Student Story

Since Kylie Price first stepped onto Catawba College’s campus, she has felt at home. She knew she would love furthering her education in Salisbury. Now a junior business major, Kylie plans to pursue a career in business. She believes that her time at Catawba will help her gather the skills she needs to create a dream career for herself after graduating.

Kylie has always felt included by the people at Catawba. She says that everyone is friendly and welcoming, and she has always felt she belonged in the environment the college provides. Part of this sense of community that Kylie has grown to appreciate has come from her extracurricular activities. She is a part of the Tom Smith Fellows, a scholarship program which helps its members create connections with other business majors as well as with people who work in business outside of Catawba. She feels that participating in the program is helping her to create business opportunities for herself for the future. She is also a resident assistant, and she is part of The Pursuit, a first-year, two-course humanities based scholarship program. Kylie’s other groups include the academically challenging College Honors program, and the Helen Foil Beard Women's Society. She is also vice president of the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), and the student lead for Admissions Operations in Catawba's Admissions Office.

Kylie feels that all of these programs have helped her grow as a Catawba student and in her interest in the business world.

Kylie loves the idea of becoming a real estate agent. She believes that with her business and accounting major, she will be able to reach her future goals. She thinks that Catawba is the perfect place to gather experience and education about the skills she needs to make her dreams a reality. After graduation, Kylie plans to work at an accounting firm while pursuing her real estate license.

Kylie loves the creativity of her classes. “No two classes are the exact same,” she says, adding that none of her classes are boring to her. She appreciates discovering new interests and learning different skills that she can apply in her future. Kylie especially enjoyed an entrepreneurship class where they spent the semester learning how to design their own games and game boards. “It was super fun and exciting,” Kylie says.

Kylie’s favorite place to study is the balcony of the environmental building overlooking the Fred Stanback, Jr. Ecological Preserve. When the weather is nice, she likes to hang out at Stanback Plaza with her friends. She enjoys the comfortable places on campus that can provide a quiet study spot or a calm social space. Outside of classes, Kylie enjoys shopping, going on walks or runs, going to the gym and spending time with her friends.

If Kylie could talk to her past self, she would tell herself to take more risks and be outgoing. “In high school I was a shy person,” she says. “But now, I absolutely love meeting new people and finding new adventures to go on.” She says she could have never imagined how outgoing she would become in college. It used to take a lot for her to be outgoing, Kylie adds, but Catawba has helped her come out of her shell. The social aspect of Catawba is something that Kylie greatly appreciates, and she believes that has also helped her academically. Kylie is grateful for Catawba and all it has done for her during her time as a student thus far, and she is looking forward to what her Catawba experience will continue to do for her in the future.