Here’s a quick glimpse at one of many impressive outcomes HPU graduates achieve.
Name: Alayna Adams, Class of 2024
Hometown: Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Major: Mathematical Economics; minor in Data Analytics
Post-graduation plans: Alayna is heading to York, Pennsylvania to start her career as a Junior Business Analyst at STEM Healthcare. As a Junior Business Analyst, she will manage multiple client projects and their timelines to meet both internal and client’s deadlines. Her main goal is to analyze quantitative and qualitative data to derive insights and produce high quality presentations and other deliverables for clients.
How HPU helped you get there: “HPU helped me by allowing me to fail and improve. I was given opportunities to create projects and present them in front of my peers and professors, and then gain feedback on how to improve my presentation and how I deliver my presentation. In addition, I was also given time to have one-on-one discussions with my mentors and advisors about my career goals and how they can help me achieve them.”
Most impactful mentor at HPU: “Dr. Peter Summers, associate professor of economics, was my biggest mentor at HPU. He was influential in my growth during my time at HPU and was the most encouraging professor I ever had. I took two classes with him, and he was excellent at connecting the two classes to the relevance of what was happening in real-time. I was allowed to be a student instructor for him, and he inspired me to share my knowledge with others. I also use the tools that he taught me every day in Econometrics, and I could not be more thankful for his guidance that taught me how to become confident in my abilities. Not only was he my professor, but he also took the time to be my research mentor and meet with me weekly as I developed my research project over two semesters. While he was meeting with me, he encouraged me to participate in undergraduate research conferences, such as HIGH-PURCS and the State of North Carolina Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium (SNCURCS). These helped me grow in my ability to speak publicly and give concise presentations. Overall, Dr. Summers was a fundamental part of my career at HPU.”
Most impactful moment at HPU: “My most impactful moment at HPU was when I gave my final research presentation to the math department, as it was proof that all of the hard work I had put into my degree has paid off.”
How has HPU’s inspiring environment contributed to your success? “I was encouraged to apply to jobs early and get ahead of the curve. I was aware of the competition of the job market and was able to network with potential employers.”
What are the life skills HPU helped you develop that prepared you for long-term success? “I was truly given a growth mindset. I can confidently say that I have developed the skills to always push myself professionally and personally without a direct path given to me. I always search for opportunities to help me grow and to build my skill set for the future.”
What are the values and virtues HPU’s campus helped you develop that you’ll take with you after graduation? “There is a big belief on HPU’s campus that you are in charge of your future. I have truly learned to adopt an attitude that I drive my own development and I need to seek out tools and resources to get involved in. I also think that I became exceptionally good at networking, which is very easy to practice on campus with different students.”
Advice for underclassmen: “Success after graduation does not come the day you graduate. It comes in the four years you are at school. It is up to you if you will put in the work to grow and develop your skills upon graduation.”
Are you an HPU graduate with an exciting job or graduate school offer?
Share your news with us for a chance to be featured!