Tiffany Marrotte '25 talks about diving into UNH's supportive community and finding incredible opportunities for both building her network and growing professionally.
Jaffrey, New Hampshire
Business Administration: Marketing with dual minors in Sales and Arts Administration
Professional Sales Group, FIRE Peer Advisor, UNH Students social media team, Paul Scholar, Shaw Innovation Explorer, Marketing research assistant, Lead UNH
When I first arrived at UNH from my tiny hometown of Jaffrey, I was overwhelmed. My high school had just two hallways and I graduated with only 56 classmates. Suddenly, I found myself on a campus with over 11,000 students! But I quickly discovered that while UNH is big, it's not too big. Paul College especially feels like a close-knit community.
That's actually what I love most about Paul College. You walk in and immediately know somebody. Everyone is so happy and kind. There's a reason why the Great Hall is always full of people at all hours – we actually want to study and work together here!
The collaborative atmosphere extends to our classes too. Many courses involve group projects, which helps build teamwork skills. And the professors are incredibly approachable and invested in our success. After my first personal selling class, I ended up chatting with Professor McIlroy for almost an hour.
The "wildcat spirit" here is real. There's a sense of community and collaboration that permeates everything we do. At the same time, there's healthy competition that pushes us to be our best.
Paul College has opened so many doors for me. Through the Professional Sales Group, I landed an internship at Amazon's headquarters in Seattle for this summer. I'm one of only 20 students nationwide selected for this opportunity. It's mind-blowing to think about, and I know I wouldn't have gotten it without the skills and connections I've developed here.
The hands-on experiences at Paul College are unmatched. Whether it's through student organizations, research projects, or internships, we're constantly applying classroom concepts to real-world scenarios.
If you're considering Paul, my biggest advice is to put yourself out there. Join clubs, talk to your professors, apply for internships – even if they seem like a long shot. The opportunities here are incredible, but you have to be proactive.
Don't be afraid to try new things either. I never saw myself as a "sales person," but joining the Professional Sales Group turned out to be one of the best decisions I've made. It helped me discover talents I didn't know I had.
As I reflect on my time here, I'm amazed at how much I've grown. I arrived a small-town girl with big dreams, and UNH has given me the tools, experiences, and confidence to pursue those dreams.
As I look ahead to my internship at Amazon and beyond, I feel ready to take on whatever challenges come my way. UNH has taught me to think critically, work collaboratively, and approach problems creatively. But more than that, it's instilled in me a sense of responsibility – to my community, to the environment, and to my own continued growth and learning.
To any prospective students considering UNH and Paul College, I say this: if you're looking for a place where you'll be challenged, supported, and prepared for success in the real world, you've found it. Your UNH journey might surprise you – it certainly surprised me – but I guarantee it will be worth it.
