1. Am I an entrepreneur?
    Taking into consideration that entrepreneurship emphasizes critical thinking and problem-solving. I would have to agree that yes, I identify as an entrepreneur. Entrepreneurship is more than creating a product or service and determining success based on profits. It also involves innovation and creativity, both aspects I identify with greatly. I enjoy problem-solving and attempting to think outside the box to provide solutions for problems. For instance, I helped my fiancée’s 9-year-old daughter who enjoys painting and crafts sell her creations throughout the neighborhood. At first, she was finding it difficult to get people to stop by in front of the house. To solve this issue, I suggested and helped her set up next to the neighborhood mailboxes which had a higher volume of traffic. She ended up selling all her paintings within the hour.
  2. What is success?
    Success to me is a subjective concept that varies from individual to individual. What I might view as successful another may not see it in the same regard. I feel that success is dependent on the goals set for each individual, the demonstration of growth, and a sense of fulfillment. For instance, I view accomplishing my goal of graduating with my degree as a major success. For an entrepreneur, it would be important to first identify the goals they wish to accomplish with their product or service. By establishing and accomplishing their set goals, an entrepreneur can measure their success based on the goals they had set.
  3. Am I a self-starter? How well do I follow through on my ideas?
    I believe myself to be a self-starter that follows through on my ideas. One major fact that reinforces this belief is in pursuit of my degree as a cybersecurity major. I joined the military in 2013 intending to use the GI Bill to pursue my Bachelor’s. I wanted to limit any amount of debt I may incur and reduce the amount of dependency on my family. After completing my enlistment and attending Tide Water Community College, I continued my pursuit at Old Dominion. Currently, I am in my final semester and am close to accomplishing my own goal of a Bachelor’s in Cybersecurity. Although my journey started in 2013 almost 10 years ago, I’m still following through on my original plan.
  4. How does ODU view entrepreneurship?
    ODU views entrepreneurship with high regard, offering students multiple programs to assist in their entrepreneurial pursuits. The STROME Entrepreneurial Center is one such program that assists students with their entrepreneurial pursuits. ODU encourages students to identify problems within society and develop possible solutions to these problems. ODU also recognizes that entrepreneurship has many other aspects that will benefit all students regardless of their future professional goals. These aspects include critical thinking, initiative, and problem-solving, all of which will benefit students in their professional careers beyond ODU.
  5. What is my role in this ecosystem?
    My role in this ecosystem as a student and entrepreneur is multifaceted and constantly evolving. This role encompasses personal development and growth, identifying issues in society, and developing methods to address these issues. Currently, my priority is personal development and learning as much as possible during my time at ODU. My current role allows for creative thinking and innovation in problem-solving. In the future I foresee this role changing and adapting to the role of a teacher to pass down knowledge I have acquired throughout the years. Hopefully, others will take this knowledge and apply their creativity to solve issues within society.