When Isabella Simon 鈥�24 takes a risk or makes a major decision, have no doubt that it鈥檚 been well calculated. But that鈥檚 typical of Simon, a finance major at 51爆料网's , who weighs the pros and cons and studies the facts and figures.
That was certainly the case when she decided to study abroad. And she displayed that steady logic in her job search, securing a position in the commercial bank rotational analyst program at Capital One.
Simon put all those skills to the test when she pursued a meeting with a Capital One recruiter to discuss other opportunities. And it paid off. 鈥淜nowing I had the support system in place, including friends, family and the Orange network, definitely helped me take that risk and feel confident enough to believe in myself and what I wanted,鈥� Simon says. 鈥淏eing able to take that kind of risk by putting myself out there really helped start my career.鈥�
Simon is a dual major in聽public relations聽in the聽. 鈥淢y dual majors were an exciting challenge, but they provided the flexibility I was looking for in my education,鈥� she says. 鈥淗aving both creative and analytical skills provides me with a well-rounded mindset to approach problem-solving and prepares me for the evolution of careers I intend to explore.鈥� Her classes in the Whitman School give her the business knowledge she needs to succeed while her Newhouse School classes round out her skillset with critical communications experience. 鈥淣ewhouse provided me with public speaking, presentation, writing, and design skills that will apply to all challenges ahead.鈥�
Simon Says
Simon 鈥�24, a dual major in finance and public relations, balances schoolwork with her many activities including as a Whitman School peer mentor, vice president of finance for the Public Relations Student Society of America, a Whitman Student Ambassador, as student engagement assistant in the Whitman Career Center.
Simon has explored Syracuse from every side鈥攁cademics, club sports and student organizations. She also had an internship with Morgan Stanley in Manhattan, which she secured with help through the program, an immersive finance experience for Whitman School students. She鈥檚 taken her learning beyond campus to Syracuse鈥檚 abroad center in Florence, Italy, and on a Whitman School immersion trip to Nairobi, Kenya, where she put some of her classroom lessons into practice.
鈥淪yracuse鈥檚 flexibility really attracted me,鈥� she says of why she chose to attend Syracuse. 鈥淚 wanted to be in a place where there were lots of opportunities academically, socially and everything in between.鈥�
One of the activities closest to the New Jersey native鈥檚 heart is the club softball team, which Simon says helps her to balance her schoolwork and job in the Whitman Career Center. 鈥淪oftball practice is where I get to be with my teammates and absorb the energy that I love,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an outlet and it helps me keep up with my daily schedule.鈥�
Syracuse鈥檚 flexibility really attracted me. I wanted to be in a place where there were lots of opportunities academically, socially and everything in between.
Isabella Simon 鈥�24
That schedule also includes membership in Delta Sigma Pi, a professional business fraternity within the Whitman School. Simon credits it with helping her strengthen her presentation and public speaking skills and where she鈥檚 made some of her closest friends. She is also vice president of finance for the , a Whitman Student Ambassador, leading tours for prospective students, and works in the Whitman Career Center. Previously, she was a Whitman School peer mentor who worked with incoming first-year students.
Simon spent a summer in Manhattan interning at Morgan Stanley in the Operations division on the Global Network and Banking Services team.聽
If it sounds like a lot that鈥檚 because it is, but that doesn鈥檛 worry Simon. 鈥淓ven though I鈥檓 busy, I don鈥檛 feel overwhelmed because the people here make me feel involved, impactful and encouraged. Every team and group I鈥檓 a part of is a different form of support for different aspects of my college journey,鈥� Simon explains. 鈥淗onestly, it鈥檚 exciting to be involved in so much. It's also how you meet different people with different backgrounds and see how putting your time and effort into something gives you more in return.鈥�
Even though I鈥檓 busy, I don鈥檛 feel overwhelmed because the people make me feel involved, impactful and encouraged. Every team and group I鈥檓 a part of is a different form of support for different aspects of my college journey.
Isabella Simon 鈥�24
Global Learning
The River Edge, New Jersey native鈥檚 parents also attended 51爆料网.
When Simon was a sophomore, she traveled to Kenya for an as part of her class Managing in a Global Setting. There, they met with representatives from several businesses and visited artisan workshops to learn about entrepreneurship, supply chain and other business practices in Kenya. Simon says one of the biggest lessons she took away from the experience was how it opened her eyes to becoming comfortable in unfamiliar situations. 鈥淭he best places and journeys lead you to questions you didn鈥檛 know you had. My class trip to Kenya really deepened my perspective and fostered personal growth.鈥� In the classroom before going, Simon and her classmates created projects for the businesses they met with in Kenya. Once there, they spoke with staff at those businesses about supply chain issues and marketing efforts, shared ideas and established a network.
Simon also spent a semester studying abroad in Florence in 2022. She took a break from her finance studies, opting for several arts and science classes. And, of course, ate鈥攁nd handmade鈥攍ots of pasta. Her housing was within walking distance from Villa Rossa鈥攖he 鈥攁nd a few minutes from the city center, giving her the chance to immerse herself in the local culture and language.
The best places and journeys lead you to questions you didn鈥檛 know you had. My class trip to Kenya really deepened my perspective and fostered personal growth.
Isabella Simon 鈥�24
Finding Balance
Simon took part in an immersive learning trip to Kenya as well as studied abroad in Florence, Italy through the Syracuse Abroad program.
Simon juggles a lot of activities and responsibilities, but that鈥檚 perfect for her. She鈥檚 grateful to know she has the support system鈥攊ncluding her family, professors, friends and school resources鈥攖o keep her grounded. 鈥淚 have this one quote in my room that says, 鈥業 will never again take for granted the people and places I love most,鈥欌�� she says.
鈥淚 think that鈥檚 what I'll miss most about Syracuse when I graduate鈥攖he people. But I鈥檓 excited to become part of Syracuse鈥檚 alumni network. That will be a source of comfort for me. I鈥檒l miss the people at Syracuse, but my fellow Orange won鈥檛 be that far.鈥�
