Miguel

My name is Miguel and I was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. I had a wonderful and happy childhood, and I have always had supporting parents. My mother, Ysila Carmona has developed my mind to keep it always open and to have a general knowledge of the world around me. My father, Miguel Mendez Santana has taught me how to be responsible and respectful and to never back down from a challenge.

Before I decided to go to college, I thought I had lost everything because I lost my job at FedEx. Despite of that, I told myself I will put the same amount of hours, motivation, work ethic and devotion I put in FedEx into my education. So, I decided to enroll at Bronx Community College in the spring of 2010 as a business management major. I chose business management because since the day I joined the labor work force, I saw the lack of leadership, organization, professional skills and interpersonal skills from my previous managers. When they treated me or others, I constantly realized their lack of judgment and decision making skills. I understood that was not the way management functioned. I saw that more communication and feedback was needed with the participation of subordinates. Managers and leaders have to be more vocal, show more commitment and integrity to subordinates. To me, they didn’t understand the hierarchy of needs of a company. They did not understand that the lower level needs (employees) must be largely satisfied before higher level needs (management) become important.
On that perspective, I am fascinated by the way a business operates and all the necessary organization it requires. I have not entered into management at full force yet, I have only assisted others. But, even under assistance, I enjoy it as if I owned the leadership role.

After I finish my studies at BCC, I planned to have earned a full scholarship to Columbia University to further my education. At Columbia University, I plan to earn my Bachelor’s degree in business management and create a company to achieve social goals. A social business, a public, non-profit company, especially designed to address social objectives, such as alleviating poverty in the area of microfinance. Microfinance is an unfamiliar area of business to the general population with the aim of solving social problems. Microfinance, also termed as microcredit or microloans, refers primarily to small, development-oriented loans made to low- income borrowers with the aim of helping them to develop commercial activities or start businesses. The loans are usually no more than a few hundred dollars, and are very unusual in the there is no collateral required and flexible repayment plans are used. The loans are designed to encourage the production and consumption by the poor, increase employment, entrepreneurial activities and alleviate poverty. With this cause driven-business, many of the lives of struggling poor individuals will change significantly. In this social business, investors and owners can reinvest the capital invested, cannot take profits, which can only be put into another social objective. The purpose of the investment is to achieve more social objectives such as, housing for the poor, entrepreneurship, renewable energy and other desirable ones. The impact will be more on individuals other than on the company's success. Also the company's profit will be conducted to reach and improve the product and the service.

Now, when I picture myself as a Bronx Community College student, I realize how much I have grown and changed, not only physically, but also mentally. I have been transformed by this educational institution and education.  My academic achievements are a reflection of my work ethic, motivation and my immense desire to succeed, despite academic challenges. I dedicated myself to study and reach my potential, and continuously, through knowledge I developed a fearless mechanism towards academics and life’s barriers. Certainly, with all the confidence in my power, I can say that education and business are my alma mater. Currently, I have a 3.6 grade point average, and I am involved in various clubs and honor societies. I am a member of Phi Theta Kappa, Alpha Beta Gamma, and Dean’s List, Honors Program, Business Club and Gardening Club. Through continuous experiences in programs, I have learned that stability is in education.