Interpreter Gone Wild
Beginning my studies at Sussex County Community College, I could have hardly imagined that three years later I would be seeking admission to an elite institution like Occidental College but even less so that my age long dream of becoming an interpreter would give way to much different aspirations. As someone who devoted most her academic life to studying foreign languages, and even went so far as to cross the ocean in hopes of becoming better at one, I was the least likely candidate to develop interest in a field completely unrelated to anything I knew or considered myself good at – business. In fact, the sole factor that motivated me to pursue the Business Administration major at SCCC was that having some grasp of the required disciplines and good knowledge of the specific terminology promised to give me a substantial competitive advantage when seeking an employment as an interpreter upon returning back home.

It so happened, however, that I ventured into the unknown during the most fascinating time in the recent history. Right when I was beginning to learn about the economic indicators, the business markets, and the supply curves, the world’s economy was plunging to its death, taking along the giant corporations and millions of regular people. As my freshman year went by, bringing the current events discussions to dominate my Introduction to Business and Economics classes, I suddenly found myself more and more eagerly replacing E-news with CNBC’s broadcast and even sacrificing my daily dose of classics for the Wall Street Journal and the Economist. Fascinating in its own right, the information I imbibed appealed more than to my curiosity: Still an aspiring linguist, I saw a welcome challenge in my lack of ability to understand a good half of what I heard. Ironically, it was searching for the Rosetta Stone to this mysterious language that I began to fall in love with the major I initially regarded as nothing but an instrument for achieving much different goals.

My growing curiosity could not have found more fertile soil than SCCC, which provided me with ample opportunities to explore my newly discovered interest both in and outside of the classroom. Involved, personable, and intelligent, my business professors not only helped to make sense out of the incessant flow of new information, but also created the environment conducive to independent thought and stimulating discussions. Having devoted most of my academic life to memorizing words and grammar concepts, I quickly grew fond of the learning experience that challenged my ability to think critically and express my ideas. My interest grew even stronger after I joined the SCCC Business Club, where I got an opportunity to apply the acquired knowledge to real life problems. Over the course of four semesters, my participation in the club not only ascertained my interest but also, and perhaps the most importantly, instilled me with the confidence in my abilities to become successful in the business field.

As my time at SCCC approaches its end, I hope to continue exploring my interest in business at a four-year school that hosts a strong liberal arts program in Economics. This motivation stems from the understanding that an Economics background, along with the creativity and critical thinking fostered in the liberal arts environment, will provide me with the strongest foundation for growing into an effective leader as well as allow me to navigate the business world more freely. Even though the practical skills acquired in a pre-professional program are often regarded as the most certain way to enter the business field after graduation, I believe that, in the long run, the ability to see the bigger picture, ask powerful inquiries, and deal effectively with complexity, ambiguity, and contradictions of the modern world will allow me to have professional life that is not only more successful but also truly meaningful. Not less important, the quality liberal arts education obtained at a competitive four-year school will provide me with a strong theoretical foundation for pursuing an MBA degree at one of the American most prestigious universities.

This being said, Economics major alone will not completely satisfy my educational objectives. Upon transferring, I would like to double major in Economics and Computer Science as such a mix will cater the best to my interest in the business of the online technology. In addition to bettering my understanding of both disciplines through academic programs that match my interests, while working towards my Bachelor’s degree, I plan to continue building my business acumen and developing my leadership skills by engaging in campus organizations, internships, and independent projects, such as an online startup I have been developing for the past year. I am confident that, combined with my strong web development background, the firm grasp of economics and computer science as well as the practical knowledge obtained outside of the classroom will set me well on my way to achieving my career goal of playing a part in bringing the Russian sector of the Internet into the 21st century.