As time goes on, it seems like more and more pressure is put on high school kids in regards to their futures and post-graduation life, in particular with college. We graduated 4 years ago. To start, what were you like in high school, and what was your post-graduation planning process like?

In high school, I was a very shy and quiet person. I had friends, but was very much in a shell, and unsure of who I was or wanted to be. Around my junior year, I made some new friends that started to introduce me to things that got me out of my shell. We would go on mini road trips, house parties, and just random high school things. Once I began to come out of my shell, I decided to embrace it and try out for a sports team.  

Senior year, I tried out for the swim team even though I did not know how to swim. I jumped into the deep end and learned along the way. 

This was by far the best decision I made in my time in high school. I met what would be my best friends that I am close with to this day. At the time, I had no plans to go to a 4-year university. I knew I would go to the local community college, but it wasn’t until a year or two in that I realized I wanted more for myself. I met with counselors, made a plan, and did the work.

As someone who has lived through it, what are your thoughts on the pressure put on kids to have above a 4.0, play sports, and pretty much overachieve in every aspect? Do you see it continuing? Is there a limit?

I personally did not experience this. I am the first person in my family to go to college at all. 

 I experienced the regular pressures of getting good grades, but the ultimate pressure was to not become another person in our family that does not make it through high school at all. 

I do think there is too much pressure on kids to succeed. I think newer generations are becoming more vocal about this and will eventually break the cycle.

You transferred to UCSB. What was the transfer process like? Did you want to go transfer to UCSB specifically, or were there other options on the table?

I participated in a thing called UC TAG. Basically, if you meet certain requirements before applying, you are pretty much guaranteed entry. I applied to UCSD, UCSB, UCSC, SDSU, and HSU. I got accepted to HSU, UCSC, and UCSB. After visiting each one, I decided on UCSB.

And in a major flashback, what was your first day at UCSB like? 

It was interesting. I arrived at my apartment building and I was the first to arrive out of four of us. I immediately went out to meet new people. I don’t remember too much more than that.

What about your first year?

The first year was wild. Met so many people, went to a ton of parties, met my first real love interest, and made some amazing friends I talk with to this day. Grew a lot emotionally, and became a lot more comfortable in my own skin.

One of the biggest sources of stress within a college student’s career is picking a major. What did you study, and is that what you had initially planned on?

I believe I came in as that general something major for people who have no clue what they want to do. I eventually gravitated towards Communication because I enjoy the psychology behind how and why we communicate. I did not plan for it, but I enjoyed the things I learned along the way.  

What advice would you have for someone who is doubting their decision, or wanting to switch?

Doubting is totally normal. 

I don’t understand how 18- to 20-year-olds are expected to know what they want to do for the rest of their lives. 

Completely unrealistic and counterproductive. Switch if you want to–or don’t. What your degree is in really does not matter much at all in the long run most of the time.

Not everyone understands what a Communications degree entails; it isn’t as straightforward as something like Biology, per say. For those who may not know, what was your biggest takeaway from your degree? Are there any projects that stand out or that you’ve carried with you into life now?

My biggest takeaway is identifying how many bad communicators are out there. I learned what bad communication is. I’m not a perfect communicator (no one is), but I do find myself noticing others communication styles and immediately remembering how common those styles are, and how harmful they are in the long run. My biggest takeaway is how to communicate with a bad communicator (a lot of patience). 

That makes sense. Another thing I’ve found is that a great deal of learning was done outside of the classroom, too. Whether it’s social or something else, is there a “real-life” lesson you learned that you still come back to?

I learned a lot during college. One is really being independent. I had to pay rent, look out for my own health (doctor, dentist, mental health, etc.), and basically advocate for myself because no one else will with the same conviction. I learned about all the bureaucracy in navigating the “system” in an education system that is not built for students, but for profit. Another one is taking mental health seriously. 

The older I get the more I realize we are all out here going through shit. 

Everyone deserves to have access to therapy. Unfortunately, that is almost entirely out of reach for too many people. 

You were also involved in a lot of extracurriculars on campus, from The Catalyst to the American Marketing Association. I don’t know many people who went that route. What was it like pursuing and then balancing all of those activities?

I believed I needed experience in addition to a degree to get a job post-graduation. It was tiring being involved but also very worth it for all the friendships that came out of it. AMA helped me with public speaking and managing a team. The Catalyst helped really allow myself to be an artist, and try different mediums of expression (writing, painting, photography, etc.).

Speaking of, what is one thing everyone should know how to do?

How to write a professional email.

Thinking about senior year and graduation, what were your plans?

Move to SF, start my professional career, and have fun! 

And what are you up to now?

I’ve been in NYC for 9 months now. Before the virus, I was going out a lot, meeting new people, dating, and making great friends. But now, I’ve been inside my apartment for nearly three months now. I’m still pursuing my career dreams out here, and recently accepted an offer to a new job. 

You’ve worked in San Francisco and now in New York, and it takes a lot of work to become a designer. What does a day in your life look like?

Before COVID-19: Wake up, shower, leave the apartment by 845am, take the train to Manhattan, arrive at work by 930am. Work till 5pm. Take the train to Brooklyn and go to CrossFit. Go home and make dinner. Work on some personal projects till midnight, and then bedtime!

COVID-19: Wake up, work, sleep. lol

Working in a creative industry, do you ever face burnout or creative blocks?

Yes, this is very common. I just take a break, or lookup reference material to spark inspiration. If all fails, I just don’t work. At that point, it’s pointless. Designers are looking at a computer screen 12 hours a day, so it’s to be expected. 

I’ve always been really inspired by you - from what you see to the music you like to what you share on social media and what you design. I have to ask, what inspires you? 

Thank you! Music is my biggest inspiration. I listen to music 24/7, and sometimes a visual just comes to mind and I always write it down. I really enjoy emotive music, and it just sparks the most creativity for me. Other designers and Instagram is also a big source of inspiration for me. 

If there is anything that I think Gauchos are known for, it’s thinking bigger and acting beyond what societal limitations are. Gauchos might still work a 9-5, but they see the big picture. That being said, what do you still want to do? 

I want to travel more. I want to live and work abroad for a period of my life. I’m just now breaking into the industry I want, so my next step is to put in the work for now, then eventually go freelance as a 3D motion designer. The freelance world is very lucrative, but also very volatile. I’m willing to dive in and see how it goes when the time comes. At that point, living and working abroad is a completely viable option. The dream!

That’s awesome. And I can’t talk about UCSB without mentioning this: I can’t tell someone I graduated from UCSB without them saying “party school.” What’s your take?

I mean, it definitely is, although much more than that. I’ve never gotten a negative reaction from anyone because of it. More so, they wish they could have partied there. I don’t really care that it is perceived that way to be honest. 

In retrospect, is there anything that you think needs to change about either UCSB or college culture overall? 

The cost of higher education. Like I mentioned before, most schools are for-profit, and until our country values education like it does the military and oil, nothing will change. College should be free for everyone–period. 

Lastly, what is something you would go back and tell your college-age self?

To be more comfortable in your skin. Take more risks. Stay out later. Say yes more. It’s not that serious.

seven questions with alex manrique:

I can’t go a day without… coffee

Everyone should read… at least one book a year.

Life is better with a little… communication.

Everyone in their 20s should… take more risks.

One insider thing to do in Brooklyn… get a bagel at Bagel Pub.

What the world needs right now is… non-partisan policies.

One way to spread love is… tell people you love them more often.

You can follow Alex on Instagram here. Be sure to also check out his portfolio! 

All photos courtesy of Alex Manrique.