Recruiting students from across the U.S., Campus is the new alternative to online community college. We’re on a mission to maximize access to a world-class education to set students up for success no matter what their next step is. Read on to learn about our students’ unique experiences.
We dive into the story of Marquise West, a student in the Campus online associate degree in business administration program. Marquise’s journey from a local community college to the virtual halls of Campus is a testament to his resilience and unwavering commitment to personal growth.
From delving into his academic evolution to revealing his entrepreneurial spirit, this story also highlights Marquise's unique approach to mental wellness through his latest podcast venture.
Giving College Another Shot
Before starting his online college journey at Campus in the fall of 2023, Marquise attended a local community college, aspiring for a double major in business and criminal justice. Marquise faced setbacks during his initial college experience, but these challenges only fueled him.
“In college, the first time, I failed,” Marquise told Campus. “And I really wanted to prove to myself that this is not gonna stop me from learning what I need to learn, improving myself, and also taking advantage of the opportunities that are available to me.”
During his time in his first community college program, Marquise initially contemplated becoming a police officer or a security guard. However, after some self-discovery, his goals had shifted.
“I don't want to just be a security guard, I want to be an owner,” Marquise said. “If I want to be able to manage this type of industry, I have to have the skills to be able to do that.”
Why Campus?
Marquise considered several programs after deciding that he wanted to go back to school to improve himself. He knew that taking classes online was a must. He wanted an educational solution that would allow him to stay at home so that he could better support his family.
“I was just looking at online colleges because I take care of my grandparents,” Marquise shared. “I'm always at home when they need help and I was looking for opportunities to learn online, and I found Campus.”
Like many Campus students, Marquise was interested in the opportunity to further his education in a flexible, supportive environment, but was a little skeptical. He mentioned that Campus almost sounded too good to be true, and decided he needed to do a little more digging.
“I was like, ‘Okay, let me do some research,’ and then I saw Campus is formally MTI College,” Marquise recalled. “It was a legit school, so I did more research and saw that students get a free laptop, and I thought, ‘Let me give it a try!’”
A Little Support Makes All the Difference
Marquise noted that while his in-person and hybrid experiences at his previous school offered guidance, the support system at Campus has been a critical factor in his current academic success.
When we asked him about where he felt he received the most support, he answered, “With Campus, you can ask the TAs and the professors questions whenever and they're going to help you out.”
One of the key professors who significantly impacted his academic progress, and his view on English as a whole, was award-winning professor, Theresa Walsh. Reflecting on the completion of his first term, he told us that his favorite class was English Composition, despite his initial hesitancy toward taking an English course.
“She gave so much support and feedback on how my improvements are and it kind of inspired me a lot to keep going,” Marquise stated. “I can't stress how much of a difference that makes, especially in an online setting.”
Marquise also went on to express how the skills he learned in his English Composition class are already helping him make strides in his personal life and projects.
“I can apply what I’ve learned in this class to my daily living: how I speak, how I think, and how I interact with people,” Marquise remarked. “And now I can apply that to my podcast.”
Hitting Record on a New Opportunity
Outside of the classroom, Marquise is an avid holistic health advocate and has started working on his latest project: a podcast centered on mental wellness. As Marquise puts it, “My podcast is really just about helping expose things that are within us that we can discover about ourselves.”
His podcast is called Only Humble Motives (OHM), and was named after the symbol for electrical resistance, or an ohm, after Marquise took inspiration from the relationship between electricity, frequencies, and how they relate to people.
The unique naming of the podcast after 'ohms' reflects his view on the connection between people and electromagnetic frequencies. Marquise’s thoughtful approach can also be found in his reasoning for choosing the podcast format itself, which allows the audience to connect with a vocal message.
“I'd rather have something where I could just talk and not have people focus on looking at me because I want people to focus on the message rather than the presenter,” Marquise shared. “I don't want to be famous. I just want to be helpful. That's why I feel like this podcast is the route for me.”
Marquise's new mental wellness podcast mirrors his profound commitment to the subject, stemming from his own personal experiences. His passion for mental health shines through, offering his genuine perspectives on the importance of nurturing mental well-being.
“I'm more interested in mental health than anything because it has to do with our well-being and the rest of our lives,” Marquise explained. “We have to understand the way that we think and act really affects our lifestyle. Our consciousness is basically thoughts, actions, and behaviors, and we need to focus on all three.”
A Budding Entrepreneur
Marquise has a passion for not just mental health, but physical health as well. In 2021, Marquise started a business venture and created his own fitness brand, Gladiator Fitness Evolution. He founded his fitness brand with a focus on the interconnectedness of physical and mental health.
“I help people realize how physical fitness affects your mental health as well, directly,” Marquise said.
With both his fitness brand and his newest podcast, Marquise is ready to start reaching his goals of improving the wellness of as many people as possible.
“I want to be able to take this nationwide to really help people,” Marquise expressed. “I plan to create a platform that I can use as well as incorporate software to make it easier for daily lives.”
We can’t wait to see where Marquise’s journey will take him in the future. As he continues to grow with us in the Campus Scholars program, we are confident that his achievements will be both inspiring and transformative!
Learn More About the Campus Experience
If Marquise’s story resonates with you, or his words about Campus have caught your attention, be sure to check out the Campus online associate degree in business program or request more info here.
You can join inspiring students just like Marquise by applying to become a Campus Scholar today!
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