- Reflection -
To try and put into summary something that has been a part of my life for the last almost five years is actually a lot more difficult than I would expect. School and specifically my college career has been something that I have had to continually fight for and put all my efforts into, wholeheartedly. But because I have wanted to. No one has forced me to do so, and we now live in a day and age where some may say college education isn’t even as “necessary”. My story begins in 2013. I just had graduated from high school and it was time to decide where the next leg of my journey was going to take me. I toured many campuses, even went on a college interview, but it still wasn’t right. Living and growing up in a town with a community college (NCCC) and having personal connections such as my mother being a student herself there and my grandmother as an employee in the Dean’s Office, it seemed like the obvious choice. But still not for me. I knew I still wanted to remain close to home, but begin my journey somewhere. And journey it has been. I completed my first full year at Tunxis in the Human Services program, but I realized then that I wanted to take some time off to really find out what I wanted to do. I returned to Tunxis in 2015 and with the guidance of Professor Sally Terrell, she got me in contact with Professor Amy Feest. It’s really amazing where one path leads you to and the people that lead you along the way, like an interwoven network.
Attending college has never been a real question for me; I always knew I wanted to go. College has been a large part in my personal brand because I have always wanted to portray myself as a well-educated woman in society. I ended up choosing Tunxis because I wanted to be close enough to home to still commute, be home with my family, and earn money working part-time, all the while attending school. As previously stated, I have lived in a town with a community college in it my whole life, and people have asked me during my whole career at Tunxis why I would go there when I had a college right in my own town. Before even beginning my college search, Tunxis was always on my radar. The layout of the campus is very beneficial in having everything centrally located all in one general area instead of separate buildings. It definitely creates a more comfortable environment. I have also always liked the Farmington Valley area, since yes, I am a shopper and all the malls are nearby, but also for some great scenic drives and nature walks as well.
Picking my now major is not something that has come easily to me. In my four to five year career at Tunxis, I have changed majors around three or four times. In my first year, I started as a Human Services major because I knew I worked well with people and tended to do well with that. When that didn’t work out, I figured I would try the Pathway to Teaching to CCSU. After taking some time off of my studies and doing some serious self-introspection, I sat down with Professor Terrell, got connected with Professor Feest and all the puzzle pieces began to fit together. For the longest time, I doubted myself. I didn’t believe that I was “smart enough” or “tough enough” to be in the Business Administration program. I figured I would have to be competitive, aggressive, etc., none of which I am. This idea became more and more false the more I went through the Business program.
By the second semester in as a Business Administration major, my grades shot up exponentially. I was beginning to receive straight A’s in all my classes, making Dean’s List two semesters in a row. I was shocked. My previous misconceptions were completely erased and I was ecstatic. This only continued to make me want to work harder and harder. One class I remember most fondly, and not because of the material, but because of the professor, was Algebra with my professor Joan Sattler. On the first day of this class, Professor Sattler pulled me aside and even told me that due to my placement test scores, she was worried about how I would do in the class. It’s never a good feeling when the teacher calls your name and asks to speak with you on the first day of class; you already feel like the odd one out. I always struggled with math in elementary, middle school, and high school. Having a professor like Professor Sattler who was passionate in helping me understand the material was so crucial to my success. When I received my final grade in this class, I emailed her and said “Is this correct? Is 100 (A+) really my grade?!”, to which I received a response of “You are not mistaken, that is correct!” She is someone who I will remember in my college career for really helping to give me that confidence boost I needed.
Since being in the Business Administration program now and having completed nearly all the program requirements, many of these courses and the assignments for them have taught me some very valuable lessons both in and outside of the classroom. Some of the pieces I have uploaded to my portfolio really exemplify the hard work I have put into this program and also tools I will use in my future endeavors. For example, one piece of evidence that I really believe shows some of my strengths in the Business degree program is a writing assignment I did for Principles of Marketing. For this assignment, I was to assess my hometown and research how profitable starting up a business would be and how various trends would affect this. I did a lot of research for this assignment and really dug into the many facets of entrepreneurship and business management, and how being aware of these factors and how to strategically market plays such a vital role to a business’s success or failure. I have even used some of this knowledge and related it to activities at Target, where I presently work. When explaining our Target app or various other services we offer, I try and tailor the benefits to exactly what the customer is interested in whether it be a fast checkout experience or having the ability to pay with their smartphone.
Additionally, I also have a variety of other courses for my General Education requirements. For example, for my science elective, I chose to take Introduction to Nutrition. Although nutrition does not directly correlate with business, having a vast array of courses really makes students more well-rounded individuals. The General Education courses really provide a more open-minded way of thinking and analyzing the world around us. For example, if I were to open my own business someday, nutrition, healthy living, and well-being would all be priorities in my business mission.
Another vital part of my Business Administration program has been my internship. An internship experience and being able to apply knowledge learned in the classroom to real-world situations helps to further enhance understanding the language and world of business. For my internship, I have been interning with Bridge Street Live out of Collinsville, Connecticut as a marketing intern. The culture of Bridge Street is one that is eclectic, entertaining, and welcoming to all. The workplace culture there is one that is casual yet fast-paced, busy, and collaborative. Bridge Street’s overall vibe is definitely one that would fit with my ideal employer. I really appreciate the casual atmosphere and working area and how there is a very collaborative effort with everyone involved.
Working with my marketing director, Rebecca, closely every week and looking at new ways to market to our clientele has been very important in learning about who Bridge Street is and the customer base we serve, from the acts that we book to the food that we serve; everything is in the details. One thing about the internship that has been most surprising to me is how much planning goes into even just one event. In the months before pre-production (shows began in March), Rebecca and I were beginning then to brainstorm about shows months in advance and how to market them. I also learned more about the music and entertainment industry. It is hectic, busy, and ever-changing. To be in the business, you have to be flexible with things changing all the time and adapt to that. I always thought of marketing as a 9-5 office day, but that is one thing that I learned isn’t true. This business is one that runs late at night, sometimes into the early morning hours, as do many entertainment venues. It is constantly evolving and involves a lot of work in and out of the office. Some new skills I have acquired during this internship is exploring marketing with social media and the power of networking. Some tasks that I have exceled at include working with new technology and utilizing various social media platforms to market Bridge Street, creating press releases, and networking with our customers and media outlets as well. This internship has really changed my personal brand because I feel like it has helped to make me more confident in my abilities and pushing my own personal boundaries and limits.
One of my biggest weaknesses before starting my degree was not reaching out more to people. I feel like I am much better at networking with others and reaching out and talking more to people. I overcame this weakness by pushing past my own fears and just simply talking to people. It’s amazing what happens when you just strike up a conversation with someone, because we all have a story to tell. One of the most important things I have learned as a student is to work hard, consistently. It is one thing to work hard, but to keep at something you are passionate about speaks volumes and the end result will show that – the fruit of thy labor. My mother really deserves the most thanks in getting me through my degree program and my whole college career. She has spent countless nights helping me to study, being my audience to practice presentations, and has sacrificed time and money to make sure that I complete my schooling, especially while I am young. I admire her amazing work ethic and how hard she has had to work for everything she presently has in her life. As a single mother, woman homeowner, and a strong individual, I thank her for her drive and her pushing me to better my life. Looking back in ten years, I will remember the countless nights of lost sleep and hours of studying, great experiences inside and outside of school, and the wonderful people I have met and become close to along the way, all making a difference in embarking on this next chapter of creating a great future for myself.