Alexandra Dufour came into the French program with 15 years of experience with the language. After demonstrating what she already knew on UL LafayetteСAPPs , she jumped ahead in the curriculum.
СAPPI have been taking French for so long and I never wanted to give it up,СAPP she said. СAPPI came in with so many credits in French that I was already almost halfway through my degree plan in French before I was even a freshman.СAPP
Finding a New Passion
Alexandra found another passion as a student through her minor.
СAPPI was originally supposed to do a Spanish minor since I thought I wanted to be an interpreter for the longest time,СAPP she said. СAPPI think that was just kind of my go-to since I didnСAPPt really know what I wanted to do.
СAPPThen when I found out that human resources is something that I do really want to do, I decided I wanted to do management,СAPP she said. СAPPItСAPPs not just human resources, but itСAPPs also leadership and being independent and taking on different parts of the business that you want to be in. So, there are many places that a language and a management minor can take you.СAPP
Alexandra started interning in human resources at a construction company. She is currently looking forward to earning a graduate degree in human resource management and she СAPPdefinitely want[s] to do grad school at UL Lafayette.СAPP
СAPPI want to start exploring different HR perspectives outside of a construction company,СAPP she said. СAPPI wanted to see how HR is different in either small businesses or larger businesses or fast food. ThatСAPPs something that I want to look at when I get closer to grad school.СAPP
A System of Support
UL Lafayette has been a source of support for Alexandra away from home.
СAPPI didnСAPPt think that being so far away from home was going to be beneficial. I didnСAPPt think I was going to like it,СAPP she said. СAPPBut I really like the Lafayette community and I really like the teachers that IСAPPve been surrounded by and I want to pursue another degree at the same college.
СAPPI really like the French program because itСAPPs very small,СAPP she said. СAPPBecause itСAPPs small, you get to grow these relationships with not only the students but with the teachers as well.СAPP
Alexandra even found encouragement from smaller, unexpected places.
СAPPOne thing that I like the most is the ladies in the cafeteria. TheyСAPPre just so sweet,СAPP she said. СAPPThey will sit there and talk to you. I see so many students grow their relationships with the people here.
СAPPTheyСAPPll ask you how your day is and if youСAPPre not having a good day, theyСAPPll talk to you about it,СAPP she said. СAPPThatСAPPs one thing that I really love the most is that no matter who you talk to on campus, theyСAPPre always going to be open-minded and wanting to talk to you and help you out.СAPP
Independence & Supporting Other Students
This support system has built Alexandra up and helped her grow independently.
СAPPI wanted to be more independent when I was home, but since I had that stability, it was hard to do that,СAPP she said. СAPPBecause IСAPPm so far away from home, IСAPPm able to join these different programs and keep track of my time and have a sense of time management of what needs to be done.
СAPPAnd IСAPPve been able to create a schedule that helps me not only be a part of all these different organizations but also be very successful with school,СAPP she said.
Alexandra is returning the favor by helping other students as a math tutor and .
СAPPBeing a peer mentor was an eye-opener to how many people would really look up to you and how lost some kids are,СAPP she said. СAPPItСAPPs kind of scary going into their first year and being able to be that leader to them and being able to just be there for them is nice.
СAPPI have stayed in contact with a lot of them,СAPP she said. СAPPI have a lot of friends within the peer mentor program and I have helped people with their contracts to become a peer mentor.
СAPPI hope that these different opportunities help me be more open-minded about certain situations and help me step back and reflect about what am I going to do and how am I going to do it better,СAPP she said.
