For Denae French, sophomore business analytics and technology (BAT) and accounting double-major, choosing Trinity meant leaving her beloved state of Colorado behind. Nevertheless, she chose to further her education down in San Antonio. In the end, she explained her choice was worth it.
“I remember my tour guide was a big influence on why I chose Trinity,” French said. “When I came on the tour, that was the big indicator of what life was actually like. There are all the facts about Trinity’s acceptance, after you graduate and all these other facts. But what really sold me was the tour guide.”
French shared that she plans to become a tour guide for Trinity because she understands the challenges out-of-state students face when exploring a school that is far from home. French emphasized that she has had a fulfilling experience here due to her involvement in school organizations, and she aspires to share her vivid perspective with others.
“I hope as a tour guide I will be able to share with other people what it is like as a student aside from just a rigorous academic life and how they will feel supported and challenged,” French said. “You do not know what you want to do with the rest of your life. But you want to see a person that is going through the same situation as you. Maybe they do not have it figured out either, but they found a place where they belong.”
French commented that the liberal arts education at Trinity has allowed her to explore subjects outside of her major. She took country western dancing during her first year which revealed a cultural perspective previously unknown to her.
“For me it was this whole thing of moving to Texas. It was like ‘I have to get boots, I have to dance, I have to learn how to dance,’” French said. “I think that really goes into the broad scope of the liberal arts education because I will get this degree, but along with that I will learn so many other things. I will have those technical skills, but I will also have learned how to communicate with people, advocate for myself and have fun.”
Alongside being a member of the club volleyball team, French is the social chair for the SPURS sorority. She explained that her non-academic involvement contributes to her Trinity perspective, which she is eager to share with prospective students.
“I think that Trinity itself is a very rigorous school. That is why it is really important to feel supported academically, but also just as important to have things that you do outside of school,” French said. “Being able to take a break and have fun helps you escape from the stress of Trinity and the classes that I have.”
French also took part in a summer study abroad program in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, a program new to Trinity. She was paired with Trustify Technology, a software engineering company, for four-five weeks. French described that the program offered unique friendships and a crucial realization.
“It felt like we were 27 years old because we would go to work and we would come back and complain about it,” French said. “I was working in front of a screen the whole day. That was not motivating to me. I took away from it, something that I do not see myself doing. That is why I have transitioned away from just computer science itself into BAT, which combines those hard technical skills, big data and IT with business skills.”
While French explored her professional interests, she also witnessed the culture of Vietnam. French shared that her experience abroad revealed the possibilities that await her with respect to her professional development and cultural education.
“[Possibilities] are not confined to just Texas and Colorado,” French said. “Vietnam itself has so much history. They are economically growing. Just being able to go to hear the story of their very deep and tragic history, but also seeing the amount of potential they have. It really was something that I will tell my kids. I will remember it for the rest of my life.”
