Essay on Concerning the student’s learning experiences and future career plans

It is found that today the knowledge of Small Business Management plays an important role in the career development of any businessman. The fact that small business continues to be a significant area of the economic growth in the USA is taken into consideration by many economists, educators and administration. The statistics shows that “more than half of all employed people in the USA are working in small businesses” (Dessler & Phillips, 2007, p.  94). That is why many students are interested in business management and have a great desire to know more about how to start a small business in today’s competitive environment. The Small Business Management Program at Nassau Community College provides effective business education which gives students an opportunity to succeed in the future career.

Amber Meyer, a 1-st year student enrolled in an A.A.S program in Small Business Management at Nassau Community College, is ready to share her thoughts about this program and about her learning experience at the college in the following face to face interview. The major goals of this face to face interview are the following:

• To learn how Amber Meyer learned about this program in Small Business Management and who encouraged her to make a decision and enroll in this business program.
• To learn about some advantages and disadvantages of this program.
• To discuss the major personal reasons that keep Amber Meyer from attending the Small Business Management classes regularly.
• To discuss some teaching methods and motivational strategies used by the Small Business Management teacher to motivate students at Nassau Community College.
• To learn more about the type of difficulties that Amber Meyer has faced in her Small Business Management classes.
• To learn about the type of behaviors displayed by other students that distract Amber Meyer or prevent her from the learning process.
• To discuss Amber Meyer’s future career plans.

In this face to face interview, Amber Meyer, a first year student enrolled in an A.A.S program in Small Business Management at Nassau Community College, shares her learning experience and discusses the effectiveness of this program. She says that she learned about this program through a representative from Nassau Community College who came to her high school. Amber Meyer’s father was the one who encouraged her to apply to this program. Amber Meyer is sure that it was a correct decision, because this program best suits her interests and career goals.

In addition, Amber Meyer shares her thoughts about this program. She speaks positively of her professors and how they inspire the students to study well. It is also found that Amber has a mentor from the Career and Counseling Department who helps her with her academic disciplines. Amber is happy that most of her classes have a smaller class size, and her professors have individual approach to each student.

However, Amber Meyer After states that it takes her too much time and efforts to study well. She takes classes five days a week and works a full time job, so it is very challenging for her to keep up with her school work. It means that she has no time for other after school activities.

Moreover, in the interview, Amber Meyer discusses her personal reasons that could keep her from attending the Small Business Management classes regularly. She states that she may miss her classes for the following reasons: sickness or exhaustion from working part time and attending school fulltime. Amber Meyer says that once she did miss her classes because she overslept, but now she tries to do everything possible to keep discipline.

Additionally, the interviewee discusses the major teaching methods used by her Small Business Management teacher to maintain interest in the lesson. It is found that her Small Business Management teacher uses the Smart Board which helps to improve the quality of knowledge. The exams are based on materials taken from the textbook, lectures and discussions. Some teachers organize review sessions which help to better understand new material. The motivational strategies are focused on getting good grades. The Small Business Management teacher encourages his students to take an active part in discussions.

Besides, it is revealed that Amber Meyer has faced a number of difficulties in her Small Business Management classes. Amber states that the college program is too complicated for her. There is too much homework that is overwhelming at times. In the face to face interview, Amber says that some students distract or prevent her from learning when they talk and send messages during the class. These students have no interest in the program because most of them were forced to go to college by their parents.

Furthermore, Amber Meyer shares her future career plans. She would like to get a job as a manager for a small business and use the skills and knowledge she learned at college. In addition, she says that it is her dream to open her own business. In this case, she may decide to get a Bachelor degree. The Small Business Management Program at Nassau Community College prepares students to be not only “competitively employed”, but also “to be successful in baccalaureate program” (DoBell & Ingle, 2009, p. 492).