Erin Kelley

I never really thought about what it would be like to get to this point – the last semester of college. As if going to a five year school wasn’t awesome enough already, (milk it for all it’s worth, ladies) I’m still not ready to leave. Sure, I am excited for what’s next, (no job opportunities just yet, but at least I’m past the freak-out stage) but Northeastern has become my home over the past five years, and leaving is not going to be easy. So what will I miss most (and least) about NU? Let’s start with the bad and get to the good…

WHAT I WON’T MISS

Info commons
If there is one thing I would do away with, it is this “place.” I will not miss the anxiety ridden feeling I get in the long lines, as printers suddenly stop working and you slowly realize everyone around you is ready to scream too. Unfortunately, I have no proper proposed solution to Northeastern’s printing system, but I hope one day printing can be a walk in the park for NU students. However, that day seems to be very far away.

The NU shuffle
You knew this one was coming! We’ve all experienced it… filling out paperwork to change your minor, sending it in, it getting lost, and then you have to resubmit it. Or, you make a phone call, get redirected five or six times, until finally you’re back to the first person you called. Every time I hear a NU shuffle story, I can’t help but start to hum, “everyday I’m shuffling...”

At a university whose premise is to gain experience in the professional world early on, it’s no wonder so many Northeastern students and alumni have founded, co-founded and/or work in startups.  Young entrepreneurs are left and right these days, especially right here on campus.

Fourth year Northeastern student Mike Behan, founder of Njabini Apparel, has not only began a steadily successful organization, but been able to travel across the world to do it too.  A business major with a concentration in social entrepreneurship and finance, Behan experienced a major life change during his sophomore year at Northeastern.

Behan began working with an organization in Njabini, Kenya, called Flying Kites Global. A program director for the organization at the time, Behan decided to found Njabini Apparel in early 2011.

Njabini Apparel’s major operations are based in Kenya, but a team of 15 students led by Behan are based out of Northeastern. Njabini Apparel’s mission is to provide jobs to mothers who are unemployed and can’t participate in the main economy of agriculture. The women make apparel such as hats, scarves and slippers. To date, Njabini Apparel employs eight women, who are now receiving a steady income of $260 US dollars per month, which is four times the national average in Kenya. The organization’s goal is to employ up to 15 mothers in the next few months.

Behan lived in Njabini, Kenya for his co-op in fall of 2011. He will return again for the next co-op cycle. For now, Behan communicates with his management team in Kenya via Skype and cell phone.

Second Time Around