{"id":2391,"date":"2018-09-27T15:11:15","date_gmt":"2018-09-27T15:11:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/yearbook\/?p=2391"},"modified":"2019-08-02T16:09:51","modified_gmt":"2019-08-02T21:09:51","slug":"everything-is-possible","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/yearbook\/2018\/09\/27\/everything-is-possible\/","title":{"rendered":"Everything is Possible"},"content":{"rendered":"

By: Myleigh Lanham\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Reel in your opportunities.<\/b><\/p>\n

Lauren Prywitch, graduated from Western in the Spring of 2014 with a degree in Speech Communication with a concentration in public relations. She currently works in New York City as a story associate for Food Network\u2019s <\/a><\/span>Chopped<\/span><\/i>. <\/span><\/p>\n

Prywitch said her time at Western changed her life. Attending the university, after some difficult years in high school, made her feel safe, happy and allowed her to be someone she always wanted to be.<\/span><\/p>\n

Prywitch joined many organizations during her time at Western and said being involved is what guided her most.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cObtaining leadership roles gave me confidence and helped me gain internships, which then of course, led to my career,\u201d Prywitch said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Prywitch said she is proud to be an alumna because she knows of the potential Western has to change someone\u2019s life.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a gem of a place, that really allows each student to build their own universe,\u201d Prywitch said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Be your own boss.<\/b><\/p>\n

Amber McKnight, a 2004 Western graduate with a degree in Finance, currently works as her own boss at Fredrick Inn Steak House<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

McKnight owns and operates the restaurant located on Frederick Avenue in St. Joseph<\/a>. She was one of the first in her family to graduate college. She said her professors at Western always pushed her to do her best and showed her the power of knowledge.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWestern helped shape me into the business professional that I attended classes to become, however, I got much more out of my four years of college than that,\u201d McKnight said. \u201cI spent four years making my own decisions, meeting friends, balancing school life and work and figuring out who I was. I learned self discipline, independence and the importance of working hard.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

McKnight\u2019s advice for future graduates is to go for it. She said every success and failure helps shape you into the person you become.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTake chances, aim to do what you love and everything else will fall into place,\u201d McKnight said. \u201cYou are the future.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Work for yourself<\/b><\/p>\n

Seth Lyons graduated from Western in December 2008 with a degree in Finance. Lyons was the first Western alumnus to be awarded a Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory through the Craig School of Business. <\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

In 2013, he opened his first Which Wich<\/a>, a restaurant that serves custom-crafted sandwiches. He bought his second franchise in 2016 and two existing restaurants in 2017. In total he now owns four restaurants and a small ATM business. <\/span><\/p>\n

Lyons said the finance department at Western and The Craig School of Business helped prepare him for his career.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI would not be where I am today without the finance department at Western,\u201d Lyons said. \u201c<\/span>The things Steve Craig has done for the university has made me proud. \u00a0I don’t think people locally realize how much influence and affluence Steve has contributed to the community.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Lyons also met his wife at Western and the two work together to run the restaurants. His piece of advice for future graduates is not to be afraid.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t be afraid to start your own business,\u201d Lyons said. \u201cI learned at a young age, the only way to create wealth is to have people work for you. A job is actually more risky than owning your own company.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n\n\t\t