Weekend Advice from Recent Scholars

We asked recent Scholars at the end of their Scholars Weekend for the advice they’d pass on to future Scholars, or things they wished they’d known before arriving in Atlanta. Read their words of wisdom below!

Get to know your fellow Scholars (and the staff, too!)

Don't be afraid to put yourself out there/join random conversations - try to connect with as many scholars as you can. They will be your lifelong friends!
Make sure you talk to everyone and anyone. DO NOT BE SHY or feel intimidated. You have a lot more in common with everyone than you might think.
Actively network with people and get to know them. You will come out of the program having made lifelong friends and colleagues.
Don't be afraid to reach out to people. I didn't find my closest friends until the second night, and I wish so badly that I had talked to them earlier. You only have a couple days/nights to meet people, so don't expect to make super close bonds to everyone. But it's definitely feasible to become good friends with a close-knit group.
PLEASE get to know people outside of where they’ll be attending college or what is on their resume and you will find yourself with lifelong friends instead of people you’re competing to feel you belong with for a week!
Talk to everybody you can! Don’t be afraid to start up a conversation, you never know who might be going to the same school as you and that way you’ll already have friends in the fall!
It is seriously the best weekend ever! The coke family are your biggest supporters. So step out of your comfort zone and try to meet everyone!
Be open to new interactions with others outside your comfort zone or identity. Because they are is no specific group/race/income with this scholarship, you will meet people who have different experiences than you. Talking to them will really help you grow so much in a weekend.
Plan to socialize but solely within the confines of the building you find yourself in. Though in Atlanta for the week, know that while the city itself may be beautiful, you're expected to find the more hidden beauties present in front of you through the relationships you'll establish, the family you'll find yourself in and the splendor encompassed in the week as a whole.
My advice for the Scholar's next year is to not be afraid to make connections. Every scholar will be feeling the same emotions you will and everyone is very open to sharing genuine connections. I wish I had not felt afraid to approach more people.
Reach out to people beforehand! There is so little time and it helps if you have already met some fellow scholars!
I started asking "What's your ideal future contribution to your field?" instead of "Where are you going to college?"
It is better to get to know less people on a personal level than to briefly meet everyone. Make the connections matter.
Introduce yourself to anyone and everyone—the scholars, staff, LDI facilitators, etc. are amongst the greatest people you will ever meet! Friendships will form so organically, and the week will be over before you know it.
For all fellow introverts: Finding a small circle of friends early on can help you manage the sheer amount of people and social interaction happening at once while forming close relationships. Also, it is perfectly okay to spend some alone time when you get back to the hotel. If you can enjoy yourself more by taking the time to recharge, then it is worth it!
If you can, make connections ahead of time with other scholars in the Facebook group or on other platforms. This will allow you to feel more comfortable approaching fellow scholars on the first day.
Sleeping and cell phones are cool, but you're surrounded by some of the smartest and most interesting minds in your generation. Talk to anyone, and everyone. Don't be afraid to try new things and get our of your comfort zone.

Have an open mind

Come ready to learn more about the intricacies of human stories of resilience.
Be open to opening up!
Have an open mind and heart, be ready to learn, be proactive and social, push yourself out of your comfort zone and take risks
Keep an open mind. All the leadership activities will allow you to develop traits that will stay with you forever. Friendships developed at Scholars Weekend will last a lifetime so make friends! Don’t be afraid!
To be ready to change and learn more than you can ever imagine.
Put yourself out there more! Everyone feels alone at some point. Don't be afraid to join conversations and groups. Talk to as many people as you can (they are such incredible scholars), but dive below the surface level introductions. Find the balance between befriending everyone and making close connections with a few people.
Stay hydrated and be open to new people. It can be incredibly overwhelming when you are in a group of so many talented people, but stay grounded to yourself and be open to being vulnerable with others to make the most out of the time and the people there.
Be prepared to be vulnerable—especially during the LDI discussions—and feel every emotion, whether it be joy, empathy, or excitement, with an open heart and an open mind.
Commit to fully engaging in the LDI; it will be really impactful if you do. Finally, enjoy the moment, especially the banquet. It will be gone in the blink of an eye.
No matter how nervous or exposed you may feel, do everything in your power to connect with other scholars. It is more than likely you will not know anyone there, so there is a large opportunity to see new faces and make new friends! Of course you still need to manage your time to arrive on time for sessions and get some sleep, but you should try to spend every spare moment speaking or relaxing with others (and not only through your phones!).
Come with an open mind. Be excited and connect with as many of the other scholars - you are a pool of resourceful, wise, and sincere leaders. Make the best out of this opportunity.
Be open to being vulnerable. If you’re committed to taking that step out of your comfort zone, you will find that you will learn and gain so much more throughout the process.

