Name: Elsa Gomez Pena
Major/Minor: International Relations/Economics
Hometown: Sonoma, California
1. As a senior who is about to graduate, how would you sum up your last four years at Colgate?
It’s incredibly shocking to realize how fast these past four years have gone by. I still remember OUS Summer Institute as if it were yesterday. Over the past four years, I have taken incredibly stimulating courses, met brilliant professors, and have made life long friends. I cannot condense my time here into a few sentences, but I know that I would not change my experience for the world. If I had to use three words to describe my experience, they would be coffee, procrastination, and Google.
2. How has being in OUS impacted your college experience? Do you see OUS 
impacting your life after Colgate?
As a first-generation college student, I definitely think OUS was necessary to prepare me for what the Colgate curriculum would entail. It helped me become acquainted with the workload and how to manage it, as well as constantly giving me the support I need in everything from job search to graduation logistics. I will carry the experiences and friends I have made through OUS with me for the rest of my life.
3. What advice would you give incoming OUS freshman?
Honestly, as corny as this may sound, life’s way too short to sweat the little things. Do what you are passionate about, be happy, and HAVE FUN. Also, figure out what work technique works for you. If you are a procrastinator, embrace it, enjoy your day, watch Netflix, and get it done. Ultimately, no one ever thinks back to the nights spent sleeping. Elsa out.