Author Archives | Tabius McCoy

Seeking validation can lead to your demise

As I stared at the bland tannish manila-colored walls of my 168-square foot Harrison 314 room, thoughts of uncertainty filled my mind. “Do I belong here?,” I wondered, as tears of frustration rolled from my dark brown irises.

I struggled to make sense of this strange feeling of unease that was plaguing my mind. This was not the same uncertainty you might feel when deciding whether to choose choice “A” or “B” on your midterm. 

This sense of uncertainty was exacerbated by the constant epidemic of seeking approval, also known as “validation.” 

I came into this institution as an LMC major with big dreams of one day becoming a documentary filmmaker and a world-renowned news reporter.

This was something I proudly told my peers and others during my first weeks at the Institute. When I told my classmates and even faculty about my career goals, they looked at me with pity. 

“Journalism at a tech school? Why would you do that?,’’ or “there’s no money in journalism” are some things I was often greeted with from people.

And I have to admit, at first these words of useless criticism didn’t really affect me, but eventually it started to alter my perception of how I viewed my career.

In the weeks and months leading up to being a freshman at Tech, I was often preached to by my peers, teachers and even family that coming into Tech, you need to have a plan, because everyone leaves there making nothing less than six figures with a big corporate job. And they weren’t wrong, this was the norm here at Tech. It seemed like from day one, everyone had their eyes set on working for a big company or securing that big-time job offer.

 It felt like a culture of survival of the fittest, and professors and students fed into the culture.

A culture that was driven by validation and extrinsic approval. I don’t say this to shame the Institute in any way, because I, too, became a victim of this ever-present “validation culture.” 

Within a month, I went from an aspiring journalist majoring in LMC to a MGT student hoping to work in a big corporate job in something tech and finance related. I wanted to be a “finance pro” or a “big time consulting guy,” as my classmates like to put it best. 

I didn’t care about who I was going to affect to get there. To tell the truth, I didn’t even care about my own fulfillment. I just wanted the validation and acceptance in a community of more than 26,500 others. Just like them, I had become a victim.

I say I became a victim because I unwittingly began to measure the validity of my classmates, faculty and teachers in the same way that most of them measured my validity, by looking at the number of connections they had on LinkedIn, the number of Fortune 100 internships or job offers they had and how much financial
success they had.

I was gradually being led astray. During my first two years of college, I began to strive for and seek validation from my peers and school community, not because I never felt validation or love while growing up. 

I sought validation because it was “the norm.”

I remember receiving my first Fortune 500 internship during my second year at Tech, and I rushed to LinkedIn after signing the offer letter to tell everyone about it. I recall being praised and congratulated by my classmates, faculty and friends. 

You’d think my heart was bursting with joy at the time, but the smile on my face concealed my true feelings.

“This is exactly what you have been asking for,” my mother said. However, deep within, I felt as empty as ever.

The truth is that I did not want the internship because I enjoyed consulting, nor did I pursue a degree in information systems for the sake of technology. In fact, I had no desire to work in tech, consulting or the traditional corporate sector. 

More than anything else, I became displeased with myself. I sought these honors and accomplishments for the wrong reasons. 

I pursued a degree in information technology as well as high-profile internships and job offers because I desired acceptance and validation. I was tired of being questioned about being different or following my own dreams, not the dreams of others. 

I was tired of feeling the need to be included in conversations about business or tech, so for the first time I felt “ valid,” or at least that’s what I thought.

 Merriam-Webster defines validity as “the state of being acceptable according to law.” 

And the harsh reality is that when we walk onto Tech’s campus for the first time as a new student, we are often given norms of what is acceptable based on an unwritten set of guiding principles. 

Faculty and advisors push for us to seek the typical nine to five out of college more than they push us to follow our dreams of being an entrepreneur, a
musician or an artist.

Because that just isn’t “dependable,” I guess?

When we tell someone here that we want to do something that is out of the ordinary, out of the traditional “Tech” path, we are frequently questioned, chastised or frowned upon. 

But if that’s what makes us happy, why should we try to fit in at the expense of our own sanity and happiness?

Today, I write this from the perspective of a flawed, but valid, college student. 

I speak as someone who has personal experience of what it is like to base your success and life path on the approval of others, and I understand the mental toll that can result from this.

I was once uncertain. I was bitter. I was struggling to find my place on this campus. I became so consumed with being acknowledged and accepted by my faculty and not becoming another statistic that I became just that — another statistic. I had simply lost sight of my own self.

