Madison Nuckols ’22
HOMETOWN: Callands, Virginia
MAJOR: mathematics and economics
WHAT'S NEXT: working as a commercial rotation program associate at Capital One in Bethesda, Maryland
I met Dr. Melanie Marks soon after I transferred to Longwood from Appalachian State University in 2018. When I transferred, I was unsure about the academic path that I wanted to take. At App State, I started to pursue mathematics with hopes of minoring in some type of business field, and I was strongly considering economics. However, I had become very discouraged about my capability to understand economics because my large lecture macroeconomics class did not give me the one-on-one attention that I needed to help me learn the material. I loved economics, and I remember Dr. Marks convincing me to take her environmental economics course. This was the first time I took an econ course that was hands-on learning. Her course challenged me, and I left with knowledge that I still use to this day.
I eventually decided to declare a minor in economics, and my love to learn continued to grow at levels that I did not know existed. I started to love economics so much that I found out I could stay another semester and double major in economics and math. As I grew as a student, I learned about some learning disabilities that I have. I struggle with focusing, and that is part of why I often got discouraged in the beginning of my academic journey. Dr. Marks took me under her wing and ensured that I got the most out of every class. She helped me see that my passion for economics could take me a long way if I put my mind to it. Dr. Marks helped me choose the best summer internship and the best job offer after college. I have accepted a position at Capital One as a commercial rotation program associate and will be participating in their two-year Commercial Rotation Program. My first rotation is in Bethesda, Maryland, and I start on July 11.
My most amazing college experience has been as a student-athlete. I have been a member of Longwood’s field hockey team and was the starting goalkeeper for the past two seasons. This past season I helped lead my team to the MAC championship—the first time that Longwood field hockey has ever participated in this game. It is a memory I will cherish forever, and I am so thankful that I got to be a part of making history in the sport. Longwood has given me the leadership skills I need to be successful in the real world. I gained these on the athletics field, in the classroom and in the workplace. I’ve learned the importance of building relationships, and being a Lancer gave me the opportunity to build them with some extremely talented people. Longwood is a place that helped me gain confidence in my abilities and taught me that I am capable of making a difference in everything that I set out to conquer.
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