As a member of the University of Delaware’s Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics’ Class of 2021, Bridget Forster, an economics and finance double major from Lynbrook, New York has not had the typical final year or commencement at UD due to the coronavirus pandemic. Forster, and her entire class, have shown incredible resilience, maturity and spirit while adjusting to the many unexpected changes that they have encountered.
Forster was nominated for this series by UD Associate Professor of Economics Elizabeth Bayley, who said, “Bridget is an outstanding student and member of the Blue Hen community! Her involvement in the Women in Economics student group and tutoring program in economics has enhanced the opportunities for our students. She has also been an excellent ambassador in recruiting Lerner students.”
In this profile, Forster shared her favorite UD memories, how she has changed during her time at UD and her plans following graduation.
Lerner: How do you think you have changed from your first semester at UD to now?
Forster: I have changed so much since my first semester here at UD, it’s practically unbelievable. I came in as an excited first year, who cared about school but wasn’t really passionate about anything in particular. That changed very quickly, as I soon became deeply immersed within the campus community and my academics. For the first time in my life, I really cared about what I was doing. My four years at UD have given me the inspiration and confidence to aim for so much more in my future – much more than I thought imaginable four years ago.
Lerner: What is your favorite place at UD?
Forster: My favorite place at UD is the Green! I could probably spend hours walking around it if it didn’t make me look crazy.
Lerner: What is the most memorable course that you took at Lerner?
Forster: My favorite class within Lerner was probably ECON301(Quantitative Microeconomic Theory). This is definitely an unpopular opinion because it’s one of the most challenging and time-consuming classes offered at UD, but it’s so worth it. I had Dr. Michael Arnold as a professor and there were only about ten of us in the honors section of this class, so it quickly became a supportive little community. I loved the collaboration that came along with it and I felt extremely proud that I was able to finish the course, on top of how much I actually learned from it.
Lerner: What was your favorite signature UD experience?
Forster: My favorite UD experience was being the professor’s assistant and translator for a winter honors study abroad trip to Italy. It was an amazing and unforgettable experience and I would go back and repeat it a thousand times over if I could!
Lerner: What does being a “Lifelong Lerner” mean to you?
Forster: To me, being a Lifelong Lerner means always remembering my roots in Newark, and all of the support the Lerner community provided me throughout my four years. The relationships I’ve formed with alumni have been invaluable and I hope to provide that same benefit to Lerner students of the future.
Lerner: What are your plans following graduation?
Forster: I will be continuing my full-time role in Investment Operations with Capital Group and relocating to their headquarters in Irvine, California.