A native of Summit, N.J., Sara Muzyka is graduating from the University of Delaware’s Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics as an honors marketing and management double major with a minor in legal studies.
Muzyka was nominated for this series by Assistant Professor of Management Nathan Bragaw, who said, “Sara deserves to be honored, I’ve had her in class and she would is fantastic.”
In this profile, Muzyka shares 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?
Muzyka: I have definitely grown from my first semester at UD to now. Each semester, I pushed myself academically by participating in class discussions, asking questions, and connecting with my professors. Aside from my business courses, joining a business fraternity helped me with my professional and social development; thanks to Phi Chi Theta, I was able to make lifelong friendships and hold multiple officer positions, including executive vice president. Overall, this strong development has helped me grow my knowledge, discipline, and confidence that makes me the person I am today.
Lerner: What have been some of the challenges you have faced during your college experience and how did you overcome them?
Muzyka: A challenge I have faced during my college experience, especially during my freshman year, was learning how to effectively manage my time. I was always told that in college, you have more independence, including having more time to complete school assignments. Though this is true, with greater independence comes the need for effective time management. There were so many tasks I was trying to juggle, such as joining different clubs, completing my assignments, making time to relax and hang out with my friends, etc. Thankfully, by being organized and implementing effective time-management strategies (that I will continue to use in my future career) I was able to overcome this challenge.
Lerner: What was your favorite signature UD experience and why?
Muzyka: My favorite UD experience was attending UDance for the first time, during my freshman year. During this time, I was serving as the UDance team captain of my business fraternity, Phi Chi Theta. Throughout the year, we hosted many fundraising events for UDance, and on the day of, we hit our year-long goal! It was amazing to see how many families we were able to help with our donations. I will never forget how excited we all were, and how proud I was of my fellow brothers and sisters for supporting our cause.
Lerner: Did you have a Lerner professor or staff member that had a big impact on your UD experience?
Muzyka: There are so many Lerner professors and staff members that have made an impact on my UD experience. I would like to start off by thanking all of my professors for supporting me throughout my college career. One Lerner professor who had a significant impact on my UD experience was Dr. Dustin Sleesman, an amazing professor who I had the wonderful opportunity to be a TA for. I would also like to recognize Dr. Michal Herzenstein and Dr. Nathan Bragaw. Thank you all for academically challenging me and encouraging me to become a better version of myself.
Lerner: What does being a “Lifelong Lerner” mean to you?
Muzyka: To me, being a “Lifelong Lerner” means that I will always have a place at UD. I am beyond grateful that I have been able to call UD my home over the past four years. Though graduating is very bittersweet, it is great to know that I will always be welcomed back to UD, and to Lerner, with open arms. Lerner, thank you so much for providing me with a place to grow myself both socially and professionally. I am forever proud to call myself a Blue Hen.
Lerner: What advice would you give to incoming freshmen to make the most out of their college experience?
Muzyka: Do not be afraid to put yourself out there. Your college experience is based on what you make of it. I recommend getting involved on campus and joining clubs that interest you; this will definitely help you meet new people and make more friends. I also highly recommend attending career fairs during your sophomore and junior years as they are a great way to connect with potential employers and expose you to the business industry!
Lerner: What are your plans following graduation?
Muzyka: Following graduation, I will be working full-time in the hospitality industry. I am very excited to begin this next milestone!