ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½

One of the biggest things Collins College gave me was exposure to just how many different areas there are within hospitality. Before going to Collins, I think I had a much narrower idea of what a hospitality career could look like. I originally thought mostly about food and hotels, but Collins showed me how broad the industry really is.

They also taught me things I never thought I would need or even want to learn, like accounting and being customer-facing. Those ended up being some of the most useful skills because no matter what area of hospitality you go into, understanding the business side and knowing how to work with people is incredibly valuable.

Beyond the education itself, Collins gave me so many real-world experiences and connections that I never could have created on my own. I had opportunities to work on events, meet industry professionals and learn directly from people working in the field. I also met some amazing staff and students who became lifelong connections. I think the combination of the education, hands-on experiences and relationships I built at Collins has had a huge impact on where I am today.

I love that no two days are the same. There’s always something new to learn, a different project to work on or a new problem to figure out. Hospitality allows you to be creative while also constantly learning and adapting.

I also really enjoy that there are so many different directions you can take your career. I can work on something culinary one day and be focused on a completely different side of the industry the next. That variety keeps the work interesting and gives me the opportunity to continue figuring out what I’m passionate about.

I would tell them to look at hospitality as an entire industry rather than just one career. There are so many opportunities within hospitality and you can take your career in directions you may not even realize exist when you first start college. You can move between different areas, try new things and build on the skills you learn along the way.

I also think it’s a great industry for someone who doesn’t want to feel stuck doing the exact same thing every day. There is so much room for growth and learning. You can move around geographically or between different parts of the industry as your interests change. You’re not necessarily choosing one job for the rest of your life. You’re building a skill set that can open a lot of different doors and I think that flexibility is one of the best parts of hospitality management.

A fun fact about me is that I’ve represented the United States in the Maccabiah Jewish Olympics for basketball. I’ve had the opportunity to travel and compete internationally through basketball for two different sets of games. It’s been a really cool experience to combine something I’ve loved for most of my life with the opportunity to travel and meet people from all over the world.