Ciara Andrew may look like she has it all figured out. And that’s probably because she does. The Colorado native has taken advantage of the opportunities at The University of Alabama and her own resourcefulness to earn her bachelor’s and master’s degrees simultaneously.
Why Alabama?
Like many prospective students, Andrew, a first-generation student, fell in love with the UA campus when she visited in the spring of her high school senior year. But it was more than that for her. Something about The University of Alabama resonated during her visit, and she could see herself thriving at UA.
“All colleges have pretty buildings and all colleges have recruiters that are happy and want you there,” Andrew explained. “But when I visited UA, it felt like everyone had such a love for the school here and a love for the community,” she said.
“It felt like they wanted me here just as much as I wanted to be here, too. At the end of the visit, it just felt like I could experience this University and all the things that come with that. And at the same time of having this community and just being on a campus that’s really positive.”
“Being first-gen, the opportunity to attend a four-year university with such a generous scholarship was already an unexpected blessing. Once I found out that I could also attend graduate school utilizing that same scholarship, it was just one of those once-in-a-lifetime things you don’t pass up.”
That feeling of belonging was especially important to Andrew, who originally had no plans to go to school so far away from family. Her mother encouraged her to explore UA after she received a recruitment packet in the mail.
“When it came down to it, my mom was like, ‘You know what, I think we should go on a visit. Let’s just check out the school.’ We did the visit, and by the end I kind of gave her this look, and she was like, ‘You’re coming here, huh?’ And I said, ‘Yeah!’”
Excelling and Accelerating
Andrew was initially a business major, but working with some of her professors helped her pinpoint exactly what she wanted to do.
“I went into business management for a little while. But I’ve always had a big passion for health care,” she said. “But I’ve always known I can’t do bedside. That’s just not where my strengths lie.”
Andrew began thinking about a career in health care administration. She started looking into other majors and talking to professors, and then she was introduced to operations management.
“I met with a lot of them and explained where my passions lie, and they said, ‘Well, you found the right place. OM is for you.’ So, I started the classes, and they got me hooked.”
Not only did Andrew find her perfect path in the classroom, but she also found herself in many other ways. She participates in the Culverhouse First-Gen program and enjoys representing her college as a Culverhouse Ambassador, where Andrew serves as an official student representative and recruiting agent guiding students through the college experience.
Beyond her work in Culverhouse, being a resident advisor helps her connect with students in a way that makes UA feel like home for her and the students she looks out for.
“It’s an experience that has truly helped me grow so much. I think in my critical thinking skills and being a leader and being able to handle people’s problems in a way that I just haven’t had the opportunity to in other roles,” said Andrew.
“Most of my job is balancing that side of I am a mentor for freshmen in the dorms and I really want to make sure they’re as comfortable as possible. I knew what it was like to try to transition and live on your own for the first time and be away from home,” she added. “That is really hard, and I want to support you.”
“College is hard, especially being first-gen and out of state. There are so many struggles that come with that,” she said. “But being at a school where everyone loves the school and, as a result, everyone supports each other, that makes it all so much easier.”
Andrew said she’s able to be a go-to person for the freshmen in the dorm because of the support she gets.
“The other RAs are such a good support system to have here. And then we have a manager that lives in our building, and her support has been so important to me,” she added. “Within the RA position and just anytime I’m having a life struggle or I need an event, I go to her office and we eat candy and we talk. And so, UA makes it easier to be away from home because I feel like I’m being invested in.”
Andrew, a rising senior, will also graduate with her master’s degree along with her bachelor’s through UA’s Accelerated Master’s Program. That was a welcome surprise for Andrew. Because she brought in credits through Advanced Placement courses and dual enrollment in high school, she learned she’d finish her bachelor’s early with a year and a half of scholarship money remaining.
“I said, ‘Let’s use it.’ And, you know, especially being first-gen. My parents support me, but I pay for all my financial stuff, school-wise. And so, when it came to that, I thought, ‘When in my life am I going to have the opportunity with this amount of scholarship money?’ So I jumped full force into it, and now I’m loving it.”
The AMP also created a future Andrew didn’t imagine before college.
“Being first-gen, the opportunity to attend a four-year university with such a generous scholarship was already an unexpected blessing,” she said. “Once I found out that I could also attend graduate school utilizing that same scholarship, it was just one of those once-in-a-lifetime things you don’t pass up.
“I already was stepping outside of my family’s history in attending a four-year university, but attending graduate school hadn’t been on my radar until being at UA and realizing they were once again giving me the opportunity to be a better version of myself that I didn’t think was possible.”
What’s Next?
Andrew said her mentors have helped mold her future as much as her coursework, maybe even more so.
“Legacy Scholars (now known as UA First) has been a big part of supporting me here at UA. Melinda Wallace has been my mentor since freshman year, and she is great,” said Andrew. “I’m always reaching out to her, and she gives me great advice.”
Andrew also credits Quoc Hoang, director of experiential learning at the Culverhouse College of Business, who oversees the college’s first-gen program, and Caroline Malone, as such great supporters of her engagement in the first-gen community.
She also appreciates operations management instructor Jennie Northam. Andrew has served as her teaching assistant for the past two years and works with Northam in the Women in Operations Management organization, where Andrew serves as president.
“She is also a UA alum and a previous first-gen student. She has been able to support me being first-gen within the operations management major, and it has been extremely inspiring to see her success as a female and first-gen student in such a male-dominated industry,” said Andrew.
Through those close relationships, Andrew is growing into who she wants to show the world. This summer she completed an internship with McKesson Corporation in Colorado.
“I worked at a distribution center that serves Colorado and surrounding states, helping with supplying a variety of medications and supplies for health care facilities,” she said. “I saw firsthand how to help hospitals with their medical supplies needs and rush orders during emergency cases. It provided great insight for my health care administration focus to see how hospitals work with these partners.”
For a career, Andrew is thinking about hospital administration or patient advocacy — some way that she can make an impact on others, like the one her experience and relationships at Alabama have had on her.
“College is hard, especially being first-gen and out of state. There are so many struggles that come with that,” she said. “But being at a school where everyone loves the school and, as a result, everyone supports each other, that makes it all so much easier.”