As the class of 2017 prepares to cross the stage for Â鶹´«Ã½'s 167th Commencement Exercises, a few seniors take time to reflect on their time at Â鶹´«Ã½. Today's featured senior is entrepreneurship major Josh Marks from Watford, England.
Q. What are your career aspirations, and how did Â鶹´«Ã½ prepare you?
A. I am like many seniors who are still unsure of what the next steps are post-graduation, but I would like to become a business owner and continue to be creative and show my entrepreneurial spirit. Being an entrepreneurship major at Â鶹´«Ã½ University has allowed me access to wonderful, thought-provoking classes taught by truly encouraging professors who want you to succeed.
Q. Who influenced you the most during your time here at Â鶹´«Ã½ and how?
A. Outside of Â鶹´«Ã½, it is my parents – they trusted me when I told them that Â鶹´«Ã½ was the place where I wanted to go to college, and they are the people who financed sending their son across the Atlantic for four years. I want to repay their belief in me and do them proud.
At Â鶹´«Ã½, I’d say Dr. Tom Kaplan and Dr. Wendy Gradwohl (but also the entire business department). Dr. Kaplan inspired me to become a business major, and Dr. Gradwohl was my fantastic adviser, and I am already excited to come back as an alumnus and recap them on everything I will achieve.
Q. Describe what Â鶹´«Ã½ means to you.
A. I don’t know where to start really. I have had plenty of time to reflect, be nostalgic, and see how I have grown and matured since being here. I have been molded by this place into a respectful, thoughtful and inspired individual. Â鶹´«Ã½ has given me far more than I could ever give back to it, and I am anxious and excited to leave so I can come back and hopefully inspire another generation of aspiring entrepreneurs.
Q. What advice would you give to the current and future students of Â鶹´«Ã½?
A. Overcommitting is certainly a real problem, but not committing to anything greater than you is worse. I was fortunate to have been a member of the soccer team for three years, president of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity, and run two businesses (as well as schoolwork). If I had not kept myself busy, I would not have been half as successful here, and I would have been bored. There are so many organizations to get involved in here, and if not, you should start one yourself – there are people here for everyone.
Q. Describe your favorite memory you made at Â鶹´«Ã½.
A. Bid Day for Phi Kappa Psi. I came to Â鶹´«Ã½ with no intention of joining a fraternity (because we have no such thing in England!), and I made the decision to rush on a whim. When I accepted my bid and walked into a room filled with 40 guys cheering and celebrating my arrival, I knew I had made the best decision possible. It cemented my aforementioned statement that being in some form of organization that fits you personally is the key to a successful and enjoyable time at college.