Student Story

Embrace every opportunity and do not be afraid to step outside of my comfort zone. College is a time for growth, connection, and discovery—so take full advantage of it.”

Since Zaniyah was a child, she has been told she has a mind for business. When looking at colleges, Zaniyah eventually chose Catawba “because of its welcoming, close-knit community and the opportunities it provides for personal and academic growth.” She decided to pursue a degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Management and Entrepreneurship. Zaniyah is grateful for the opportunities that Catawba provided her with over the course of her college career. One of the things that stands out to her about Catawba is the small class sizes.  “The college intentionally keeps classes small,” Zaniyah says, “which makes it easier to build strong connections with professors and classmates.” She also likes that smaller classes let students with the same major get to know each other in a social environment. She enjoys how professors at Catawba genuinely care about students and their well-being, and “see them as more than just numbers.”

Being a Tom Smith Fellow has provided Zaniyah with several opportunities to grow personally and professionally. Students in the Tom Smith Fellows program receive scholarship funds, maintain their academic standing, participate in business related events, and serve as role models for the student community. Zaniyah says that she has been able to access internships, networking events, skill-building workshops, and career exploration opportunities within the business world during her time in the program. These experiences have helped her become a more open-minded person when it comes to her future and allowed her to build connections with business professionals and alumni. One of her favorite parts of the Tom Smith Fellows program has been connecting with the alumni she meets, because the relationships she has formed have helped her better understand and appreciate the Catawba community and given her more information for different valuable career paths. The biggest impact on Zaniyah during her time as a Fellow has been the help she received in building her real estate career. Zaniyah says, “With the support of Dr. Christine Lynn and the Tom Smith Fellows Program, I was able to obtain my North Carolina real estate license. That’s an achievement I’m incredibly proud of and I’ll always have gratitude for the Tom Smith Fellows for helping make that happen.”

In addition to being a Tom Smith Fellow, Zaniyah worked as an intern in Catawba’s business office. She plans to pursue a Master of Business Administration degree at Catawba. For her lifelong career, she would like to work as a property manager and a private contractor. Eventually, she wants to work for herself and be her own boss.

Some of Zaniyah’s favorite places on campus include the Stanback Plaza and the Center for the Environment building. She especially enjoys visiting these places on warm days, because she sees many people outside socializing. Due to Catawba’s close-knit campus, good weather conditions make for the perfect opportunity to hang out with friends outside. The Center for the Environment building especially has cozy study spots that she likes to visit. She also enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and dogs. She likes to travel whenever she can. If Zaniyah could give advice to her high school self, it would be: “Embrace every opportunity and do not be afraid to step outside of my comfort zone. College is a time for growth, connection, and discovery—so take full advantage of it.”