Q: When did you attend AACC?
A: I attended AACC from Fall of 2012 to the Spring of 2014.
Q: When did you graduate?
A: I didn’t officially graduate from AACC since I left with 45 credits.

Q: Where are you attending now?
A: I am currently attending the University of Maryland Baltimore County.

Q: How old are you?
A: I am 21 years old.

Q: What is your major?
A: My major at UMBC is Economics.

Q: Where you a part of any extracurricular(s) while at AACC?
A: I was not a part of any at AACC.

Q: What was the hardest thing you had to deal with?
A: During my time at AACC I had lost someone really close to me and it almost destroyed my college career. I had no motivation to work or even go to class. When I realized that I could potentially fail the semester, I really took advantage of seeking out help. Even though there are professors that say there’s no excuse missing class or not turning in homework. If you really confide in them they will understand. I also took advantage of seeing an advisor and finding ways to at least figure out how to finish the semester.

Q: How did it prepare you for where you are attending?
A: This experience helped me realize that your advisors and professors and even your peers are all here to help you succeed. They’re there to help you through any situation especially one that you feel like you have no control over and find the best way to overcome it.

Q: Are you a part of any clubs at school right now?
A: I’m a member of the Economics Council of Majors at UMBC. The purpose of the club is to interact with fellow students in your major and attend meetings where speakers are invited to give advice and answer any questions about our major and what job opportunities would best suit us.

Q: What’s the biggest difference between your university and AACC?
A: The only difference between AACC and UMBC is that there’s a better sense of community, which is expected at a 4-year institution. There are more people who stay on campus after class especially since there is now on campus housing.

Q: Did any one professor motivate you in your time here with us at AACC?
A: Professor McCarron I feel was the one professor who really made me motivated to succeed. I had him for English my first semester in the fall as well as the following fall semester for Philosophy. Both classes I started out fine but not as well as I would have liked. Every time I approached him for help he really showed how much he wanted me as well as his other students to succeed. He would always set aside time and answer your questions clearly and made sure you understood what he was saying.

Q: Do you have a job, if so where?
A: I do not currently have a job but am awaiting a few internship prospects for the summer, one being at the International Trade Commission, which is one I am most excited for.

Q: Top 5 favorite authors
A: Top five would be Cheryl Strayed (only read her one book “Wild” but it was so amazing she qualifies), Jane Austen, Leo Tolstoy, Steig Larsson and Dan Brown

Q: Where are some of the coolest places you’ve ever been to?
A: I’ve never actually been outside of the U.S., but the coolest state I’ve been to would definitely be Colorado. My sister is attending UC Boulder so I frequently make trips out there to visit her. Being from the east coast and growing accustomed to the fast pace and constant hustle and bustle, it was almost a culture shock visiting Colorado. Everyone is extremely laid back and there’s no sense of urgency, which can get quite annoying. However, I love that everyone is so hospitable and the “rocky mountain high” saying definitely applies.

Q: So how were you able to transfer out of AACC without graduating?
A: I chose not to get an associates degree so I didn’t technically graduate.

Q: What’s your favorite past time?
A: [I’m an] avid photographer. [I’ve] been taking photos for 8 years and consider it a passion of mine.

Q: What is it about photography that drew you to it?
A: I always loved that I could take a photo and make it so much better. It’s more the editing that I enjoy the most. I love Photoshopp-ing images to enhance things that you couldn’t with the naked eye. A simple photo of a sunset can be edited to enhance the colors, brightness, darken the shadows and look almost unreal.

Q: To anyone who aspires to become a photographer, do you have any advice?
A: Be persistent in finding work. And definitely accept that in the beginning you may be living in a dingy studio apartment eating top ramen every night. I wanted to be a professional photographer but after I thought about how unrealistic it would be to live a comfortable life, I decided it wasn’t for me.