Lauren Long: Returning BGR Supervisor & Study Abroad Ambassador

Name: Lauren Long
Year: Junior
Major: Hospitality & Tourism Management
Hometown:West Lafayette
Student Activities: I am a Team Supervisor for Boiler Gold Rush, a Study Abroad Ambassador, and I am a dancer for Higher Ground Dance Company. I am looking to get involved as a tour guide and in PUDM soon!
 
What first made you want to become so involved in BGR?
I decided to apply to be a Team Leader my freshman year so that I could meet some new and different people. Once I became a Team Leader I was put into a group of other leaders that were such awesome people and are some of my best friends today! I then thought that I wasn’t done being involved, so I applied to be a Supervisor and made even more friends and made such an impact on campus that I decided to do it again this year! I’m still involved because I not only help out new students transitioning to campus but it has also helped out with my personal and professional development. I’ve learned a lot about myself!
 
What are some of those things that you’ve learned about yourself through the process of being a Team Leader and Team Supervisor?
I’ve learned to be more flexible with both people’s schedules and personalities. I’ve also learned how to deal with different leadership styles. A lot of people on campus think that “BGR people” are all super energetic and are very outgoing and extroverted, but I have learned that just because someone is more quiet doesn’t mean that they aren’t a dedicated, enthusiastic and passionate leader. Going with the flow is also something that I have gotten better at!
 
Now becoming a Supervisor once is pretty notable with the amount of people who apply and the quality of everyone, it’s even more impressive that you are a returning Supervisor. How difficult is it to become a Supervisor once and then again the following year?
Well about 170-200 people apply to be a Supervisor and only 78 get it. So it’s pretty competitive. Applying to be a Returning Supervisor is just the same. 5 applied to be returners this year and 4 got the position. There isn’t any type of advantage of being a returner when applying but there is a lot more expected out of you!
 
How has this year been different than last year as a first-year Supervisor, and are there any added responsibilities for you as a returner?
This year has been great so far! There is a whole new group of people to get to know so it’s a bit different than last year. The people involved really make the experience. The trainings are different and it has been fun getting to hear a lot of different perspectives. This year I am also a Transfer Transition Coordinator. There is a group of 10 of us that organize and plan the transfer program that happens in addition to the week of BGR activities.
 
As a previous Team Leader myself, I know that everyone working with the program has an amazing experience. What will you have to take away from BGR when you graduate?
Quadruple the friends that I had coming into Purdue! Honestly, the people that I met have really made my experience as great as it has been. Plus the leadership experience and training that I have gotten through this program has prepared me more than any leadership conference ever could. I feel prepared to take on any situation now! It made me decide to study abroad actually!
 
That’s great! What was your experience like going abroad and where did you go?
I went to Florence, Italy for 6 weeks last summer and it was awesome! It was a Purdue program so I lived in an Italian apartment with other Purdue students in the program. There was a gelato shop a block away from my apartment so I ate at least one gelato a day! I took two classes too.
 
What do you do as a Study Abroad Ambassador and what made you want to become one?
I talk to students at study abroad fairs, admissions events and classroom presentations. I really think that studying abroad is something that everyone should put on their Purdue Bucket List. A lot of students don’t know what their options are for studying abroad, and I love letting them know that they can!
 
Okay last question! Everyone should have their own Purdue Bucket List! What’s left on yours?
I want to go into the football locker rooms and pull an all-nighter for no reason!