Student Spotlight: Meet Teresa Muñoz

Posted August 5, 2021

With the 2020–2021 academic year drawing to a close, we sat down with Teresa Muñoz, a fourth-year History, Technology, and Society (HTS) major to ask how the last year has affected her Georgia Tech experience. 

Why did you choose the HTS major? What are your career goals with this degree? 

I chose HTS because I have always enjoyed history since I was a child reading historical novels, and this major aligns with my career plans of either historical preservation or textile conservation. I also think it's really important in our increasingly STEM-driven and forward-thinking society to maintain a historical perspective and receive a well-rounded education. I chose to minor in Spanish because I am a third-generation Cuban American and learning more about my culture and language helps me stay connected to my roots. 

Why did you choose Georgia Tech — a huge STEM school? What made GT stand out to you? 

I chose Georgia Tech for several reasons. I am the third generation of my family to attend Tech, so I have always been around Tech, and it feels like home. When I was looking at colleges in high school, I knew I wanted a smaller school, one where I would not feel like just another cog in the wheel of academia. Georgia Tech is a pretty big school, but the School of History and Sociology (HSOC) is actually quite small. Having the advantages of a large, prestigious research university in the heart of Atlanta while also forming a community of mentorship and camaraderie in my department has been very special. Study abroad opportunities and earning a BS were also major factors in my decision. 

The dreaded question — do you think Covid-19 impacted your student experience here at Tech? In what ways? What would you change about this past year, given the chance? 

Covid-19 drastically changed my experience at Tech. I am one of those students who thrives in an in-person, discussion- and lecture-based class, so the fact that the pandemic did away with most of that was very difficult for me. I ended up taking a leave of absence for spring 2021 after experiencing extreme burnout. If I could change anything for the past year, I would have gone on the two study abroad trips I had signed up for. I would have gained a new perspective through travel, but instead, I gained one through the travails of the pandemic. 

What organizations are you involved with on campus, and how have they affected your student experience? 

I am very involved in the Catholic Student Organization and have served in various positions. The Catholic Center was only completely closed for a couple of months, after which we returned in partial operation with many precautions. Having my community around me and being able to continue being enriched spiritually, scholastically, and socially was a great boon. I am also involved the fledgling GT Historical and Sociological Society as co-vice president. We have just become an officially Registered Student Organization and are working on expanding our reach to the general Tech population. I am also a member of Phi Alpha Theta Honor Society and the Reacting to the Past Reenactment Club. 

What are your future goals? How do you think graduating from Georgia Tech will impact your future? 

I will be graduating in December of 2022 after which I will be taking a gap year of travel or work before starting grad school. I plan on getting my master's in either historical preservation or art conservation, but I am still considering different programs. My father, who got out in '88 with a management degree, has always told me the great value of a Tech education is not only in the way it prepares us for life as problem solvers but also in the reputation associated with it.