We asked some of the brightest folks from within the community to reflect back on their days in school and to share with us a story of when they learned a particularly important or impactful lesson. We’ve shared highlights below.
Krista Bartik
In cosmetology school I entered Beacon, a contest for new individuals to the beauty industry. I was lucky enough to be chosen as one of 300 students to attend 2018 NAHA in Las Vegas. While I was there I heard a quote that still resonates with me to this day. “Your level of success equals your level of hunger”. I’d always been a hard worker, but this quote puts into perspective on where motivation truly comes from. Read more>>
Del Yarisantos
So DevMoms was created to be my capstone in grad school and an opportunity had come to where I could apply my DevMom business plan. Since my capstone semester was a couple of months ahead, I thought why not try it now and I can refine my writing later. Two birds one stone! And I was able to with execute with my awesome Co-Founder on our first operation plan with our customer! We went through planning, ideation, and then implementation. Luckily this customer brought us more customers. Where I could test and prove some of the processes. Read more>>
Shekina Farr
I vividly remember starting my doctoral program in 2005. I was so excited to have applied and been accepted, I was on cloud nine. What I didn’t know was that I would be required (no option) to take a full load the first two semesters of enrollment, on top of commuting an hour while working two jobs. Was I ever in over my head! Read more>>
Jennifer Emelogu
The most important lesson I learned in college is that….college was for me, but college isn’t for everyone. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t trade my college experience for anything. But if I had the chance to do it all over again, I would do things a little bit differently. First, I wouldn’t listen the people who told me “Just go and get a college degree in anything, it doesn’t matter what you major in.” Though they thought they were helping me, they were giving me antiquated advice. That advice was pertinent to the college goer in the 70’s, 80’s or even the early 90’s. Read more>>
Natalie Slater
I graduated from Columbia College in Chicago where I majored in magazine writing. My professors were all working writers and editors, and our curriculum focused on the art and ethics of crafting a story. We spent years studying the Associated Press Style Book, getting advice on how and where to sniff out a story, learning how to formulate the perfect nut graf (first paragraph)… but we didn’t learn the business of professional writing. Read more>>
Alexandria Rodriguez
learning only happens inside of a classroom. I needed a desk, 4 walls, and a teacher in order for me to learn something. Post-pandemic that view flew out the window. To be transparent, I struggled a lot with my mental health during my first year of college. I was never a perfect student, but I performed well. And the real world was no joke! Read more>>
Tyrik Wynn
In December of 2018 I started my business, Wynn Productions LLC which is a video production company based here in Metro Atlanta. Earlier that year, I started school at Georgia State University. When I started I was itching to get involved with organizations that were related to my field. I joined student media at Georgia State and when I joined I learned how to edit, on camera presence, how to work cameras and more. Learning these skills helped me tremendously within my business. Read more>>
Becca Messenger
As a creative problem solver, a key lesson I learned in college was to always prioritize the conceptual nature of a project. I’m a graphic designer by trade, but I graduated with a degree in Mass Communications with a plan to enter the advertising field. To do so I had to take a few concept-heavy portfolio classes with instructors from lauded agencies – so, the pressure was on. I had one professor in particular who always reminded us, even when we presented something near-perfectly executed, that it didn’t matter how gorgeous something was if it wasn’t conceptually sound. The thought behind a campaign was always the most important factor to success, and everything else was just decoration. Read more>>