This quest for validation and acceptance was not unique to only my time at Tech. It’s something I’ve seen affect both faculty and classmates alike. I’ve seen friends abandon their true dreams in areas such as dance, film, literature and music simply because they were too focused on following the socially accepted path and pleasing the likeness of others.

They became so focused on making the “big bucks” out of school that they lost sight of their original aspirations.

They became so preoccupied with not letting their parents down that they began to let themselves down. 

Now, I’m not your spokesperson or the person to tell you how to live your life; “you do what you want,” as a friend of mine used to say, but I do know one thing.

Like Rick James said, “cocaine is a hell of a drug,” and so is validation and outside acceptance. If you let it, seeking validation can lead to your own demise. 

It can leave you feeling insecure and unsure of yourself during the most significant periods of your life. 

Although college can be a validation and “try hard” fest, and sometimes an unhealthy competitive environment at times, I challenge you to be true to yourself, which is not easy. 

But, I’m convinced that those who have stayed true to themselves and sought their own intrinsic validation and acceptance have had more happiness than those who have not. 

To whoever it may concern, in a world full of people looking for approval, seek your own peace. You’ll thank yourself later. Take my word for it. 

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Tech’s newly chartered NAACP chapter

Amidst an institute where the Black student body accounts for less than 10% of the student population, the birth of a newfound student-run organization

arises on Tech’s campus.

It is a proactive organization that is “connected in fighting for current day civil rights” said Camille Trotman, third-year LMC and founding president of the Tech chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (GT NAACP).

Since the organization was nationally chartered on May 20, 2022, they have made an impact on social justice and racial inequity that both reaches and

transcends Tech’s campus.

Throughout all collegiate NAACP chapters in the nation, Tech’s was amongst the top chapters in registering Georgia residents for the Gubernatorial and Senatorial elections this past fall, explained Trotman.

It is this sort of work that exhibits the organization’s commitment and success towards impactful social change. 

“As Black students, especially at PWIs [Predominantly White Institutions], our voices can often be overlooked,” Trotman said, “which is something that comes to no surprise when one looks at the percentage of Blacks at the institution, which is currently

under 10%.”

Another member, Chase Pettiford, second-year BIO, shared their perspective on the topic. “To me, it’s very revolutionary, especially being in the center of Atlanta, which is heavily influenced by Black culture and

Black people.” 

In a city home to world-changing pioneers in social justice from Martin Luther King Jr. to John Lewis to Hosea Williams, GT NAACP is carrying on and improving

upon that legacy. 

In the organization’s general body meeting held Feb. 13, words of change and activism filled the dimly lit multicultural lounge situated in the John

Lewis Student Center.

However, this meeting consisted of much more than “talks of change.” GT NAACP took action, “[putting] feet on the pavement,” Trotman said.

Members took the evening to send out many factual emails to government officials and representatives to express the concerns and needs of the students and people that they represent.

This was done in direct response to issues of food insecurity in Georgia, reproductive justice and the new decision made by Atlanta’s government to build a $90 million police training facility in the historic South River Forest Park of DeKalb county.

Located in a predominantly Black neighborhood where it is responsible for supplying thousands of residents with fresh air and green space within the city, the facility has been dubbed “Cop City” by opponents. 

“With the development of Cop City, it really affects the displacement of inhabitants,” said Adaliah Dunya, third-year BMED.

“Though the decision can’t be reversed, there’s compensations that could be made by the city,”  said Dunya as she reflected on what fueled the calls to action in the emails she and her partner Faith Jean, second-year BIO sent out for the evening. 

GT NAACP does not limit themselves to any one social issue; instead, they focus on a multitude. 

“I personally have a passion for food insecurity, but there’s really other things you can advocate for with[in] NAACP,” said Pettiford.

“Find something that you love to do and serve in that way,” she said about their motivation.

Although GT NAACP does not currently receive funding from the Student Government Association, this has not stopped the “pure hard work” the organization has put into the

campus, according to Trotman.

The future is promising for GT NAACP, and the chapter has worked diligently since their inception to ensure so.

“Legacy is about to start here, something that nobody has expected from Georgia Tech,” Trotman said to emphasize the piece of history being made

currently on the campus. 

To stay connected with GT NAACP, visit their

Instagram @gt_naacp.

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The lack of Black love in film

“I’ve never auditioned to be a love interest — never —and I’ve been auditioning for like four years. Not that I’m the hottest person, but … people date me,” said Phoebe Robinson, an actress and New York Times best-selling author, during a podcast interview with actress Anna Faris on her show “Anna Faris is Unqualified” back in 2016. Robinson reflected on the lack of films that showcased Black love, saying “Why is that not in the realm of possibility in Hollywood?”

