The University of Minnesota is home to nearly 50,000 students majoring in over 50 different fields of study. The campus currently has over 1,000 student organizations, 25 sports clubs, and almost any intramural activity you can think of. There are countless volunteer opportunities on and off campus, and a variety of unique work places and internships. So, how does one stick out in the sea of people?

I was able to meet one special student, Ryan Burger, to learn about what makes him a unique student and the activities he is involved in around campus. As a Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering student, Ryan is involved on campus with a small range of unique classes to his major and is also part of the Sustainable Systems Management (SSM) Club. Outside of his hefty load of calculus, chemistry, and engineering-based courses, he manages to participate in intramural basketball, volleyball, and frisbee.

His service to our campus community deserves recognition, and I am honored to be a part of the Gopher community where students like Ryan aid in the success and unification of our campus.

Meet Ryan

Q: What makes you a unique student?

A: Mymajor is one of the newest in CSE. It's also one of the smallest (37 students earned the degree last year). I just switched to the major from chemical engineering and really appreciate the fact that the classes seem more personal both between professor and student as well as student to student. There's an intro class first semester that takes every student on a weekend retreat that encourages building connections. I love the fact that the field is still emerging, as it gives me inspiration for what I can do after I get my degree. I know there will be plenty that can potentially be revolutionized regarding bio-renewable products and other fields in the sustainability industry. I've already been able to see potential impacts I can have through the Sustainable Systems Management Club. The club focuses on incorporating projects to the university that can make it more beneficial to the environment. It also provides opportunities to make connections in the industry along with discovering the various impacts we can make. While the SSM club is tied to the SSM major, the diversity of knowledge and experiences is wide and features other BBE majors. This allows for many different perspectives for problem solving as well as creative ideas.

Q: Do you recommend the SSM club to others and how would they find more information on it?

A: The best part about SSM club is that it's very easy for anyone to get involved. We try to keep multiple projects going and each person can find a role, be it finding connections, marketing, or planning. Thanks to the diversity in education of the club, there are natural groups that form featuring people with similar roles. The officers look for opportunities in future meetings and allow the meetings to be pretty involved. We meet in Nicholson 145 on Thursdays from 6-7. The email is ssmclub@umn.edu.

Q: What is your day-to-day life like? When do you typically get up in the morning? Do you prioritize work? School? Clubs?

A: I either leave my apartment by 8 a.m. to catch a bus to St. Paul or walk to West Bank at 9:30. I like to have a schedule that features multiple breaks between classes. I get worn out if I have to go from one class to another and hurry there. I've been able to utilize that time to work on homework or study for some of my classes. I love being able to isolate myself at the top of Magrath Library and get to work for 2 hours before I catch the bus for my next class. As the semester has gone along I've unfortunately changed those opportunities out for more naps, but I've still been able to avoid having a homework overload at night by chipping away at work throughout the day. I love being involved in intramurals: I play ultimate, volleyball and basketball. As far as clubs and activities go, I play saxophone in the university band, I'm in SSM club and innovative engineers, another project-based club. I'm currently working with a group on a building a drone that will be used to deliver medical supplies in developing countries using GPS. That group meets twice a week and has done a lot to teach me about problem-solving, testing, and other very useful engineering skills. I don't work, as I feel I already have weeks that I struggle through to get everything done.

Q: What is something you never go a day without doing?

A: I try to talk to each of my roommates every day. I feel I have a great relationship with each one of them and they're all capable of putting me in a great mood with any given conversation. I rely on them a lot for advice or simply an ear to spit words at.

I also waste a lot of time reading sports articles. I have multiple apps from websites that I read from. Mostly about the NBA and NFL, but also the college sports and rarely the other major sports. I love articles that are stat-heavy for nerds like me, but I also really appreciate an article that mixes in a good amount of humor. Most of the time, I read them on the bus or possibly during a break between classes. I often catch myself getting distracted while I should be working. I don't have Twitter or Instagram, so I guess you could say sports articles are my social media.

Q: At the end of the day, what do you always hope to have accomplished?

A: My goal for each day is to have something that I can say I did that was productive, and something I can say that I enjoyed. First semester, I had a spreadsheet where each day I would rate my productivity and my enjoyment on a scale of 0-100. I would also write down what my most notable accomplishment was as well as what the most notable (fun/interesting) activity was. It was a great way for me to check up on how well I had been keeping up with school, but also to realize that even when I get stressed, there are some great things that happen in my life. I also could check whether I had been switching up what I do for fun and trying new things.

Q: What other interests or hobbies do you have that people might not expect if they don’t know you?

A: Some people may not associate engineers with sports, but they're what keep me going. I love the competitive nature of sports and it's a phenomenal opportunity to relieve stress. I find that when I go awhile without playing sports, I struggle to focus and keep up with other aspects of my life. I also love playing saxophone. I've played in band since 5th grade. The only time during the school year I wasn't in band was my first semester of college. I was worried about the pressure while adapting to school, but I didn't realize how much I would miss it. I signed up with some friends second semester and it was a crucial change in my college experience. Band is my only outlet for my limited artistic abilities. I find I have so much energy after band, to the point that I call my mood after band a 'post-band high.' I've made numerous friends in band and really enjoy the people in it. I wouldn't be able to function at the level that I do without band.

Fast Facts

Hometown: Stillwater, Minnesota

Major: Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering

Year in School: Sophomore

Favorite Artist/Band: OneRepublic or Imagine Dragons

Favorite Subject: Chemistry

Favorite Fast Food Place: Taco House

Favorite Spot on Campus: The Mall

Favorite NFL Team: Green Bay Packers

Favorite NBA Team: Minnesota Timberwolves

Is there something that makes you or a friend a unique student whether it be a unique major or job, involvement with a club, or something else? Nominate someone to be the next "Day in the Life" student here!