Meet AIU Students and Alumni
Meet Avan Hardwell
BBA in International Business
Learning More Than Book Knowledge
Avan Hardwell was a decent student in high school, but he did only what he needed to do to get by. Now at AIU Los Angeles, however, he's finding the bare minimum doesn't cut it any more. "I'd say I was an above average student in high school, but I still didn't study that much. This time, I actually want to learn, and the classes are more challenging, which forces me to study."
Avan says that in addition to learning the subject matter in his International Business major and in the required general education classes, he has learned life skills in his degree program such as time management, persistence, and consistency.
"I wasn't a very disciplined student at all when I started college. I came straight from high school, where I did only just what I needed to do to get the grade. Here, in order to get the grades I want, I had to learn how to manage my time and how to dedicate myself to a task. My life in general has become much better organized." These business skills are particularly critical for Avan, who works during the day at a medical supply company he founded six months ago.
Thanks in part to these new life skills Avan has picked up-and also in part to his innate drive to succeed-Avan will be the first in his family to graduate from college. "There have been some people who have started but weren't able to finish. I'll be the first to finish. My whole family is pretty proud."
It hasn't all been easy for Avan, though. Health problems necessitated a long hospital stay. He was out of school for a full three months. Thanks to understanding professors and Avan's Admission Representative, who has continued to be a constant support for the student, Avan was able to pick right back up where he left off. "It could have been difficult to get back into the swing of things after missing so much class, but everyone was really helpful in getting me back into the flow. Now's there's not much between me and my college degree."
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