Posted: February 13, 2019
Northwest College sophomore Hannah Becker knows the importance of planning for her future. As an Agriculture Business major and integral member of the campus community, she serves as the current Student Senate president, member of Campus Ventures, and student representative on College Council. In what little free time Becker has, she enjoys exploring the nearby mountainous regions that surround the Big Horn Basin. She’s set to graduate in May 2019 and plans to transfer to the University of Wyoming.
How did you know NWC was a good fit?
Location was huge. It was close to home. I love the area, and I love the access to the mountains. I mean, you’ve got the Bighorns on one side, plus the Beartooths and Absarokas. The price point was great, too. I also love the small class sizes. In Ag Business, the professors are super engaged and they care a lot and all know me by name. I know them all by name, and I love that close feeling of community.
How did you find your passion in Agriculture Business?
I wanted to be able to set myself up to run a business from home. I see a lot of women who pursue a degree, and they do really, really well in that field, and they love it—for example, nursing. Say they pursue the career in nursing for ten years, but soon their kids get older, and they want to spend more time with their family, but they can’t or they’d be risking their career. I want to set myself up to pursue a career and be able to spend time with my family. I feel Ag Business will set me up well for that.
What are your plans after you’re finished with school?
There’s a lot of options, and I wouldn’t say I’ve nailed down one yet. I’d love a job managing an agricultural operation, whether that was a ranch or feedlot—there’s tons of different opportunities, but I know I’m definitely built for management positions.
Do you have any advice for current or future students?
Get involved. My first semester, I was living in Cody, and a lot of the activities on campus were in the evening, so I’d just skip them. I did well in my classes, but that first semester was lonely, and I didn’t have fun. College is about learning, but it’s also about having fun. I think if you get in the right crowd, there’s definitely a ton of good activities to be part of. Getting involved is huge. Also, connect with your professors. That’s made a huge difference for me. You shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help or walk into your professor’s office.