In a new book, alumna Christina Lopez passes on the lessons she’s learned from her varied career to help busy students achieve success
If there’s anyone qualified to write a book about how to study effectively in higher education while also juggling life’s other responsibilities, it’s Christina Carmelle Lopez, who graduated from UC San Diego’s School of Global Policy and Strategy (GPS) in 2005 and, later, earned an M.B.A. in international business. Beyond school, she has worked as a diplomat for the U.S. government in London, as an executive director at Pepperdine University’s Caruso School of Law and, most recently, as a higher education consultant at Deloitte.
Now, she adds “author” to that list of accomplishments with the recent release of her book, “Get the Degree Without Losing Your Mind: The Busy Student’s Guide to Study Hacking.”
In the book, which draws on those work and academic experiences, she shares tried-and-tested advice with students so they can develop good study habits, write effectively and optimize their brainpower to achieve academic success — all while maintaining balance in life.
She has busy students in mind, including those who are studying for a degree while also working full time. That’s something Lopez has experience with herself, having obtained an M.B.A. at the same time that she was on the senior leadership team at Pepperdine Law. To be the most useful to readers in that position, Lopez said that “Get the Degree Without Losing Your Mind” is written to be practical and concise, and perhaps most importantly, accessible. She said that she intentionally wrote it in a conversational style so that it would be easy for students to read, even if their brains have been fried by a long day of school or work.
“I included only the ‘best of the best’ study hacks and tips for personal effectiveness, and the information is laid out in a workbook-style format which makes it easy to read and apply,” she said.
Another thing Lopez emphasizes in the book is the way in which careers take unexpected turns.
“I also talk about how a career is more of a winding road than a straight ladder,” she said.
And while this is certainly true of Lopez’s path, she made it clear that GPS was the best place for her to start that journey.
“My education here is what helped me succeed on the Foreign Service exam — and if it weren’t for that, I wouldn’t have started out on the journey that I’m on today,” she said.
Get the Degree Without Losing Your Mind: The Busy Student’s Guide to Study Hacking is available wherever books are sold. The author is offering UC San Diego and GPS alumni and students a special discount on her website.