This poses the question that has been a topic of discussion and debate for decades amongst viewers and workers in the media industry: why is there a lack of Black love stories in film?

Actress Raven Goodwin, known for her roles in shows such as Disney’s “Good Luck Charlie” and films such as “The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel,” expressed her opinions on the matter in a recent interview. 

“There’s a lack of Black people in power as it relates to the people who are writing and directing these movies, which could be one of the reasons Black romance movies aren’t very common,” Goodwin told the Technique.

The first recollection of “Black love” on film dates back to 1898 with the creation of “Something Good — Negro Kiss.” Despite the film’s Black cast, the film was written and directed by white filmmaker William Selig, owner of minstrel company, “Selig and Johnson’s Colored Minstrels.” This questions how genuine Selig’s motive in making the film was. Was he truly trying to convey Black love in a positive light or was it simply made to parody Black love?

Flash forward over 120 years; the list of Black screenwriters is few to none compared to their white counterparts. As of 2022, Black people account for less than 6% of professional screenwriters according to recent studies by career company Zippia. 

Take a look at some critically-acclaimed films such as “The Color Purple,” where the main character Celie Harris is a Black teenage girl in an abusive relationship with a Black adult man.

In the 2021 two-hander film, “Malcolm & Marie,” starring award winning actors Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman and John David Washington, the two are in a relationship that is fueled by verbal and emotional abuse. The film is played by a married Black couple Malcolm (John) and Marie (Zendaya). In the film, Marie is a 23 year-old who has previously struggled with substance abuse, and throughout the film, Malcolm would make fun of the situation by reminding Marie of her troubled past and bouts of substance addictions. 

The entirety of the film revolves around Malcolm and Marie saying the most pernicious things to one another.

Despite the success of the two films, they both convey a negative perception of a Black relationship. The two films, like many others in this category, share a significant similarity — their screenplay was written by a white screenwriter.

It poses the question: How could a white screenwriter truly depict what a healthy Black relationship looks like if they aren’t Black themselves? 

“In reality they can’t,” said actor Rege Lewis, who is known for his roles in CBS’s “FBI” and “The Inevitable Defeat of Mister & Pete,” in response to the question asked in a recent sit-down with the Technique.

The probability of finding a movie with a Black couple that does not revolve around domestic violence, mental abuse or promote a message of misogyny and that is also written and directed by a Black person is rare. This could possibly be why movies such as “Love Jones” and “Love & Basketball” are typically recurring names brought up in the discussion of “healthy” Black love movies, Lewis explained. Movies like “Love Jones” and “Love & Basketball” are actually written and directed by Black screenwriters and directors respectively.

“Love Jones,” a romance film produced in 1997, was written by Theodore Witcher. The film is often well-respected by many — even 20 years later — due to its authentic portrayal of what young Black love truly entails.

The film focuses on a Black couple Darius (Larenz Tate) and Nina (Nia Long). The two develop mutual feelings for one another when Darius meets Nina at a poetry club in Chicago after Darius performs one of his written pieces. 

However, their relationship is not smooth sailing throughout the entire movie. Darius and Nina go through ups and downs where they find themselves both struggling to communicate their needs and wants out of the relationship, which could possibly be credited to the characters’ young ages and simple growth to understand their desires as young adults. 

The movie ends jubilantly, leaving some viewers with tears of joy as the two confess their love for each other and vow to make the relationship work for better or for worse.

Darius’ and Nina’s love is something many young Black couples are able to relate to in some aspect. 

The film “Love & Basketball” is also a common title brought up in discussion of “iconic” Black love. 

The plot focuses on two young talented basketball players, Monica and Quincy, who are childhood friends and share a common passion for basketball. 

The two grow love for each other, but are faced with challenges just like any other relationship, as their goals of playing professional basketball threatens their bond through phases of their life such as college. The two rekindle their love for each other later in the movie.

One might simply argue that Black actors don’t want to act in Black love movies, but that isn’t the case. 

“Black actors simply are paid less for their roles in Black rom-coms compared to other roles, because people typically don’t want to see Black romance movies,” Goodwin told the Technique

This signifies that production companies often don’t view Black romance and love movies as necessary, or it might simply be seen as too vulnerable.

For example, in “Love & Basketball,” despite its relatability, Gina Prince-Bythewood, the film’s playwright, struggled to find a production company that would pick up the script for almost three years; many companies deemed the script as “too soft,” according to Prince-Bythewood. 

