Current Student Spotlight

“Do it all,” that’s my motto.  There’s no reason to stroll by in life because you may miss out on amazing opportunities if you don’t do it now. That’s how I've ended up with the amazing opportunities I have had: studying abroad, two amazing internships, graduate school, Ad Team, Study Away graduate assistantship...you name it.  It fits with my “go-getter,” leader, travel-loving, hardworking, marketing-fanatic, personality.  I’m determined to succeed in everything I do!

There is always that defining moment when you know exactly what you want to do. Mine came in high school during an introduction to marketing class. We were looking at different advertisements from publications and listening to speakers from marketing departments from a number of companies.  Something just clicked, and I knew.

My marketing strengths lie in the account-area side: interacting with clients, working on brand strategy, and research.  I was lucky enough to develop these skills during my internship at Momentum Worldwide in St. Louis during summer 2012; I worked on the Smucker account, and I also added to these skills during this past semester as vice president of MSU’s Ad Team.

This year Ad Team got the exciting opportunity to work on a campus brand challenge for AT&T to help with their marketing toward Gen Y consumers and to increase awareness of their “It Can Wait,” no texting and driving campaign. My roles included Vice President and Director of Research.  Ad Team is a huge commitment but has been worth every minute.  It has helped me grow as a leader, improve my presentation and report writing skills and has given me opportunities to work with a Fortune 500 company that I would not have been able to do without the team.  I have learned so much from being on Ad Team.

I love to travel.  I studied abroad during the summer of 2011 through Forum Nexus.  This program was the perfect mix of what I was looking for in a short-term, study-away trip.  We visited six countries in six weeks: Spain, France, Italy, Switzerland, Greece and Turkey.  Other than traditional classes and group projects, we visited and met with individuals at a number of companies abroad: L’Oreal, Louis Vuitton, Zero Advertising, ABC Communications, Sipra, IGP Decaux, Damm Brewery, SEAT, UNESCO, Arcelik & LG joint venture, Renault, OECD, United Nations and the World Trade Organization.

I knew I wanted to take advantage of my ability to study away one last time, so I’ve decided to study in Rennes, France this summer. I truly believe travel and cultural immersion allows you to gain a new perspective on the world but also yourself.  These opportunities will set me apart from peers because it shows my ability to adapt, openness to other cultures and experiences and flexibility. I think everyone should take advantage of any chance they have to study away. 

In five years, I see myself living in a big city or abroad working in a marketing agency or in a marketing department at a large company.  I’m hoping that working for a large agency or company will allow me to gain all kinds of experiences. I hope to have amazing adventures and really relish every day. 

Other than traveling internationally with my family and hanging out with my friends, I love to go to concerts.  I've attended many local concerts in both Springfield and St. Louis, but I've also been to a few festivals, including Bonnaroo in Manchester, TN and Lollapalooza in Chicago, IL.  I love to shop, take pictures, dance and do hot yoga, too.