Student Spotlight
By Joseph Blue, 2012
I am a senior in the Whitman School of Management working towards obtaining a degree in both marketing and business management, with a minor in psychology. I am a hard-working student who plans to work towards changing people’s lives.
I was born and raised in the city of Buffalo, N.Y. I am involved in many organizations on campus including Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. My leadership is exemplified not only through my positions in my various organizations that I am in, but through my service and academic achievements as well. I have made deans’ list for the College of Arts and Science, as well as the Whitman School of Management. In addition to this, I engage in programs that allow me to engage with youth and young adults so I can be that figure they can look up to, especially those who are African Americans declared as “at-risk youth.”
Since my freshman year, I’ve been working within the operations area at Recreation Services. In operations, we truly believe in the value of family and teamwork, and it has been a privilege. I have learned so much about myself, as well as what it means to be responsible, assertive, patient, and a well-rounded leader. Working under Seneca Wilson, assistant director of operations, I was encouraged and pushed to achieve beyond my limits. As a result of my hard work, I moved from service attendant to student manager. This position requires a significant amount of responsibility and trust, for I deal with duties that include managing the operations’ staff, which are my peers, assisting in the pre-screening of potential candidates for hiring and with the interviewing, and making sure that all our patrons are satisfied. In this position, I am able to utilize what I’ve learned in the classroom and apply it to my work environment.
Due to my strong passion for psychology, I decided not to leave the field when my interests focused elsewhere. After searching, I finally declared a dual major in marketing management and business management along with the pursuit of a minor in psychology, so I could be well-rounded. These fields made me aware of the different ways that I could make use of my psychology background. I will focus more on the interpersonal side of business, where I will be dealing with people and their preferences, along with training and developing individuals. My study of psychology has also made me aware of the importance of analyzing people’s patterns, so that through my interpersonal skills, I can develop ways to train and develop my staff and employees to reach our goals.
My career goals are still evolving, but I ultimately plan on gaining an M.B.A. as well as a doctorate degree in psychology, and focus my studies on human resources, development/training or organizational behavior. In the next 10 years, I can see myself as a manager or a consultant for a company. I also want to work with young adults because I truly believe that it is important to give back in any way – be it through the sharing of my personal experiences and knowledge, or directing individuals to the right sources that would aid people in achieving their goals.
During my downtime, I try to engage myself in reading, playing the drums or my guitar, watching/playing football, bowling, or just being around my friends and loved ones. I’ve gained most of my morals, values, and ethics from my family, along with the teachings of my church. I would describe myself as one who is optimistic, humble, persistent and dependable. One phrase that describes me best is “Still waters run deep.” Overall, I’m a kind-hearted respectable young man who enjoys the simple things in life and is willing to encourage, motivate and help others in any way possible.
