“Oh you’re in the School of B?” “Wow, you look so professional. I’m glad I don’t have to wear suits for my classes.” “The School of B thinks they’re better than everyone.”

I hear these types of comments as I walk across the yard in my business professional wear and “granny” heels. I don’t know if it is a sense of pride that I feel because I grasp what I’m going to be doing professionally, or maybe it's because I feel like this is inherently the right decision.

As a freshman beginning my new and exciting journey at Howard University, I take my place as an International Business major in the renowned School of Business (S.O.B). My world unfolds and I realize my dreams are materializing right before my eyes. Suddenly, I am now required to reach a certain caliber of excellence. My vision is now being put under a magnifying glass in a result-orientated environment -- the 21st Century Advantage Program, an incredibly unique program for freshman business majors that jumpstarts them into the business world while offering a sense of business savvy and introducing the critical-thinking skills required for it. With such a standard, many people believe we are confined to certain rules, the golden rules, or maybe even stereotypes of how a Howard business student is supposed to be: A Howard S.O.B. student must strive to “make that money”; a Howard S.O.B. student must look fresh at all times; a Howard S.O.B. student must have connections.

1. To “make that money”: What does that mean? In the technical sense, it means that when someone becomes a business major at Howard University, we must make an enormous amount of money immediately. Although the business degree is very versatile, many students that go into the major don’t do it for the money. They do it for their purpose, to live comfortably, and to receive a viable education. Despite many misconceptions, most of our students in the CAP-21 Program aren’t just in the program for the money or to be the next Warren Buffett or Bill Gates, but are there to be active members of their communities and to become influential members of the political world while making a difference. So in many ways, “make that money” really means grind, work hard, set goals, and be a visionary.
2. To look fresh at all times: People have this notion that business students should simply wear business suits all the time. I know many would like to think that we cruise around in our suits and fancy shoes at any given moment in the day, but that is certainly not true, especially for me. No one understands how uncomfortable those “granny” heels actually are! It is treacherous to rush up the hill, across the yard, and into the S.O.B. building in heels. Ironically, those things are supposed to provide comfort, but they’re unpleasant to the eye and to the feet. To the point: Business students at Howard are actually the most diverse and eccentric when it comes to our sense of fashion. To us, it’s all about setting. If we see potential work, we dress as if we already have the job. If we are at a house party, we are definitely going to dress looser.
3. To have connections: This is very true. From day one, the directors of the program drill into us the importance of networking, building a brand, communicating, and working effectively with one another. We are also taught the skills of time management and goal-setting, so when the job opportunity does arise (which it very well may), we will tackle it with the “adult” skills needed to work in a professional setting. This rule is so incredibly vital because it lays out the groundwork for what a business student will do. When a recruiter has a hundred résumés to look through a day, do you think that they’d look through all of them, or would they rather choose the student who worked for a valued colleague of theirs? Your connections -- who you know and who knows you -- are what Howard business students are known for. With countless well-known alumni with connections, networking is a skill picked up instantaneously by any Howard student.

While there are a few underlying assumptions and stereotypes of what we represent, School of Business students still strive for greatness.