May 2023 Spotlight: Rebecca Broadhurst
Rebecca Broadhurst, ISPA Class of 2017, Florida International University Class of 2022
Degree: I graduated from FIU with a bachelor’s in international business, and a minor in Business Analytics. I started at Miami Dade College having no idea what I wanted to do and was originally on track to major in International Relations and Diplomacy. After I got my AA, I realized it wasn’t for me anymore, I ended up taking an extra semester to make up the prerequisites for a business degree, and later transferred to FIU to finish my bachelors. Towards the end of my college career, I started to fall in love with data manipulation and information systems which led me to pursue my minor.
Career Goals: I definitely see myself working in tech long-term. I think working in a field that’s constantly being developed and improved upon is something to get excited about, and it really motivates me to learn new things. Ultimately, I think I’d like to be a project manager for technology implementation projects, and eventually work my way up to partner.
What has been the biggest surprise about the college experience? My biggest surprise in college was actually how understanding my college professors were. I worked full-time while I was in school and would sometimes get overwhelmed by the combination of coursework and shifts. While I always tried to prioritize school, sometimes my work life prevailed, but what helped me succeed was proper communication with my professors. Granted, not every professor will be understanding, but if you talk to them ahead of time and are genuine, professors can be surprisingly accommodating even when it comes to mental health.
Most challenging coursework in college? I had a group project that I had to complete with another group of students in Colombia for one of my business communication classes, which is ironic, because there was a total lack of communication from the start. This was of course our primary issue, but getting everyone on the same page and trying to motivate people to do their best was challenging as well. Working with people is hard in general, especially when they’re in another country, but I think the experience really helped me with my people and management skills. It also really pushed me to take the lead, which is something I don’t often do, and it actually felt really good to be the person the group looked to for direction.
Accomplishment most proud of? I’m most proud of getting my first job out of college at a Big 4 firm. My job search experience was brutal, and I was constantly either getting rejected or ghosted by recruiters. I remember giving myself a minimum number of jobs I had to apply to every day, and I’d spend hours preparing for interviews and researching companies. Finally getting the call from a recruiter at my dream company really meant the world and I’ll never forget it; it was a real “You did it” moment for me and it still fills me up with pride when I think about it.
Can you provide any advice for current ISPA students? Don’t compare yourself to other people and know your worth. This may sound like common sense, but I was honestly really frustrated seeing my peers start their careers while I was stuck filling out applications for jobs I’d never hear back from. I also remember receiving a couple of job offers that weren’t in my field and were really underpaid considering the amount of responsibility; I thought about taking them since nothing else was coming my way, but I waited, and something so much better came along. It’s okay to struggle and not be as far ahead in life as you’d like, everyone has their own path, and you should stop to enjoy it every step of the way. So don’t sell yourself short, work hard and be patient, the right opportunity will come.
Can you tell us how ISPA prepared you for success in college and in life? Going to a school that had so much diversity, while still having a group of people that shared my same experiences, really made me feel safer about stepping out of my comfort zone. It makes you realize how most of the time, people are in the same exact boat as you and it lessens the distance you feel from other people. This really helped me develop my networking skills, I stopped being so shy and started building relationships with people by focusing on what made us similar rather than what made us different, and you’d really be surprised by the people you have the most in common with.
I paid for college with…I didn’t qualify for any type of financial aid, but I was lucky enough to have my dad pay for my education. The company I’m set to start with soon also offers a completely free tech MBA to its employees, which I fully plan on taking advantage of in time.
Fondest memory from High School? My fondest memory from high school would have to be prom. I still remember getting ready with my friends, doing each other’s hair and makeup, and making sure we took an absurd amount of pictures before we actually went in. I grew up in a very small town in Italy, and I never thought I’d get the American high school experience I saw in movies and TV as a kid; my prom was everything I could have wished for, and it was the best way to say goodbye to my friends before we all went off to college.