Following is a Q&A with one of the 1,379 students who received a diploma May 5 at UW-Stout.
Name: Gabriella Parker
Hometown: St. Paul
Major: Business administration
Awards, honors: Chancellor’s Award four years, Multicultural Student Scholarship, Carl and Laura Seitz Endowed Business Administration Scholarship, Alpha Phi Endowed Scholarship, speaker at UW System Board of Regents meeting 2017, McNair Scholar
Why did you choose UW-Stout? I liked the hands-on learning. I learn better that way, so I knew that this school would be for me. I also was far enough away from home, so my parents would have to tell me they are coming. But they were still close enough to be here if I needed anything. Thanks Mom and Dad.
What are the biggest obstacles you faced in earning your degree? My first obstacle was time management. Learning to be able to get homework done, be involved in a student organization, and working a job. You learn that every minute counts during the day. Another obstacle was the coursework. I had to understand that I couldn’t wait to do my homework an hour before class like I did in high school. I had to take more time so I could do it well and then understand the material. That was a huge transition for me, but I have it down to a T now. UW-Stout had a great support system that got me through all the obstacles.
What stands out among your college experiences? The hands-on experience stood out to me the most because I am a learning-by-doing learner. At Stout, I was able to do that with most of my classes and it really helped me learn more. One example is with one of my marketing classes; we would make marketing plans for an actual company. Then we were able to present our work to the company’s board of directors. That is one project I will never forget, and it really helped me excel. Without Stout, I never would have landed a job before I graduated.
What’s next? I will be working at Target as an Executive Team lead.
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