, a constant reminder of when he decided he wanted more of what life has to offer – and got it.

 

Why did you choose UConn?

UConn has a long history as an agricultural college. When I was selecting my major, I was drawn to something in the agricultural field. I had originally looked at studying online, but once I had settled on something in the field of agriculture it made sense to go to one of the best universities for agriculture that was right here in Connecticut, only a few towns away. I wanted to have that real college experience as well. I also wanted the name recognition that UConn has. While researching other schools, I found different accreditations and thought UConn to be a much safer choice. It is a top 50 University and in the top 10 in terms of cost, which I hope equates to some measures of quality. Being a lifelong Connecticut native, I was able to get the in-state rate and live off campus, which reduced my costs significantly.

What’s your major or field of study, and what drew you to it?

I am somewhat unique in that I didn’t come to UConn right after high school. I earned an associate’s degree in Culinary Arts and got to work. I am coming back to earn my bachelor’s after years in the workforce. Right before I started at UConn I was working as a substitute middle school teacher. Everyone there was so encouraging, and they really pushed me back to school myself so I could pursue a career in teaching. Among my friends I joke that I beat them to their midlife crisis. I also have a young daughter, Theadora. I am returning to school to give us a better life. I also want her to see that school doesn’t end when you turn 18, and model for her how to be responsible and do homework. Part of my motivation for returning to school is to change the world and help address the major issues of our generation, most notably climate change, but anyone who studies our society’s challenges can tell you that they are heavily interrelated.

I came into UConn with 100 transfer credits and a passion for sustainable agriculture and business that I wished to develop. I had selected Sustainable Plant and Soil Systems for my initial intake, thinking it was the best fit to my interests. When meeting with Megan Ridder for the first time our conversation explored my interests beyond just sustainable agriculture to the business interests I had and my desire to change the world. She suggested the new Environmental Economics through the ARE department. It seemed like a program that teaches you to leverage economics and policy to make those big changes I am interested in pursuing. I am hopeful that this will give me a diverse foundation as I look to the still emerging field of sustainability.

Did you have a favorite professor or class?

I cannot call out any one class or professor as being my favorite. Each class adds to my learning. Having said that, there are some educational experiences that do stand out. This semester I am learning how to use coding software in ARE4438. BADM 3253 was probably the most relevant class to sustainable business and I’m very happy I took it. ARE 2155 is also really fascinating; the professor asked why I was laughing at his lecture the other day and it was because I thought game theory was so cool!

I will say that I have had many positive interactions with the staff and faculty in my department. There are still a few I haven’t met, but all the people I know are very friendly, welcoming, and helpful. I want to especially mention Alison St Pierre and Lena Knowles, the ARE department assistants for being especially helpful, friendly, and engaging. They are always looking to improve the student experience and they keep the department running. Another honorable mention is Arminda Kamphausen, the Director of Sustainability for the School of Business who always made time to share her perspectives with me. I have connected with a few of my fellow students, but these professional connections with the various teachers and staff are the ones I value and will carry forward.

What activities were you involved in as a student?

Although I am a graduating senior, I have only attended UConn since last summer. In that short time, I became the Vice President of the ARE Club, I took a SCUBA certification through the Adventure Center, participated in a U21 micro internship, won a National Food Marketing competition, and I am now a Research Assistant for my department. Recently I was the goodwill ambassador for the ARE department and I had to get visiting candidates from the airport and make them feel welcome during their visit. All in all, a busy semester and a half!

What’s one thing that surprised you about UConn?

I was surprised by how inviting it is. I came into UConn with a mindset that I already knew myself pretty well, I was quite busy, and I didn’t need to explore and find my hobbies and interests. I want to say that “unfortunately” I got sucked into a bunch of groups and activities anyway. That wouldn’t be the truth, because I’m not sad I got pulled into different activities and groups. I love that there was so much diversity and so many different student organizations and opportunities to get involved. I really love the countless opportunities around campus to engage in unique ways.

