Binghamton Junior, Emma Guzikowski has been a tour guide at Binghamton since June 29th.  In an exclusive interview, she reveals all in a raw behind the scenes look at her work for the University. 

The two of us sat down to talk in a quaint little park off campus.  Emma brought the coffee, leaving a great taste in my mouth for the interview (pun intended.)  She seemed eager to talk about her tour guide position, and exhibited an enthusiasm that seems to be missing from working students these days.

OTR: So Emma, you get the first one-on-one look at the potential body of future students. What's that like?

EG: "I guess it's cool. A lot of the potential students are really smart and want to go into difficult fields.
It's fun to see them get excited about certain things in the university." She sips her coffee and looks up at me innocently "There's a lot of cute future student boys."

OTR:  "Cute boys... Does that ever get distracting?"

EG: "Not really," she says, now more nonchalantly.  "It's just a perk of the job."

OTR:  "While we're on the subject, are you single?"

EG:  "I'm not."

OTR: "Uh oh. There's going to be a lot of disappointed readers out there."

EG: "Oh Char"... She blushes.  "Isn't this supposed to be about tour guiding?" She giggles, and I can't help but grin at her modesty.

OTR: "You're right," I say, getting back on topic."What's the strangest question you have ever been asked?"

EG: "A woman once asked me, 'Where's the Chabad House?'  and I told her it was off campus, about a five minute drive, or students can walk through Newing.  10 seconds later, after consulting the map, she asks, 'Why isn't it on the map?' Because, I say, it's off campus.  A few seconds, after consulting the map again, she asks, 'where's the Chabad House?'

OTR: "Wow, it must get frustrating when people don't listen.  Do the parents ever get snooty with you?"

EG: "Sometimes.  I just try to be friendly and helpful anyway."  She sips her coffee, and a jolts up, as if a light bulb went off.  "Another classic question: 'What does free laundry mean?'

OTR:  "That's funny; but, hopefully these future students didn't inherit their parent's I.Qs.  Is there a particular question that you can always count on being asked?"

EG: "Are we going to see a dorm room?... We tell them at the beginning of the tour that they will see a dorm room.  During the summer, we show model rooms in CIW, a suite and two corridors.  They never believe the rooms are accurately sized, and they always accuse me of showing 'the nicest rooms.'"

OTR: "Are they the nicest rooms?"

EG: "Not really.  They're average, since they're in CIW.  The bookstore decorates them."

OTR: "What random Bing facts do you offer on your tours?"

EG: "I point out the 'spine' of the campus which runs from Academic A to Dickinson Community.  10-12% of students are involved in Greek life.  During Spring Fling, we have a pool party in the fountain with bubbles.

OTR: "Does that really happen?"

EG: "I think so, right?  They put bubbles in the fountain...?"

OTR: "You seem unsure of that.  Do you ever get questions that you just don't know the answers to?  And, if so, how do you respond."

EG: "I just say, 'I'm not actually sure,' and direct them to speak with an admissions counselor or to look on the website for more information."

OTR: "What's your favorite part about being a tour guide?"

EG: "Meeting nice students and parents, and when people laugh at the jokes I make."  She laughs maniacally for a brief moment.

OTR: "Do you reuse jokes, or do you just go with whatever pops into your mind?"

EG: "I repeat the same speeches every time, unless I'm interacting one on one with a family."

OTR: "Being a tour guide is a lot of responsibility.  You are essentially representing Binghamton, do you get nervous?"

EG: "No, I don't usually get nervous.  My personality is very friendly, and I am an articulate person so I think I represent the student body well."

OTR: "Well, those are great qualities to have.  How do you plan on using your experience as a tour guide for your future goal.  In other words, what do you plan to do?"

EG: "It will be a good thing to put on grad school or law school applications to show that i got involved in the university, and it shows that i have good public speaking skills and can handle being in front of large groups of people."  She stands up and stretches.  "Any last questions?  I have to go be a tour guide soon." 
 

OTR:  "Yes, it's probably one of the more cliche questions in an interview, but what have you learned, so far, from your experiences as a tour guide?"

EG: "Ummm, what I've learned from being a tour guide would be learning about how the university is really selective. 26,000 people apply and about 2,500 people are accepted per year for the freshman class. Also, that there are a lot of crazy families out there."