College is a time for experience and exploration, figuring out what you want, or don’t want, to do for the rest of your life. These learning opportunities are invaluable, as 2017 alum Hannah Adams learned first-hand. She came to BGSU a marketing major, but after joining a business fraternity on campus and working in customer service, she was able to blaze a new path toward her professional goals. As a member of a business-centric organization, Hannah was surrounded by people who were passionate about business – which made her realize she was not. She was very interested in the administration side of business, however, and enjoys working with older adults, so she switched to a major in Gerontology, intending to be a healthcare administrator.

Around the time of transitioning into a new major, Hannah began working at the Student Recreation Center. She wanted a job on campus, and a friend recommended applying to the Rec. In her time with RecWell, Hannah has seen major changes; when she started as a Customer Service Attendant, the Rec was still under renovation, and her shifts took place on the basketball court! She has since received a promotion, becoming a Customer Service Associate.

Hannah has learned a lot about customer service in her position. “I didn’t realize what exactly I was getting into when I first started,” she said, regarding the different issues and questions patrons bring to her attention, but she soon became a professional problem-solver and mentor to new hires. She says she will use these skills in her future as a healthcare administrator, overseeing departments in a nursing home: “I plan on being extremely involved with families and residents, because I think that’s important.”

Hannah hopes to someday work as an administrator at a hospice facility. She cares greatly about properly administered hospice care, and her experience with RecWell policies has prepared her for just that. As a CSA, Hannah needed a firm understanding of policies: “We have to know everything about the facility to ensure that everyone’s doing what they’re supposed to be doing, and that everyone’s safe.”

Taking part in the ten-week business-heavy mentoring program opened Sara’s eyes for a love of business and marketing (READ MORE).When she got involved with the College of Business, something clicked: “I kind of fell in love with business. I’m a people person, and if I could get paid to talk to people all day, help solve their problems, and provide them with something that would better their life, then that’s what I want to do.”

Joining the professional business fraternity also had more to offer than Sara expected: friendships, leadership roles, and a job at the Student Recreation Center. “When I joined Delta Sigma Pi, I immediately became friends with [2017 alum and RecWell employee] Hannah Adams… she encouraged me to apply, and I was lucky enough to go through interviews, and I got a job, and I’ve been able to work with her ever since, so that’s been pretty cool.”

Working as a Customer Service Associate (CSA) has aligned handsomely with Sara’s skills and aspirations; she is going into sales, so her day-to-day duties are directly related to her post-grad work. She feels prepared for the future because being a CSA included frequent face-to-face customer interactions, product and service offering explanations, and problem-solving. She has come to understand the value of a learning curve. It reassures me. It has definitely prepared me for the next step in my life. It’s been nice having the right stepping stone to get there.

Sara is beginning her professional career as a sales representative at a Professional Employer Organization in Richfield, Ohio, called Group Management Services; there, Sara will help out small businesses, meet face-to-face with clients, and problem-solve just like she did at the Rec. She is toying with the idea of being a professor someday, and is very thankful for her experiences at BGSU. “This job has been really, really rewarding because you get to see yourself progress. I remember my first shift. I didn’t know nearly anything about the Student Rec Center…and now I’m the one that’s teaching and helping the new people.

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