Student Snapshot: Julie Siecinski '21
Julie Siecinski '21. Photo by Christian Payne.
For Julie Siecinski ’21 (international business & management), it was the campus photos that piqued her interest in Dickinson and the athletics department, small class sizes and challenging classes that made it a done deal. Below, she discusses the course that drew her to study international business & management, the class project that put her in a consulting role for a local business, the thrill of winning the 2019 Centennial Conference Softball Championship and more.
Hometown: Edison, New Jersey
Major: International business & management with minors in economics and Spanish.
Clubs and organizations:
Softball team, National Society of Leadership and Success, Sigma Delta Pi and Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society.
Honors/scholarships/awards:
2018-19 Easton/NFCA All-American Scholar-Athlete, Benjamin Rush Scholarship and Dean’s List.
Favorite book:
Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything by Steven Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner.
Favorite movie:
Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again
On choosing a major:
When I got to Dickinson, I did not have a solid idea about what I wanted to do. I was split between a couple of options: history, international business & management, math and economics. During the fall semester of my first year, I decided to take a business class to see what it was like. When I was in my Fundamentals of Business class with Visiting Instructor in International Business & Management Sherry Ritchey, I knew that it was the department I wanted to be in. In this class, we had the opportunity to work as consultants for real clients who wanted to start a business. This experience gave me a glimpse into the real business world, and I learned so much from it. As I looked more closely at the major, I noticed that it spanned many different areas of business (finance, marketing, human resources, etc.), which was perfect for me. I also liked how the major focuses on international business, because in today’s world, we are incredibly connected with the people all around the globe. I am so grateful Dickinson gave me the chance to explore different paths and figure out what I truly enjoy.
As I kid, I wanted to be …
… a lawyer.
On choosing Dickinson:
When I first heard about Dickinson, I immediately Googled “Dickinson College” and went to images. When I saw the limestone buildings and beautiful campus, I was blown away. I decided to look more into the academics and athletics. When I did that, I saw Dickinson had everything I was looking for: small class sizes, a strong academic and athletics community, challenging classes and endless opportunities for their students. I knew that Dickinson was the type of school I wanted to be at. I did an overnight visit with the softball team, and I got that feeling you get when you find the place you want to be. I was and still am incredibly happy with my decision to become a Dickinsonian.
Favorite place on campus:
Althouse lover level.
Favorite Dining Hall food:
Cajun Sizzle Wrap.
Favorite class/learning experience:
My favorite class so far was Marketing in a Global Context (INBM 240) with Assistant Professor of International Business & Management Xiaolu Wang. It was a perfect mixture of classroom learning and team assignments. Our semesterlong project involved picking a foreign country, designing a new product and marketing that product in the country we chose. My team decided to market an ecofriendly surfboard in Australia. Through this project, I learned so much about Australia. It was very interesting to see how the values, customs, norms and traditions differ from country to country. At the end of the semester, we got to put together an advertisement for our product, which I thought was really fun because I love creating and editing videos.
What truly made the class enjoyable was the professor, Xiaolu Wang. His knowledge of and passion for marketing was evident, and his excitement rubbed off on the students. Professor Wang also cared about us, the students, both inside and outside of his class. Marketing in a Global Context is definitely a class I will remember.
The best thing about my Dickinson experience:
The friends I have made here are some of the best people I have met. They are so kind, supportive and understanding, and I am so grateful that Dickinson gave us the opportunity to come together. The faculty here at Dickinson is remarkable as well. Because of the small class sizes, all of my professors know me by name and care about how I am doing, both inside and outside of class.
If I could have dinner with anyone, living or dead, it would be …
… Alexander Hamilton.
Proudest accomplishment so far:
Winning the 2019 Centennial Conference Softball Championship. I will never forget the feeling of being up by one run in the bottom of the seventh inning with two outs and runners on first and second. I was feeling a mixture of nervousness and excitement; we were almost there. The ball was hit to our shortstop, Brigitte Gutpelet '21, and she threw it to me at third to get the final out of the game and win the championship. As soon as that happened, it felt as if my soul had left my body and I was on cloud nine. There is nothing better than earning what you and your teammates worked so hard to achieve. In that moment, I was truly proud to be a Red Devil.
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Published April 29, 2020