Interview conducted by Sabrina Willis from InDueTime09 The Blog.
1. Since I already know all the basics– name, age, the university you’re attending, etc. — I’m just going to jump right into it. Is that okay with you?
Yeh, thats fine.
2. Many people say that the college years are a time for soul searching and self-discovery. Would you say that you have found yourself, and would you like to share what you found?
I can’t really say that I agree with the hold “finding yourself” concept; It is just another way of saying I am not happy. People are really searching for happiness when they say I am soul searching. I am not searching for happiness. I have found it in my life’s purpose.
I believe in discovering your purpose in life and I feel my purpose is serving others, specifically underprivileged children. I am dedicated to the mission that I feel has been laid before me. And I find happiness and fulfilling my purpose.
3. What led you to becoming a economics major? Was it you first choice, if not, what made you change your mind?
Well,I am an economics major and am minoring in finance. The study of economics is a different kind of beast, different from all the other areas of study. It is a joy and a challenge for me. Sometimes, the challenge becomes quite overwhelming, but I’ve made a commitment to studying something that fascinates me and no matter how hard it gets, I am going to stick with it.
Never run from a challenge.
4. I know you want to start you own business, but until then how do you plan employ all the skills you’ve obtained while working towards a degree in economics?
Well actually I am using all those skills now while trying to get the business underway. I am using my research and analytical skills everyday while in this preliminary stage. Economics is all about research and analysis. And an initial step in starting a business is research. I mean all the things that I’ve learned in college will help get my business off the ground: financial planning, economic indicators, marketing strategies, etc.
5. With all of the uncertainty that is faced during those first few months outside of college are you looking forward to graduation, and what are planing to do your senior year in college to ensure a smooth transition?
I am excited about graduating. I’ve worked hard for this moment and can’t wait for it to arrive. I am very optimistic about starting a career after graduation. I have started doing my research and have found some professional development programs which I will be applying for as the application process begins. Next year, I am going to work hard as I always do. I plan to carry an even stronger work ethic into my professional career.
6. In the midst– or the tail-end, depending on how you interpret the media and the stock market– of an economic recession are you optimistic about receiving a degree that may not be rewarded with a job?
With an economics degree and a minor in finance as well as my on campus involvement, I feel like I am a triple threat. I have the technical skills of a finance major, the theoretical skill of an economics major, and the leadership skill of driven and hard working individual. At first I was concerned that maybe my degree would make me less competitive in the job market. But now I am optimistic. Employers need people with multiple skill sets, I am one of those people.
Also I cannot worry about the economic crisis; I have to trust in God. He has brought me this far; he won’t leave me now. I have faith in Him.
7. In a few of your post you mention being a social entrepreneur. Could you explain the term to those of us who are unfamiliar with it? Also, what made you want to go into this little known field?
Well a social entrepreneur is basically, an entrepreneur who uses innovative business techniques to further a social mission. It is about being creative in your methods of bringing about social change and stepping out of the traditional non-profit role: creating new ways of generating funding and new ways of executing social agendas. Social entrepreneurs do not wait for the government to make things happen; they step up and find innovative and effective ways of tackling society’s issues head-on.
I learned more about entrepreneurship itself after I became a board member for an on-campus entrepreneurship group my sophomore year. My heart has always been in tackling social issues. So when I learned of social entrepreneurship, I began researching and reading heavily on the topic. Then I realized my ideas could come to light by means of social enterprise. So I have just been sticking with it ever since.
6. How do you plan to generate a business using this concept, and where did the idea come from?
I plan to create a business that focuses on helping underprivileged teens. The business concept is in the funding.
There are organizations that invest in social enterprises such as
Ashoka, but the key to social entrepreneurship is using for-profit methods to generate revenue for your social enterprise. My company will be funded by grants, private donations and investors and of course multiple revenue streams generated from within the firm. The innovative part of the business is in the actual structure of the company. I am currently working out the kinks for the company’s online project/product which will mark the launch of the company.
7. There are many programs out here that caters to the rehabilitation of America’s youth, and not so many that focuses on prevention and direction. As time passes of rehab programs begin to collapse more and more people are asking that preventive programs be developed for many communities. At what age do you think it is appropriate to begin such preventive treatment?
As soon as children enter the school system, I feel there should be programs in place to pick up the slack of the parents and the school itself. This the job of the community. The sooner we reach these kids, the better.
8. What age group do you plan on targeting for your programs?
My company is targeting students from the ages of 13 to 18. The program is designed to be effective for this age group. We plan to start working with them in their freshman year and help them up until six months after the students receive their high school diploma. But we intend to build relationships with our participants for as long as they want to be involved in the program.
9. I know you may not want to publicly reveal to much about your business since it is still in the planning stages, but what will be the general goal of your business and the programs it will offer?
The mission of my company is to provide opportunities to disadvantaged youth. I am talking about life altering opportunities that are available to kids who come from privileged families. Opportunities that poorer children just don’t have access to or simply do not know how to approach. Children who come from well established families, a grandfather who is on the board of a corporate powerhouse and a father who is an investment banker, have connections with major players before they step foot on a college campus. We want to level the playing field a bit. One of our programs will provide our participants during the summer of their junior year, with professional on-the-job training in a field business depending on their career interest. The program is a four-year program. We plan to work with our participants throughout their high school careers and help them transition to the next stage in life. This program may sound difficult but it is actually quite simple.
10. Do you ever get frustrated with the number of people who leave the country to help others while there is still so much help needed in our own country?
No, not really. I feel God is directing all his helpers where He feels they need to be. If you feel that God has given you a task to complete, you do not need to consult anyone else for confirmation. Trust in Him and do what you feel is necessary to complete your task. He has laid it on my heart to work with the disadvantaged youth of America and that is what I plan to do
11. If your business takes off and becomes successful in the number of people it effects but not so much in the amount of money it generates will you still feel successful and satisfied?
I don’t plan to get rich from being a social entrepreneur. I plan to facilitate change and fulfill my purpose. I am blessed and I am trying to touch someone’s life in a positive way. People don’t become social entrepreneurs for the money. It is all about passion and love. If you don’t possess either for what you do, then yes you will be unsatisfied.
12. After reading your blog posts, some of your pages and following you on twitter I get the impression that you are a very busy person. Do you have much of a social life? Do you sleep?
Yeh, during the summer without being in school, I can always find room for sleep. I try to only work during the weekdays, though. I devote my weekends to my loved ones.
Work hard. Play hard.
13. Sometimes what a person does in their free time and alone– with a mask and pretensions set aside– is a reflection of what type of person they really are. So just to give your followers a glimpse of who you are, tell us we can find you doing on a random Sunday afternoon– besides blogging of course!
Chillin with my family and friends or spending quality time with my Babe. You might just find me reading a book and relaxing after a long work week. I am a simple woman. I enjoy the simple things: the biggest reasons to smile.
14. And for the last question I’m going to ask a very famous, very cliched, but also ver relevant question: Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years?
I can write a paper on that question alone and several blog post. So I’ll give you the short version: happy, healthy, and successful.
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