JAGUAR SPOTLIGHT: MICHAEL HARRIS

Southern University student Michael Harris Jr. of Baton Rouge is one of many students who have taken the initiative to venture to the Career Services Center to prosper in his chosen field of Finance and Accounting. Harris will receive his Bachelor of Finance & Accounting Degree in May 2018. Though a Sophomore, Michael Harris distributes his time and energy very wisely in multiple outlets.
Q: What peaked your interest in finance?
A: Originally I planned to major in Economics, since it is the social science of business. Unfortunately, that major is no longer available at Southern, so I chose Finance after seeing how closely they were related.
Q: How do you maintain your 3.4 GPA while having a life outside of school?
A: I manage my time very well; I found that the more things I occupy myself with the better.
Q: How has your experience as a part-time staff member of the East Baton Rouge School Board been on top of being a student?
A: It has been a great experience working with elementary age students taught me patience. I’m currently working as a teacher’s aide in a kindergarten class. It wasn’t until this job that I realized just how hard teachers work and how important their job is.
Q: I understand you also have your own website, what is the name of it and how does it tie in with your interest Finance?
A: backtohiphop.com is a website that I along with my friend Isaiah Smith found and created during our junior year of high school. I’ve always been interested in music especially Hip-Hop and its culture, so we decided to create a site that showcased Hip-Hop from the youth of today’s perspective, eventually we came to the realization that there was really no formal outlet for Southern Hip-Hop, the South; especially Baton Rouge, produces some of the biggest acts in Hip-Hop, after this we realized we had found our niche. The premise of backtohiphop.com is to give a spotlight to Southern artists and also showcase the Southern Hip-Hop culture through the Internet. We plan to relaunch the site sometime in the Spring.
Q: How has the Career Service Center assisted you with your personal and academic endeavors?
The Career Service Center has helped me a great deal and is vital to any student looking for internships, resume building, or any type of professional development. It’s always good to have someone like Mrs. Tamara Montgomery in your corner, she helped me receive an internship this past Summer with Genesis Energy; a mid-stream oil company based out of Houston. Faculty like Mrs. Montgomery, Mr. Eric Pugh, Ms.Lauri Patterson , and Ms.Toni Jackson have all helped me on numerous occasions in my academic and personal endeavors.
Planning your future can be physically exhausting and emotionally draining, but during college it is something to constantly keep in mind. Do not leave Southern University without seeking and completing an internship—especially without the assistance of Career Service Center. At Southern University you can always count on a helping hand.