As a member of the University of Delaware’s Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics’ Class of 2021, Sarah Skeith, a finance major with minors in economics and international business studies from Dumont, New Jersey has not had the typical final year or commencement at UD due to the coronavirus pandemic. Skeith, and her entire class, have shown incredible resilience, maturity and spirit while adjusting to the many unexpected changes that they have encountered.
Skeith was nominated for this series by UD’ Instructor of Management Dianne Leipold, who said, “Sarah comes to class prepared to learn. She is thoroughly engaged in discussions, whether it is a full class discussion or a small group discussion. She is diligent about doing work well. She asks questions that demonstrate curiosity; her questions show me that she is trying to attain subject mastery. She shows an excellent ability to see the “big picture” and to pull together disparate pieces of information into a whole. It’s been a pleasure to have her in class.”
In this profile, Skeith 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?
Skeith: I have definitely changed a lot since my first semester at UD. My time here has made me more confident in my abilities because my classes here have challenged me to do things I never thought I could. I developed important life skills to help me be successful in my classes and maintain a good balance in my life outside the classroom.
Lerner: What is your favorite place at UD?
Skeith: My favorite place on campus has to be North Campus. I lived there my sophomore year and love the peaceful environment there. The walkways look so pretty when the flowers are in bloom alongside them.
Lerner: What is the most memorable course that you took at Lerner?
Skeith: One of the most memorable courses I took at Lerner was definitely FINC419: Financial Modeling & Valuation. I found the material very difficult and had to work extremely hard to earn an A. Professor Jakotowicz was one of the best professors I have had at UD, so he was a crucial resource in helping me achieve my goal. Although this isn’t an area of finance I want to work in, I loved this class because it pushed me to work hard and prove to myself that I could do it.
Lerner: What was your favorite signature UD experience?
Skeith: During my time at UD, I was fortunate enough to study abroad three times in the most amazing countries. Freshman year I learned about cruise ship management by traveling on a Royal Caribbean to the Bahamas, sophomore year I took my wine and food knowledge to Australia and New Zealand to put it to the test and junior year I was forever changed when I spent my days working in orphanages and underprivileged schools in South Africa. All three experiences helped me grow into the person I am today and I never would’ve been able to make lifelong memories or check off bucket list items without UD’s amazing study abroad program.
Lerner: What does being a “Lifelong Lerner” mean to you?
Skeith: Lifelong Lerner means to me that I will carry the lessons I learned with me far after graduation. The information I learned and the work ethic I developed here will serve as the foundation for my professional career and the rest of my life.
Lerner: What are your plans following graduation?
Skeith: I have accepted a job with Northrop Grumman in Maryland after graduation. I will be working as a Cost Schedule Control Analyst.