It wasn’t until globally-known filmmaker Spike Lee picked up the film in 1998 when the production began.

Today the same question stands: what can be done right now to combat this troubling phenomenon?

“The issue is not truly going to be fixed until you have more Black screenwriters, directors and actors that are not afraid to tell a story that goes against the norm,” Lewis said. 

That is what makes the works of films like “Moonlight” so special. 

The film, written by Tarell McCraney and directed by Barry Jenkins, won the Academy Award for Best Motion Picture and accumulated over 200 awards total. The movie shocked film critics and viewers alike, as it was produced by a Black crew and contained mostly all Black actors. 

It told the realistic and compelling story of a young Black man from childhood to adulthood and the challenges he faces with accepting his sexuality. 

The film challenged the media’s norm of a romantic movie and unraveled the issue of Black love from a different perspective.

Despite the success of Black love movies such as “Moonlight” in recent years, there is still work to be done in relation to creating more realistic Black love movies. 

The Black actors that have power and experience in the game have to start standing up and saying “No, I will not accept this role as it does not depict Black people in a positive outlook,” said Lewis. 

Will Hollywood eventually open up their eyes and become educated on the matter?

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Alum Spotlight: Damon Williams

In 1998, at the age of 18, Damon P. Williams, a native of Ellicott City, Md., stepped foot on Tech’s campus in Atlanta with a sense of determination to make a difference. 

As a freshman staying in Hefner Residence Hall, Williams was unaware of the impact that he would eventually have on the Tech community and Atlanta over 20 years after graduating.

Williams is the new associate dean for inclusive excellence and chief diversity officer in the College of Engineering, and graduated from Tech in 2002 summa cum laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering. 

“My grandmother and parents sacrificed too much for me to be here to have let them down,” Williams said in regards to one of his main motivators entering Tech.

Williams was determined to impact Tech’s campus from his beginnings. While at Tech, Williams served as a student representative for the School of Industrial Engineering, and was an active member of the African American Student Union (AASU) and the Georgia Tech Society of Black Engineers (GT SBE). 

During the fall semester of his junior year, in 2000, Williams was initiated into the Nu Mu chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., a fraternity within the National PanHellenic Council (NPHC). Williams served as an active brother in the chapter.

“I remember serving the community and hosting events such as voting drives and community service events. This experience really helped mold my college experience for the better,” Williams said.

When Williams joined the Nu Mu chapter, NPHC at Tech was going through the process of separating from the Interfraternity Council (IFC).

“I actually had the honor of serving as Georgia Tech’s NPHC first Vice President,” Williams said.

Williams also reflected on other experiences at Tech that truly aided him in his success as a student and even as an alum. 

“My college experience would have been nothing without OMED (Office of Minority Educational Development),” Williams said, as he reflected on how the department has shaped his life. 

As a freshman, OMED gave him the tools and support to succeed as a young African American student at Tech. 

Williams also discussed how OMED introduced him to some of the most pivotal people in his undergraduate career, such as College of Computing Associate Dean for Inclusive Excellence Cedric Stallworth and Executive Director of Student Diversity and Inclusion S. Gordon Moore Jr. They poured into him the tools he needed for his success at Tech.

It was a place where he was surrounded by “Black excellence” that allowed him to build off the brilliance of those that looked like him, according to Williams.

“Actually, one of the people that motivated me to get my Ph.D. was my OMED tutor at the time,” Williams said. 

She advised him of the expectations and rigor that he would face in his career in industrial engineering.

After graduating from Tech, Williams decided to pursue his Masters and Ph.D. in Industrial and Operations Engineering at the University of Michigan. During his time of study at Michigan, Williams began to find a purpose and passion within Christ through his roommate. 

“I accepted Christ when I was 24 years old,” Williams said. 

About two years later, Williams found that one of his purposes was to “pour into others,” and became an ordained minister in 2006. He is currently the senior pastor of Providence Missionary Baptist Church.

After finishing graduate school in 2009, Williams returned to Tech — but this time not as a student as he did in 1998, but rather as a professor to instill and payback the knowledge he was given during his time in undergraduate. 

“When I was coming through Tech, you only had two Black ISYE professors,” said Williams in relation to what motivated him to return to Tech as a professor. 

Williams addressed how it helps African American students thrive rather than just “getting out” when they have someone in the classroom that looks like them and that they can relate to in their everyday struggles. 

