Berkeley College student Imani Miller, Business Administration, Class of 2019, knows how to "seize the day" and take advantage of the opportunities set before her. In the small town of Buford, GA, where she grew up, she made a film about body image that won an award that she and her mom came to New York City to accept. Ms. Miller fell in love with the New York vibe and convinced her family about her decision and determination to attend college here.
"I started taking courses at BMCC in communications, but realized I loved business management," Ms. Miller said.
Ms. Miller has the entrepreneurial spirit, persistence and drive that characterize so many successful business leaders today. After transferring credits to Berkeley College to earn her Bachelor's degree, she chose to enroll continuously, which would prevent the cost for her tuition increasing. She also took advantage of financial aid programs that included scholarships, loans and a work-study assignment.
Prompted by a poster she saw on campus in the Financial Aid office that encourages students to check the iGrad website for scholarships, she promptly submitted an essay, and to her surprise, was awarded a $1,000 prize for her essay.
Students had to submit a 500 – 750 word essay that answered the question, "How did internet marketing influence your choice of college?" The topics for the essays submitted ranged from social media and YouTube, to Google searches, reviews and even virtual reading glasses.
In her essay, Ms. Miller described how she learned about colleges in New York City from different websites she explored. Here are a few excerpts from her winning essay. Ms. Miller was attending a community college in New York at the time she wrote it and had chosen a particular college search website to help her.
Looking ahead, Ms. Miller soon will realize a dream-come-true. She has been accepted to the Disney College program at Disneyworld in Florida.
"I have been applying for several years," Ms. Miller admits. Now she, and a friend, are both planning to attend.
What advice does Ms. Miller have for today's college bound students?