Success After Shippensburg
By: Tasha Uliano
With all of the parties, studying, stress, time away from your families, and even sometimes the small town drama, I know it gets hard to stay on track. Just keep going; and remember why we all came here. It is what we set out to accomplish! Here is a success story straight outta Shippensburg to remind us all that our hard work will pay off soon enough.
When did you graduate from Shippensburg University? What degree did you earn from Shippensburg?
May 2014/Bachelors of Science in Business Administration
(Major: Human Resource Management/Minor: Spanish)
Where are you now? What are you doing now?
Currently, I work for Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. I am a Restaurant Guest Experience Manager in the Magic Kingdom. My team leads three restaurant locations on Main Street, where we make magic for our guests every day!
How did Shippensburg University help you get to where you are now?
Shippensburg set me up for success. The professors and staff were always helpful and supportive. Our classes incorporated real life experiences and scenarios to prepare us for what was to come.
How long do you plan on staying at your current job?
In my current position approximately another 6 months – 1 year. The incredible part about working for a company like Disney is there are endless opportunities. I am eager to move around to different locations and lines of business.
Do you have any set plans for the future?
I would love to continue building my career with Disney. Eventually my goal is to recruit internationally or for their College Program.
Did going away to college make it easier for you to move away after college?
Yes, although it was not very hard for me to move away for school. I was two hours from home – far enough to not go home often, but close enough that I was able to if needed. Now I am a two hour plane ride, which makes it a little more difficult, but well worth it.
Is there anything that you would change about your college experience?
Quite honestly, no. Looking back, I am very thankful for my entire experience at Shippensburg, and nothing stands out that I would change.
What year was your favorite?
This is a hard question. I think I would choose with my senior year. Everything fell together – classes, internship, friends – and then I realized I only have so many more months of that perfect college life. I think I had the most fun while working the hardest.
When people graduate college, I would imagine extreme excitement and slight scariness because next comes the ACTUAL real world, what did you feel when you graduated?
The first few weeks/months it was exciting. I was blessed to have a position lined up, so it was never very scary. I will say when August rolled around that following school year, I remember it being very bittersweet not to be going back to school. It hit me then that I was in the real world for good!
Is there any advice you would give to current Shippensburg students?
Don’t take anything for granted. The 4 years fly by and it’s over before you know it. Enjoy every minute, and pay attention in class – most of it really does help you in your career. Work ethic goes a long way, and when your professors tell you networking is everything – it’s more than true. Communication is key; build relationships!