午夜剧场

How did you听learn about 午夜剧场?听What led you to enroll?听听

Growing up in Anderson, I always heard about it. I had a cousin who went to Anderson. She had nothing but great things to say. So, having family connections and growing up here, I knew Anderson had a good reputation. And then also, cost came into听the equation.听Those are the three听main reasons.听听

Was听majoring in supply听chain听your听original plan?听听

I听started听college听as a kinesiology major, then听decided听that it听wasn't听for me, especially after the听first six听months of COVID. I went to the听College听of Business. One of my听close friends听from high school听transferred听to AU. He started in supply chain before me. I told him, 鈥淚 was听transferring听out of (another department),鈥� and he said, 鈥淐ome give听my major听a听look and give it a try.鈥澨齀听kind of fell听in love with it. I听talked to Dr. Whitehead for the first time,听asked her听about what听I'd听be doing and what the major was, and it was right up my alley. It sounded challenging enough.听I听would听always have听problems听to solve听daily.听听

What are some听of your听favorite听memories听of being a student at AU?听听

One听of my听most cherished听memories from college...听Some听friends听and I had a weekly Tuesday night meet up where we听hung听out. We听prayed together, sang hymns鈥攄id life together, every Tuesday night for four years. And even during COVID, we met on Zoom. Another core memory was working as a student employee for the university. I made听tight听friends听while working a lot of late nights and early mornings听setting up for听campus听events.听

What kind of job was it? 听

I worked in guest services,听specifically in our听events听productions听department. I ran sound and video for orientations,听campus worship,听lectures听and guest events.听听I听was all over听the听campus听which听gave me the opportunity to connect with incredible people.听That experience,听being able to put听both technology and customer service听on my r茅sum茅,听helped听me get into听the professional role听I鈥檓听in.听

I'm听currently听working in IT. Although I have a business degree in supply chain,听I鈥檓 in a discipline that I don't have a degree for, but having a business degree carries a lot of听versatility and听then having technical experience with听my听degree听helped听me get a job in a forward-facing customer service role听for technology meeting听users needs鈥櫶齛t their desk.听My AU experience set me up for听success in听my career听regardless of the direction my path takes me.听

What are some听more听ways you feel like听your AU education has听helped听you in your job?听

I will tell you that everything costs money鈥攜ou hear that a lot in our听Supply Chain program.听Having a听supply chain and production planning and inventory management听mindset,听I sit down and look at听a production听line that's sitting still and not moving, and I can tell you right off the bat; this is costing.听I understand that manufacturing business involves many different people, this group, that business unit, and all these different folks that are planning and playing into it. Having the background from my supply chain education, helps me understand the importance and the effect of what I do and how it impacts the business in unseen ways.听听

My education听also helps me understand looking at problems听and being able to say, "If we prioritize this issue first, it's going to put the most points on the board in ways people don鈥檛 see but have the greatest impact on the business.鈥�听

At the end of the day, what gives you听a feeling of accomplishment?听听

For me,听it鈥檚听alleviating people's stresses and needs from the customer service side. From the business side, my sense of accomplishment is being听able to step back and听say, 鈥淚've been working on something for weeks or months now.鈥� Here's how it's going to pay off for the business and here's how it's going to make us more effective. 听

That gives me听extraordinary satisfaction, and as an aspiring entrepreneur,听it听excites me to be able to say, "Hey look, I did that. These are the tangible business results.鈥� That is, in my opinion, part of business education鈥攖o push you to go above and beyond. I've always had those goals, ever since I was a young teenager. The College of Business absolutely helped advance my goals, but then also give me a mindset of听鈥渄on't settle for where you're at.鈥澨�听

If somebody would ask you about working in Supply Chain Management, what would you tell them about considering that as a potential career? 听

The entire business world revolves around supply chain. Even if you work in digital content, even this interview is a supply chain. You're sitting here talking to me, a supplier of information, and I鈥檓 giving you something to put out. If you want a career, but also a professional degree experience that's going to open many doors and give you many options, a degree in supply chain is where you need to go. 听

I understand that 午夜剧场 was especially helpful as you were overcoming a health challenge.听

When I was 17, I had a hemorrhagic stroke. I was born with a brain aneurysm and didn't know it until it ruptured. I'm in a lifelong recovery. I'll always carry the effects of my injury; that鈥檚 always a factor I must take into everything. I've been blessed go to college at a university that was all incredibly understanding and willing to work with me to help me be successful. They helped me with being able to communicate with professors. My needs were understood. 听

It听looks like the Lord听is听looking out听for you.听听

Absolutely. I look at it like听this;听you听can't听let it slow you down. And听you're听going to live one of听two听ways, miserable or happy, and I would much rather live a happy and full life. Having the right people听around you makes it possible to live a happy and full life. During my college听experience,听AU听made it possible.听

Is there anything else听you'd听like people to know about Anderson?听听

If you're willing and you choose the right program, you will absolutely get every penny out of it. You're going to get a return on your investment if you're prepared to put the work in during and after college.听Any听way听you cut听it,听you will leave AU prepared for the future.听