CASSANDRA JAMARILLO
Searching various jobs at companies, interviewing for positions, enjoying the last few months of being a student at the University of Texas, these are days that came sooner than expected for senior economics major Greg Vincent.
But although a stressful process, Vincent says it would not have been possible without the support from Gateway Scholars he has received since his freshman year.
But although a stressful process, Vincent says it would not have been possible without the support from Gateway Scholars he has received since his freshman year.
“Gateway, as most people call it, is a home away from home,” Vincent says. “All the cohort instructors have their students in their best interest and they are always willing to help me in connecting me with someone.”
Through Gateway, Vincent traveled more than 7,000 miles to Beijing, China for a study abroad program. It was a worldly experience for a budding businessman like him. In Beijing, Vincent explored the concept of social entrepreneurship in China and the United States through his classes and service activities.
Through Gateway, Vincent traveled more than 7,000 miles to Beijing, China for a study abroad program. It was a worldly experience for a budding businessman like him. In Beijing, Vincent explored the concept of social entrepreneurship in China and the United States through his classes and service activities.The business world revolves around globalization and competition, and Vincent found himself facing the biggest challenges during his internship leading into his senior year. Vincent recently interned with one of the most innovative companies, Procter & Gamble, where he helped perform the fiscal year’s risk analysis, worked to make sure the company was as productive as possible and played a role in identifying risk trends within the company. He says his internship was the most competitive environment he had ever been in, and sometimes felt self-doubt.
“I am a very confident person but this was the most insecure I felt. But my competitiveness let me know I had to do what it took to be at the top of my game,” Vincent says.
He quickly found out how well he could thrive within a competitive environment, even among the astute Ivy League interns. Looking back, Vincent says he is happy he made the choice to come to Texas despite going to high school in Baton Rouge, La. where most students attend LSU. “LSU was the thing that everyone at my high school was doing, and I wanted to see what else there was.
He quickly found out how well he could thrive within a competitive environment, even among the astute Ivy League interns. Looking back, Vincent says he is happy he made the choice to come to Texas despite going to high school in Baton Rouge, La. where most students attend LSU. “LSU was the thing that everyone at my high school was doing, and I wanted to see what else there was.
I think UT was a better school,” Vincent says. For students feeling afraid to step outside of their comfort zone, Vincent suggests to take the leap of faith and take risks to follow your passion. “College is a time to take risks. When you look at the people who have done well it’s because they took big risks. College is the time you don’t have to think about other people except yourself so step outside your comfort zone and find your passion.”
Although Vincent’s goal before graduating is to find a job, he says he doesn’t want money to be his only motivation. He is working this year to interview African American professors at UT and compile their success stories to use for motivational speeches he wants to do at middle schools and high schools in the future.
“I feel like I have gotten to where I am today because I was able to stand on the shoulders of people before me. I want to inspire a student who maybe wasn’t thinking about going to college, and eventually maybe that ripple effect will help them become successful.”
Cassandra is a junior studying multimedia journalism and business at the University of Texas at Austin. She works part-time at the Austin American-Statesman as a web producer and is also a tutor at the LCAE Journalism Writing Support Program. She’s active with Texas Student TV and has previously worked for CNBC and KXAN News. You can follow her on Twitter: @cassandrajar.