You belong here

Don’t go into Scholar’s Weekend thinking you don’t deserve to be there just as much as the person next to you. There’s a reason you stand in the place you do today. You worked hard for it and you made a difference.
Relax! Don't keep trying to prove yourself - just have fun!
I wish I had been more comfortable and confident. It took me a little while to acclimate to the social environment and I felt I lacked confidence earlier in the week. The message that I belonged was important and empowered me.
You belong. Don’t even question if you should be there, because trust me, you do.
Don’t worry about the possibility of not being as accomplished as other scholars. Everyone at Scholars Weekend is equally accomplished and everyone deserves to be there.
Stay out of your head and know that you are there for a reason!! You might not recognize or understand that reason when you first get there, but try to understand why you are there by the end of the Weekend. I was able to understand that I am a Scholar because I am inherently charged with a desire to make a difference in the world. Never forget your roots because humility will take you very far. Be confident in what you are capable of.
Don't doubt yourself! You're there for a reason and even though you might not have the same kind of successes as other scholars, that doesn't make you any lesser. You're all there for a reason: because you're passionate in making a difference, so don't doubt yourself in the process!!!
Remember to always feel that you belong, you made it this far and always stay true to your story during your activities!
Everyone is in the same boat as you are and do not let imposter syndrome get in the way of you truly enjoying the weekend. You were chosen for a reason and everyone truly wants to get to know you. Don't be afraid to ask questions or introduce yourself to the staff because they are the most compassionate people you will ever meet. Have fun.
Remember that you deserve to be a coke scholar. If you are seeing this advice, you were actually selected to join the community, and more importantly, you were selected for a reason. There will be scholars who run non-profits, patent inventions, and do a thousand other activities. However, that does not discount your work, passion projects, and community service that got you into this program. No one at scholars weekend is competing with each other; everyone already received the scholarship. So, don't compare yourself. Instead, think of all other scholars as compliments to you that could have the next great idea to further an initiative you've already started."

Logistics

You will not have time to do homework.
Make sure to pack enough formal clothes, sweaters, comfortable shoes, a small bag (if you do not want to carry a book bag all the time)
The day of the banquet, make sure to have somewhere to put your phone! (A small bag or pocket)
Bring sneakers!
Make sure to ask for phone numbers and social media handles from scholars! Participate in Facebook as well as GroupMe or Snapchat - this will help you get to know other scholars and for them to know you.
Bring comfortable shoes!
Try and sleep because you will be unable to focus the next day if you go to bed at 4 in the morning.
Sleep will be tough but you need it. Get contact information for everyone early on in the conference.
Go with the flow and let things happen as they come/embrace the unknown. The staff knows exactly what they're doing and you're in for an unforgettable weekend.
Be prepared to be up and going almost all of the time with little downtime, so sleep before you come and pack walking shoes.
For first time flyers, guidebook will be your main resource, and that there is always someone you can contact.
Only bring a carry-on bag if you mind paying for extra luggage. As for me I had never been on a plane before and didn’t know luggage other than a carry on was extra!
I would tell them to not overpack and only bring enough outfits as specified through the guidebook!
Get as much sleep possible the night before your flight because you won’t sleep much during scholars weekend! Also pack comfortable shoes because there is A LOT of walking.
I'd tell next year's Scholars to avoid overpacking and to prepare for an action-packed few days. I'd also tell them that they don't need to worry about bringing their own snacks since there's an abundance of food!
Download guidebook and really look at every tab that answers questions.
There is a great deal of activity packed into a rather short period of time, so make sure to have most of your schoolwork done beforehand. Also, go to sleep early, because you have to wake up early each day.
Sleep a lot before Scholars Weekend because the conversations you’ll have with the people you meet will cut down dramatically on your sleep time (in an INCREDIBLE way!!)
I wish I had known to get more sleep before the weekend so that I could have had more energy and more hours of the day to get to know all the amazing Coke scholars more!
Get enough sleep before you come! Also, come on an empty stomach, so you can EAT.
I wish I had brought my college sweater! Also, I forgot to bring my pajamas so make sure to do that! Do not forget your toothbrush.

Make the most of every moment

Really try to make the most of every moment. You're in a group of truly amazing peers, and it can be intimidating at times. But embrace that intimidation! When will you ever get to be around so many remarkable people at one time in one place again? When you find yourself becoming less engaged, just remember that every single person there has a story. Try to go beyond the superficial and ask them about their passions and their "why" for what they do. And because there are so many people, it's impossible to know everyone. Focus on building deeper connections with 3-5 people that you can continue to keep in touch with after the Weekend. It goes by fast! But as our Foundation President says, it's the opportunity of a lifetime as well as a lifetime of opportunity.
It's important to remember that you have only 3 days to interact with some of the brightest minds across the country that have now become your family and are willing to support you through your future endeavors. Take advantage of the limited time you have and make the most of the weekend by attempting to interact with as many scholars as possible; it's not awkward, I promise everyone is experiencing the same feeling! On the other hand, remember that you earned your spot in this family, so if you ever feel intimidated or overwhelmed, just know you have just as much of a right to be there as anyone else.
Inspiration is coming your way! Take the time to record meaningful experiences and make sure to get lots of photos with all the scholars from the moment you arrive. They will quickly become great friends. Also, constantly remind yourself that you truly deserve this honor. You belong.
You really get out what you put in for this weekend. Take advantage of the time you have to meet your fellow scholars and make connections with these people because the week will be gone before you know it and you don't want to leave having wished you introduced yourself to someone.
I would tell next year's scholars to relax, open your mind, and soak it all in. Spend less time thinking about being impressive, or presenting yourself in a way that might be different than who you really are, because the true value from this weekend will come from others. Really try to listen to the adults, sponsors, and other scholars, as they are all amazing people who want to help you. But, of course, make sure you have fun as well!! This was one of the best weekends of my life!