Even after being promoted to assistant dean, “I’m going right back into the classroom,” said Williams because it is important for him to payback the knowledge to his students. 

Williams emphasized that it is crucial for everyone to “raise their intercultural competence.”

“We need to see a more diverse group of individuals in power from various races, genders and sexual orientations … Then it’s not shocking when you find a professor that is unlike what you’re used to,” said Williams in regards to diversity in the classroom at Tech.

Williams believes that a student’s raw intelligence is not a predictor for how well you will do at Tech.

“Your work ethic is the number one predictor of how well you will do at Georgia Tech,” Williams said.

Looking forward, Williams knows exactly what type of impact he aspires to have.

“My faith has called me to love my students and to instill knowledge in them and to love others. That’s the type of impact I want to have,” Williams said.

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The album that changed music forever

Our Take: 5/5 Stars

“The Album of the Year is ‘The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill,’” said Gordon Thomas during the 41st Grammy Awards. Lauryn Hill walked up to the stage to claim her fifth Grammy of the night. During the time, some viewers were somewhat clueless as to the importance and existence of the album, as it was the first Rap/R&B album ever to win such an honor. However, 20 years later, the album still has a crucial impact on the music industry and the lives of billions across the world. 

After leaving the award-winning music group, “The Fugees,” in 1997, Hill would go on to pursue her solo music goals. Later that same year, Hill began writing and working on her critically acclaimed project, “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.” While working on the album, Hill was pregnant with her first child. Hill stated in an “Ebony Magazine” interview in 1998, “When some women are pregnant, their hair and their nails grow, but for me, it was my mind and ability to create.” 

Before the release of her album, she mentioned how, during the time of working on it, she was “very in touch with [her] feelings.” Hill’s sense of emotional vulnerability and transparency is openly shown in her album. 

Hill was in a healing period and didn’t hide it in the creation of “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.” Hill reflects on motherhood, love, heartbreak and spiritual and mental balance throughout the album.

The album begins with a teacher (Ras Baraka) taking attendance. He proceeds down the list and says “Lauryn Hill,” but there’s no response; this opening intro may be an allusion to the album’s title, since Hill may be “miseducated” due to her inability to be mentally open and present in life, like her absence in the classroom.

On “Lost Ones,” Hill reflects on her recent breakup with music artist, Wyclef Jean. The chorus repeats “You might win some but you just lost one,” meaning that Jean may still be successful in his music career, but he has lost Hill, which he will later regret. At the end, it returns to the classroom scene, where students ponder “What is Love?”. This skit sets the mood for much of the album, as the message of love is conveyed throughout most of the album.

The album then transitions to Hill’s “Ex-Factor.” The song opens with a melodic piano and bass pattern. “Ex-Factor” shows Hill’s confusion over why her partner does not put as much effort and love into their relationship as she does. 

Hill is not afraid to admit that she is crying out for help and wants her partner to love her as much as she loves him. It is hard for her to fathom the fact that their love for each other will not be mutual.

Hill was not afraid to share the impact her newborn son, Zion, had on her life. On track four, “To Zion,” Hill reflects on how people told her she should abort her son because he would slow down her career. 

Hill sings about ignoring naysayers and how her son Zion brought her peace during a depressing time of her life. “To Zion” is followed by another classroom skit in which young students discuss if falling in love has a minimum age after the teacher asks, “How many of you have been in love?”. This may refer to Hill’s son Zion, as she has finally found someone that loves her unconditionally despite him being new to this world.

On the song “Doo Wop (That Thing),” Hill discusses how both men and women are guilty of dating someone simply out of physical attraction and for sexual pleasure. Hill states, “Don’t think I haven’t been through the same predicament” to let her listeners know that she is far from perfect and is even guilty of dating solely for sexual satisfaction; Hill tries to educate her listeners so they do not make the same mistakes she made. “Doo Wop” was favored by many of her fans due to how blunt and straight-forward the message was. In one verse, Hill states, “How you gonna win when you ain’t right within?”, signaling to her listeners that you can not expect to want someone that has their life put together when you have shortcomings that you have to fix in your life. 

In Hill’s ninth track of the album, her confession of vulnerability resurfaces within the album. In the track “I Used to Love Him,” Hill has reached a point in her life where she has officially moved on from this person that she once loved. “I Used to Love Him” is constantly repeated in the chorus, to show that her love for this guy is in the past. 

She compared their relationship to the ocean washing the sand away, “He was the ocean, and I was the sand,” stated Hill. This signifies how Hill had been used and taken advantage of, but she has begun to heal and seek better for herself.

