Adding Academic Knowledge to Practical Experience – Trina Zazarine

“I have been a serial entrepreneur for years, navigating every aspect of running a successful business. However, I lacked formal training and only had a few earlier jobs related to accounting. I wanted the academic knowledge to complement my practical experience.

I chose Meredith because of its reputation, campus, small class sizes, and the fact that it was a women’s college. The first few weeks of my first semester, I felt so welcomed and supported that I knew I had made the right choice.

As an older student, I initially expected my experience to be quite different and perhaps even isolating. However, I was delightfully surprised to find the opposite. I was warmly accepted by both fellow students and professors. Most of my instructors valued my perspectives and life experiences, while my classmates treated me just like any other student. 

I had several of Dr. Nancy Johnson’s accounting classes, and she has become my biggest and loudest cheerleader. I have not felt that type of love, support, and encouragement since my dad was alive. Several times, I came away from her office in tears because she believed in me and was genuinely proud of me. She is one of the warmest, most genuine, positive people I have ever known.

Coming in my first year as a transfer student and junior, I learned about the Meredith Student Veterans Association (SVA). The officers had graduated, so staff members Patty Blackwell and Kelly Rowett-James helped me and the SVA so very much! They were our angels; they supported, pushed, and encouraged me to keep going with the SVA. They invited me to become involved with the annual Honoring Women Veterans program. Last year, I was honored to be a speaker at this great event. I was the organization’s president in 2023-24 and the vice president in 2024-25. Without Patty and Kelly, I wouldn’t have found my community of other veteran women at Meredith.

As a new member of the Meredith Golf Team in my junior year, I initially felt intimidated by the high skill level of my teammates. Although I had been playing for a long time before joining Meredith, I realized I was not at their level. However, that didn’t matter; we were a team, and we all grew and improved together. Golf became the backdrop for friendship and personal development. Despite starting as an outsider, I found my place among remarkable individuals who shared my passion for the game. With each swing, I honed my skills and gained confidence and a sense of belonging that extended well beyond the golf course.

At Meredith, I discovered that I am smarter than I realized! Last year, I took Business Data Analytics with Dr. Choi, a subject I have always been interested in, yet struggled to understand. Finally, everything clicked, and I found myself genuinely enjoying it. I took Advanced Data Analytics with Dr. Choi in my senior year, and my passion for the subject remains stronger than ever!

Last summer, I enrolled in Spanish II and III. Both courses were quite challenging. Classes were five days a week, three hours a day for three weeks.  By the end of Spanish III, I was able to write papers in Spanish and felt confident in my ability to communicate. I had excellent professors and supportive classmates, which made the learning experience much more enjoyable.

Starting this fall, I will be pursuing my MBA at NC State. Encouraged by my professors to consider graduate school, I never saw myself attending at this level. I am proud to be the first in my family to attend both college and graduate school.”