Alex Swift, BBA '18

Alex Swift isn’t afraid to dream big.

She wants to fix what she sees as a broken public education system that doesn’t provide enough opportunities to those who are systematically under-resourced. In order to become an effective agent of change, she’s working on her BBA at Ross to complement her social justice goals.

Make your own definition of success.

“I came to the conclusion that Ross would provide me with the transferrable skills I can apply,” Alex says. She wanted to learn about finance and business strategy — things that aren’t as intuitive for her but are key factors in education reform.

“Ross has taught me to be strategic: What are my strengths? What can I do well? What do I not do well, and how can I get resources to work on that?” Alex says. "I’m definitely prioritizing how I can succeed."

Alex spaced out her more challenging classes, and she utilized academic support services to keep her on track. She found plenty of help from professors as well. “They’ve been receptive and willing to help me if I need it. That’s something I really appreciate,” she says. “They want to know how they can help you learn. They’re so passionate about it."

Alex maintains a busy schedule as a diversity peer educator for campus housing and as an intern for the 2017 Martin Luther King, Jr. Symposium at U-M in addition to a full course load. She balances it all not only with panache, but with the devotion of someone who is working to make her dreams a reality. Every aspect of her day, whether it’s work, internship or class, is contributing to the foundation she needs for her career goals.

“Your experience at U-M and Ross can definitely be customizable,” she says. “I encourage all students to take advantage of that."

Another piece of advice: “Make your own definition of success,” she says. “That will help you maximize your experience here. And that goes for anything — don’t let an outsider define success or happiness for you.”