In “Nothing Even Matters,” the 12th track of the album, Hill appears to have made this song after falling in love with someone she is dating. Hill sings this song in a duet with D’Angelo. Hill reflects on how despite the trouble in the world around her, she is not bothered because she has found someone that she loves and can see them being together eternally. In this track, Hill appears to be at peace, which is something Hill once struggled with, and can be shown in earlier tracks of the album such as “Ex-Factor.”

Hill ends her album with her final track, “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.” In a way, this song is Hill’s coming-to-maturity moment. Much of the beginning and middle of the album are about how Hill tries to find love and approval from other people, and she is clueless and lost as to what she is doing wrong. 

However, in the final track, Hill’s last verse states, “And deep in my heart, the answer, it was in me. And I made up my mind to define my own destiny.” Hill is illustrating that she has searched for love and peace in every place and was distraught about coming up short every time, but she has come to realize that peace and love are from within. 

Lauryn Hill’s unique sense of vulnerability and discovery for love and peace aided “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” in being such a deeply interpreted album. The album puts listeners through a rollercoaster of emotions while successfully educating them on how to approach love, inner peace and discovering oneself.

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Students who deliver: behind the scenes

Uber Eats, DoorDash and Grubhub are food services that many Tech students can attest to using after a long night of studying or when they simply want something captivating for their palette for the night.  

However, many food drivers in Atlanta can attest to how demanding the job can be at times.  

A few of those delivery drivers are your fellow classmates, who have managed to find a way to effectively manage their busy life as a Tech student, while delivering food and bringing joy to hundreds across the city.  

“I started doing DoorDash largely after being bored at home during the pandemic in 2020 and simply wanted to make some extra money,” stated Naomi Davis, fourth-year BA.  

For some students, doing food delivery allows them to have “some sense of disposable income as a college student,” stated Ryan Cooper, a fourth-year IE. 

DoorDash was a more flexible, lucrative way of supplying some of his wants as a college student, Cooper mentions. 

As a delivery driver, one’s job transcends far beyond simply picking up and dropping off food. Delivery drivers’ communication skills are often utilized and put to the test nearly every minute during the job.

Taj Lowe, fourth-year CE, can attest to the importance of communicating within the job.

“When you go into establishments you have to oftentimes talk to the workers and clarify the customer’s order, even after picking up the food you have to greet customers with a positive attitude.. so the job goes far beyond delivering food,” Lowe said.    

 Delivering a customer’s food could bring a smile and a sense of joy to a customer in ways that one might not ever anticipate. Good customer service is critical.

“Once the pandemic began, there were times where I would deliver food to nurses or to those in the hospital … I could only imagine the amount of stress that they were going through during such a stressful time … I would make sure their order was warm and accurate to ease their mind,” Davis stated. “Something as simple as delivering food could brighten a customer’s day.”   

“Something I really enjoy is getting to meet new people and doing DoorDash allowed me to do that,” stated Davis in regards to what she enjoyed about the job as a delivery driver. 

Cooper, who has been a DoorDash driver since 2019, has utilized his expressive personality to his benefit on the job. Cooper mentioned that one cannot be “bashful or shy on the job” because communicating to workers at restaurants that an order is incorrect or changes the customer might want can be necessary.   

“In my experience as a DoorDash driver I have learned decision making … because you simply can’t agree to pick up every order and there’s some orders you just have to realize aren’t worth the price for the hassle,” stated Davis. The decision making aspect of the job allows student delivery drivers to truly set their expectations not just during the job but in everyday life. 

“You learn that time is money,” Lowe explained in regards to how his work as a food delivery driver has helped him with time management. 

Lowe mentioned how he might only have had two hours between classes but was able to be productive and pick up some orders within those two hours.   

On busy school weeks, drivers typically have to tailor their delivery schedule to fit their busy student schedule. Davis mentioned how she would occasionally deliver on Fridays during her off day of classes and simply “listen to the music” as her friends would join her. 

“Oftentimes, Friday or Saturday nights are typically the most profitable time to do deliveries,” stated Cooper. “Those are also the days many college students like to go out and have fun, so it’s all about prioritizing.” 

Food delivery is a great way for students to earn extra income, something many drivers can agree on. 

“Remember it’s important to stick to areas you are familiar with,” Davis stated as she advised students who are interested in working as a food delivery driver.  Cooper mentioned how, when delivering at night, it may be helpful to “deliver with a friend” to help watch your surroundings.   

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