Meet Alexis

Name: Alexis Gardiner

Class of: 2019

Program: Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Business

"I am the first person in my family to attend college, and I have worked and will continue to work very hard to receive the grades and GPA that I do."

 

Why did you choose Southern New Hampshire University?

When I toured Southern New Hampshire University for the first time, I could tell that it was a small, close-knit community. After being an on-campus student for two years, I have created strong relationships with my professors due to the small class sizes, and that has allowed me to not only excel or get any help I need in classes, but also get help preparing for and finding jobs or internships.

What was your hope in receiving a college education?  How has your experience been different than what you’d imagined?

My hope in receiving a college education was to earn a degree in the field of hospitality in order to pursue a career in the event planning industry.

Many alumni and students talk about the friendly and supportive community at SNHU.  Does this resonate with you? In what ways has your SNHU experience felt “personal”?

This does resonate with me because SNHU focuses on creating small classes sizes in order for professors and students to create strong relationships. Professors and other staff take the time to get to know you which creates positive results in the classroom.

What inspired you to choose your area of study?

I chose Hospitality Business with a concentration in Event and Convention Management because I felt as though this industry would give me a chance to travel. I chose my concentration based on the fact that I like to plan and organize events. Organization is one of my strongest skills and as an event planner it is a very important quality to have.

What is your dream job?

After I graduate, my goal is to pursue a career in the event planning industry. I would love to work for a large hotel chain as the event coordinator and possibly move into owning my own business.

Who at SNHU (teacher, coach, advisor, etc.) has been the biggest influence on your SNHU experience? What lessons did that person teach you?

One teacher that has had the biggest influence on me is Justina Oliveira. In May, I participated in the faculty led program to Chile, and Justina was one of the three professors from SNHU that attended. During our two weeks in Chile, I got to learn a lot about Justina and heard many stories about the many different countries that she has traveled to. Just by listening to her stories, it has inspired me to also travel the world and to be open to new experiences. She said by traveling to new countries, you are able to get a taste of new cultures, languages, and meet a lot of interesting people. She also taught me that traveling teaches you to just “go with the flow” because everything is not always going to go your way and you have to be open to dealing with many different situations.

In what ways have you been involved at SNHU (campus organizations, job, sports, etc.)?

At SNHU, I have been involved in many clubs on campus. I am a member of the Professional Sales Association where we help students to strengthen their skills in sales while enabling them to network with different companies. I was also a member of the Washington Hall Community Council where I helped to plan events for the residents living in Washington Hall. Lastly, I participated in the Faculty Led Program to Chile in May 2017. This was a two-week program that consisted of a global management class as well as learning about and experiencing the Chilean culture.

What do you find most challenging? How do you deal with this?

The one thing that I find most challenging is scheduling. There are some classes that are only offered in certain semesters or at certain times, and I have to work closely with my advisor in order to make sure I am taking all of the correct classes for my degree and schedule them in a way so I can graduate on time.

What are you proudest of?

I am most proud in my decision to attend Southern New Hampshire University. I am the first person in my family to attend college, and I have worked and will continue to work very hard to receive the grades and GPA that I do.

How have alumni impacted you as a student? (classroom speakers, scholarship donations, mentors, internship and career assistance)

In my Introduction to Hospitality class, I had many guest speakers who graduated from SNHU come in to talk about their careers in the hospitality industry. We also were given the opportunity to attend a networking dinner where we spoke with alumni about where they began and what steps they took to get where they are today. This event with alumni allowed me to speak with hotel managers and event planners and ask them questions about my future career and what steps I should take in order to reach my goal.

What advice would you give to an incoming student?

Whether they are on-campus students or commuters, I would advise incoming students to get involved; join clubs that you are interested in even if the club has no relation to your major. By getting involved, you meet many new people, and it will also make your college experience even better.

What are your plans following graduation?

After I graduate, in May of 2019, my goal is to pursue a career in the event planning industry. I hope to work for a large hotel chain as the event coordinator and possibly move into owning my own business.

In what ways do you think you will stay involved as an alumnus/a?

After I graduate, I want to try and connect with current hospitality students to help them get on track with their careers in hospitality. Speaking with alumni who have been in your position before is very valuable resource because they know exactly what advice to give. Personally, I feel as though I benefited from connecting with former SNHU students, and I’d like to return the favor back to future students.

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