Meet Kathy
A Longhorn since the ’80s
Some of my first memories are going to class with my father when he was a mechanical engineering student at UT in the ’80s. My parents had me at a young age, and he used to take me to class with him sometimes when a babysitter wasn’t available. So “Hook’em Horns” was one of the first phrases I learned, and I’ve known I wanted to be Longhorn ever since.
Aside from being born into a Longhorn family, being a Navy brat has really shaped my life. I enjoyed moving around and seeing new places when I was younger, but it definitely got harder as I got older. However challenging it might have been at times, I’m really lucky to have had the opportunity to live in so many different places. Those experiences taught me to be outgoing and perseverant, helped me to understand different cultures and allowed me to make lifelong friends all over the country. These skills became especially handy when I moved to UT and needed to make friends and adjust to the campus community. Being uprooted every few years also gave me a unique closeness with my mother, father and two younger brothers.
A Great Journalism Program and Excellent Weather
I’ve wanted to attend UT ever since I was a little girl. In addition to my father being an alumnus, I was also drawn to the great journalism program, the award-winning Daily Texan, a scholarship and the in-state tuition. I’m also a big football fan and wanted to be a part of a close-knit, spirited campus community. The warm climate was also a factor – I don’t do so well in the cold.
I decided to become a journalist while working for my high school newspaper and never turned back. UT Austin is the perfect place to learn the industry since it has a great journalism program and is located in the state capital, where there’s never any shortage of news.
More about Kathy
Honors programs
Biggest challenge
Balancing a full course load with a leadership position at The Daily Texan. It took time management, a lot of drive, tons of coffee and a good support system.
Clubs & organizations
I worked for The Daily Texan for three years as a reporter, editor and eventually managing editor, overseeing the daily operations of the entire paper. I am currently an intern reporting on the business desk of the Austin American-Statesman and am also a member of the national journalism honor society Kappa Tau Alpha.
An Exhilarating, Exhausting and Life-changing Experience
The Daily Texan made my college experience. It gave me a second home, a group of amazing friends and mentors and the experience to become a successful journalist post-graduation. I had some of the best times of my life with the Texan staff and made friendships that will last a lifetime. For example, I will always remember running around to cover the campus-wide blackout my freshman year and the Ricin scare my sophomore year, among other amazing memories. It was an exhilarating, exhausting and life-changing experience.
Kathy’s Advice
On studying
Do it. Earning a good GPA has opened so many doors for me, with honors programs, leadership positions, scholarships and internships. However, it’s also important to balance studying with fun. College is about learning and experiencing as much as you can, and you can’t do that if you’re in the library the whole time.
On how to be a successful student
Get to know your professors. You can develop relationships and find mentors who will guide and help you throughout your college career.
On balancing studying, friends, work, and family
Try to set a schedule and stick with it, then reward yourself for doing a good job by doing something fun.
On making friends
Just be outgoing. Don’t be afraid to talk to new people or try different things. I met some of my closest friends freshman year just by leaving my door open. I also recommend going to events and joining student organizations. For me, joining The Daily Texan staff really made my college experience.
On living on campus
It’s a great way to meet friends and learn about the university. Just bring a few things to make it feel like home, like photos.
I currently live in an apartment in West Campus, but I lived on campus for three years. Both have been great experiences. I lived in Littlefield dormitory my freshman year and loved the close-knit community and the beautiful historic building. Then I lived in Kinsolving and Jester West. While it’s kind of unusual to live on campus for so long, I liked the convenience of having all of my food prepared and being able to get up and walk to class within 10 minutes. I also enjoy having the space and freedom of living in an apartment. I would definitely recommend living on campus for at least a year or two, then finding a cool apartment in an area you like. I have friends who live further north and on the east side, and they love it.
On parking/transportation around campus
The UT shuttles are great and you can walk everywhere, but parking can be a nightmare. I recommend walking as much as possible to avoid gaining the freshman 15.
On what to wear
Wear whatever makes you feel comfortable. Comfortable shoes are especially important since you’ll be doing a lot of walking on campus. However, I recommend leaving the pajamas and gym attire at home.
A Great Support System
Developing relationships with the faculty and staff of the School of Journalism has been really beneficial in helping me develop mentors, learn the industry and land internships. Forming relationships with my fellow students has given me a great support system and source of stress relief when I’ve needed it most. For example, I couldn’t have survived through my semester as managing editor of The Daily Texan without the advice and understanding of my professors and the Texan adviser and without the support of and great weekends with my friends.
Unexpected Things along the Way
Meeting my best friends has been one of the most unexpected things since being at UT. I’ve been blessed with such a great group of friends who I can both have fun with and trust to be there when I need them. Another unexpected thing was being selected for the National Press Foundation’s Introduction to Washington for College Journalists. It was a four-day crash course in how to be a journalist in Washington, D.C. The program was so much fun and I learned so much. It definitely helped prepare me for what I hope to be a great future in journalism.
Great Moments
I have two. The first was showing my parents around during Parents Weekend my freshman year. After wanting to come to UT my whole life and working so hard in high school to get here, I was really proud to show them what I’d accomplished. It was also really special to share the experience with my father, since he’s an alumnus. The second experience was watching the football team win a national championship. I attended all of the home games that semester and cheered my heart out. It was such a great moment in UT history.
Kathy’s Favorites
Classes
It’s difficult to choose, but probably the Senior Fellows Symposium class I took with Associate Professor Robert Jensen. He really encouraged us to think critically and challenge our preconceived ideas. He taught us how to think, and that lesson has stayed with me in all of my subsequent classes. I also really enjoyed my News Editing class with Professor Rusty Todd and my Multimedia Journalism class with Professor Rosental Alves.
Study locations
- On campus: The Architecture and Planning Library in Battle Hall on the South Mall. It’s a great place to study because its high ceilings and classic architecture make it feel like a library at Hogwarts. It’s always quiet, sunny and has plenty of space to spread out. It also has a great view of the Tower and South Mall.
- Off campus: Mozart’s on Lady Bird Lake. The bottomless cup of coffee costs only a few dollars and can keep you going all night, plus the desserts are great. But the best part is the giant outdoor deck overlooking the lake. It’s a great place to read, study or hang out on a sunny day.
Book
My favorite book changes every few months, but right now it’s The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. It’s about a boy growing up in 1960s, pre-war Afghanistan. It’s an amazing story and was especially interesting to me because my father is currently stationed in Khost, Afghanistan, where he leads the Joint Provincial Reconstruction Team. I also love the Harry Potter books and the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Place to eat on or near campus
Chango’s Taqueria on Guadalupe Street. The fish tacos are cheap and delicious and so is the guacamole and pomegranate sangria.
Thing about Austin
It’s the perfect combination of a big city and a small town. There is always something to do, whether you want to watch a show, go shopping, hit the bar or swim in Barton Creek. You can go from the center of downtown to a beautiful park within minutes. It’s a great city with such a unique feel.
Send Kathy an e-mail at kathyadams@mail.utexas.edu