Name: Hailey Jester

Hometown: Salem

Course of Study: Business administration (non-profit & management emphasis) with a psychology minor

Why did you choose Lakeland?
I chose Lakeland because of the atmosphere given off by the students, faculty, professors and coaches. Lakeland is my home-away-from-home. The programs and opportunities offered by Lakeland are amazing and have helped me grow personally, emotionally, and professionally.

How has financial aid impacted your college experience?
Without financial aid, I would not be able to attend Lakeland and get to experience the amazing opportunities this school offers. Going to Lakeland has given me the best memories of my life, and I am grateful for the financial support.

What will a college degree mean to you?
First and foremost, being the first person in my family to graduate with a bachelor’s degree would be the best accomplishment because of how proud my parents would be. It has always been a main goal of mine to become educated and earn a degree. I love to learn and grow, so earning my degree would just be the starting point to many more lifelong accomplishments.

Have you learned something during college you didn’t expect?
Through my experiences in college, something I learned that I didn’t expect to learn was more about who I was and what I wanted to do. Finding yourself sounds easy, but is difficult to do. Lakeland has given me the people and experiences I needed to get to know who I was in every aspect of my life. I thought I knew who I was coming into Lakeland, but I am happy in who I became.

What are your plans after graduation?
I plan to work for a non-profit organization. My ultimate goal is to create my own non-profit organization that provides mental health services to veterans and service men and women who are homeless or who cannot afford it.