How has UConn prepared you for the next chapter in life?

Honestly, what feels like a very quick year at UConn has prepared me in ways I would not have thought. My economics classes have shaped how I view money and how to measure the satisfaction or utility I get from a product. Nothing in my past came close to helping me understand what’s beneath the surface of my own shopping and purchasing decisions. My career coach keeps saying how important LinkedIn is to secure a job after graduation, so I have been developing that as well. The diverse perspectives make sure that I am getting multiple sides of an issue before making a decision, like with selecting a master’s program. I hope to be earning a decent salary, maybe in sustainability analysis, and have some spare money and time to use my new SCUBA certification somewhere tropical. The connections I made will be resources for life and I know that I can reach out to anyone for help or advice; my department has almost become a second family. I even have my own cubicle to help me prepare for an office job!

Years ago, I asked a similar question to this one about what comes next and when I will see the payoffs from all my efforts. The answer I received then is right at the front of my mind as I am deciding how to answer these questions. It is like planting a seed. In time it will grow into a beautiful plant. You don’t know when or what it will become, but someday it will grow out of the seed you planted. UConn has planted many seeds, and I am excited to see how my future grows out of what I planted this year.

Any advice for incoming students?

I would share a couple of pieces of advice. It’s very easy to get caught up in the grades and forget that college is about the learning and the experiences. Another piece of advice is that the teachers are people too, and they will often have a lot more to offer you than just the classroom lecture so take the time to get to know them. They might have ways for you to get involved, advice, funding opportunities, and real-world advice beyond the college environment. I go out of my way to have a strong relationship with all my professors and hey… it doesn’t hurt to be a professor’s favorite when grades are due! They really value student engagement. My last bit of advice aligns with what I just shared. Look at where you are: UConn! You are surrounded by thousands of really awesome students and staff. Each one of them has a unique perspective and areas of study or interest. If you have 15 minutes to wait in between classes or while waiting for someone, I advise you to put down your phone and strike up a conversation. Talking to new people can be scary, but that’s your chance to be brave and conquer your fear. You never know what new connection you will make.

What’s one thing everyone should do during their time at UConn?

Anyone that has spent time at UConn during the spring semester can tell you that Storrs is a very cold and windy place. And the campus is huge! I see people running to class always struggling to be on time, me included. I don’t know why more people don’t, but everyone should go to Walmart and grab a cheap bicycle. It makes the 20-minute, cold, windy walk into a somewhat enjoyable five-minute bike ride. And check out the Adventure Center, because they have some really cool trips and classes for you to take (and bike rentals!). And because you can bike everywhere quickly, you might even avoid a few parking tickets.

I also want to shout out to Spring Valley Student Farm. They grow much of the produce served in the dining halls and getting involved with them is a great way to have a deeper connection to the food you’re eating. Plus, they have a PERMACULTURE-style EDIBLE FOREST GARDEN! I put that in all caps because I think it’s about the coolest idea ever and UConn’s could use a little student attention and energy.

What will always make you think of UConn?

It is easy to think more of the costs associated with UConn, and I’m not talking about merely financial costs. I’m talking about my 40-minute drive to and from campus every day. I’m talking about all the times I couldn’t play with my daughter because I was busy doing homework or had a project to do. I hope that in the future I will look back on this time and see it as the jumping off point for a whole different life that starts right here at UConn.

My most cherished experience at UConn was winning the National FDRS Marketing Challenge. That was a lot of late nights working with my fellow group members, John Daly and Jake Timchak. It was a lot of hard work but nothing in my time at UConn was more satisfying than walking away with first place and the connections I made through the event. That is one of the high points of my life and one I will be celebrating for years to come.

I think the biggest thing that will always make me remember UConn will be having my degree hanging on the wall and it says University of Connecticut across the top. That will always make me think of my year at UConn. The year I decided I wanted more for myself, and more from life.