From adjusting to cultural differences to kick starting her career right after graduation, Kenyan study abroad student Lucy’s focus on hard work and career success has helped her excel at her various student jobs, and beyond.
After moving from her hometown of Nairobi to the University of the Pacific’s Sacramento campus, the Kenyan international student says the Pacific community was a huge part of her ability to acclimate and succeed.
A New Home, A New Passion
Inspired by her family’s legacy at Pacific—her aunt received her PharmD from Pacific’s Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy—Lucy was ready to launch her dream of studying in the USA after high school. She always knew she wanted to study economics, but it was not until working with the faculty on campus that she found her true passion: macroeconomics.
With a focus on large-scale factors, such as interest rates and national productivity, Lucy’s studies gave her an expansive view of the world at large.
“I understand how to value companies,” the Kenyan study abroad student said. “My studies exposed me to a world I never knew I could go into.”
The changing dynamic allows you to think about things in different ways. You’re given tools to understand how things work: you adjust it to how things change. That’s what I really love.” – Lucy, BS in Economics, University of the Pacific
Along with her coursework, Lucy served as treasurer of Omicron Delta Epsilon, the economics honors society, as well as project manager for the Integrated Development Group, providing business consulting for nonprofit and sustainable development organizations. Another valuable experience for Lucy was serving as chief investment officer of the Student Investment Fund in the Eberhardt School of Business.
Straight to the Top
All of these on-campus growth opportunities, plus dedicated career development resources, prepared Lucy to get right to work. In fact, she has already landed a job at a leading insurance company in California.
Following her internship with the company, which was set up by Pacific’s Eberhardt Career Management Center, Lucy learned about her current permanent opportunity through the Pacific Career Resource Center. She applied on the Tiger Jobs website and was offered the job months before she even graduated.
Now, her day-to-day is spent applying the skills she learned at Pacific to underwriting and pricing bond and specialty insurance for private and nonprofit accounts. The Kenyan international student is also creating relationships that will serve her as her career grows. Her supervisors remark on her confidence and—yes—problem-solving skills.
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