Chantel Young earned an Associate’s Degree in Business Management (2020) from the Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) and a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP). She was a member of the first cohort of students to serve an internship at Rivers Casino (2016). Chantel quickly emerged from Marketing Intern to Players Club Representative, Marketing Representative, and Guest Services Specialist. She was furloughed in March of 2020 and recently returned to Rivers Casino in April 2021 as a Human Resources coordinator. She merged her formal classroom training in e-commerce, marketing, and business with her experience in cosmetology and launched her online business, Andrea Monroe Nail Co. LLC October 1, 2020. 

How did you choose your major? What motivated you to choose that field/profession?
I chose Business Management and Marketing because I have always wanted to have an opportunity to work for myself. Marketing allowed me to learn another side of business that permits me to exhibit my passion for creativity. 

What did you enjoy about attending CCAC? Any memorable moment to share? 
I enjoyed my professors and other CCAC staff. They were encouraging and resourceful, especially when it came to providing guidance. Some of them I still keep in contact with to this day.

How involved were you at CCAC? Did you study abroad? Did you have internships or Co-Ops? Clinicals and/or practicums? Were you a part of any clubs, sports, or extracurriculars?
Dr. Pamela Nichols and Counselor Devin Patterson presented the marketing internship through Rivers Casino to me. I also had work-study jobs where I was actively engaged in Student Life.

Did any of these experiences lead you into realizing your passions for work and career? 
I realized I have a serious passion for business. I also realized I am more people oriented than I knew. This helped in my customer service background, and is now contributing to my new journey in the Human Resources profession.

What skills did you gain that you could take into a workplace? 
I have learned interpersonal communication, networking, customer service, businesses management, time management, and the courage to always ask questions. 

What are you hoping to do next? What would you like to do professionally? 
I am hoping to build my background in Human Resources. Over the past year, it has been a career interest. I have pivoted towards a new direction and am excited to see how far I can go. Insofar as my small business is concerned, I am just getting started. I like the platform I have now. I will be looking to expand my inventory and volume in the future. I plan to see more sales. 

How do you manage stress (most especially during these uncertain times)? 
I manage stress my taking time to be mindful. I have created vision boards and like to do creative projects to manage my stress. 

What do you want prospective college students to know—what advice do you have for them? 
Take time to dream. If you are having a hard time during your college journey or even declaring your major, imagine yourself crossing the finish line. Keeping my purpose in mind empowers me to put in the work...and I hope it will for you as well! 

Who inspires you and why? Do you have any mentors or people of influence in your life? 
My family and friends inspire me. They are all admirable, self-aware individuals who have great expectations in life. They share their accomplishments, downfalls, and wisdom to provide me with guidance. Most of all, they are also business-oriented and hustle-spirited, which has inspired me to explore entrepreneurship personally. 

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Stasia Lopez is the Global Education Editor for Wandering Educators and is Director of Student Life and Engagement at the Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC), as well as an Instructor for a class on "The Job Search" at CCAC. She graduated with her Master’s degree in Educational Leadership in Higher Education and Student Affairs from Western Michigan University in 2013 and earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management from Robert Morris University. Stasia is passionate about international education, travel, college to career topics and loves working on a college campus. She’s lived in four different U.S. states (Florida, Michigan, South Carolina, and Pennsylvania) and also studied and lived abroad in Rome, Italy. Stasia lives in the Pittsburgh area with her husband, Fernando, precious daughter, Maya, and playful kitty-cat Zorro.