Seniors reflect on studies in IMP

Among the undergraduate seniors graduating tomorrow, there are 43 students who studied in the Individualized Major Program. While their stories share common threads, their journeys have been as unique as their majors.

Senior Alexander Plotkin initially wanted to join the Kelley School of Business when he came to IU. But after realizing that business was not his favorite subject, he decided to concentrate on something tasty: food.

Coming from a big family, Plotkin said he grew up in an environment where food and cooking really mattered. So, he decided to major in food and entrepreneurship.

“I found the program in my freshman year, and I applied in my sophomore year,” he said. “With the help of the program, I can do anything with food now.”

Plotkin said IMP has allowed him to focus on learning a lot about various aspects of the food industry and food history. Writing his final project for the program, a personal food memoir, allowed him to express all of his food experiences such as working in many restaurants, including Alinea, which is now rated the No. 7 restaurant in the world in S. Pellegrino World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2010.

“Working there last summer was one of the most tremendous experiences I have ever had in the food industry thus far,” he said.

For Plotkin, the future after graduating is “cooking somewhere.”

He may go back to Europe and cook in Spain, where he studied food last year for one semester in San Sebastian, a northern city in Spain that is famous for quality restaurants.

“Chefs dream about studying in San Sebastian, so I am truly lucky to have experienced such an incredible semester abroad.” Plotkin said.

Joining the program was the best decision Plotkin said he made in the past four years.

“It is essential to not just go through the motions in college,” he said. “But rather, focus your time and energy on something that you feel very strong about.”

Senior Aasiya Mirza wants to be a political speech writer in the future, and she said she feels IMP has helped her a lot in accomplishing that goal.

Besides majoring in speechwriting in IMP, Mirza is also an English major.

“I wanted to be a professional political speech writer,” she said, “and I felt I could create such a major myself by combining classes in different departments.”

Mirza said what she enjoyed most about IMP was the opportunity to work with “really incredible” faculty on a one-on-one basis. She said her professors have been very important mentors and that the IMP staff is really invested in the students and the
program.

“It is different from other programs,” Mirza said, “probably because it’s so intentional about getting involved with students and encouraging one-on-one student-faculty interaction from the first year of the major.”

After graduation, Mirza said her plan is to go to graduate school at the University of Cambridge, pursuing an M.Phil in English: Criticism and Culture.

“I’m not really sure whether I’ll be doing law or academia, but I’m hoping to figure that out while I’m in my master’s,” she said.

Senior Margaret Hirschauer chose to apply for an individualized major because she wanted to focus on the study of non-human animal behavior, mostly wildlife. She said IU offers a concentration and minor in animal behavior, but since a major is not an option, she created her own.

“I feel like I did well in school because I was enrolled in classes that meant something to me,” Hirschauer said. “As my interests changed slightly, I was able to change my core courses to exclude some classes and include others I found more
interesting.”

Hirschauer said IMP allowed her to get out into the real world. She traveled to Uganda to conduct research with the Semliki Chimpanzee Project and get course credit at the same time.

“That experience helped me focus my career goals and taught me practical research and management skills,” she said.

After graduation, Hirschauer said she is taking one year off to apply to graduate schools.

Having volunteered during the past three years with WildCare Inc., Hirschauer said she would like to continue to research wildlife and human effects on wild populations after graduate school and to continue to be involved in wildlife rehabilitation. 

Hirschauer said students who have specific interests that are not offered through another major and feel that IU can offer enough classes to comprise a major in the area should apply to IMP.

“Taking the time to choose my courses and validate my choices was worth the effort,” she said. “I feel proud to graduate with my own major. Being a part of the program allowed me to shape the last four years of my life the way I wanted.”