Building Businesses Early: How an Ambitious Undergraduate Runs Multiple Companies While Leading on Campus

You can hear it in Harrison Herget’s voice: he’s busy on purpose. Harrison is an Arkansas State University business administration student with a theater minor who also leads Phi Delta Theta and has served in IFC, all while building real ventures in construction, real estate work, and vending. We talk honestly about what it looks like to juggle leadership and entrepreneurship without pretending it’s effortless and without buying into the myth that your college path has to be linear.

We get into the moments that changed his trajectory: starting college, unsure it was necessary, signing up for rush at the last minute, and realizing that community is not a “nice to have” when you’re trying to grow. Harrison shares practical time management habits like weekly planning and using a strict to-do list, plus the leadership skills he’s gaining fast as a fraternity president: managing people, resolving conflict, and learning how to stay accountable when everyone is watching.

The conversation also goes beyond campus. Harrison reflects on studying abroad in Italy, how travel broadened his perspective, and why it made him appreciate the pace and opportunity back home in Northeast Arkansas. We also unpack what actually earns trust in business and student organizations, how mentors shape early growth, and why A-State’s access to alumni and local leaders can be a real advantage if you show up and ask.

If you got something from this, subscribe to Partners in Progress, share the episode with a student who’s trying to find their people, and leave a review. What’s one commitment you should say yes to this semester? @Arkansasstatemedianetwork.com.

0:09 - Welcome And Guest Introduction

1:04 - Choosing College When You Doubt It

2:44 - Finding Your People Through Rush

4:05 - Changing Majors Without Panic

5:16 - Time Management For Ambitious Students

7:05 - Leading A Fraternity While Building Businesses

10:48 - Campus Involvement And Sense Of Belonging

17:37 - Study Abroad In Italy And Perspective

22:44 - A State Access And NEA Support

27:24 - Earning Trust And Learning From Mentors

32:26 - Staying Connected As An Alum

34:11 - Rapid Fire Favorites And A State Trivia

41:52 - Final Thanks And Closing

Transcript

Welcome And Guest Introduction

SPEAKER_00 0:09

Hello and welcome to the Arkansas State Media Network. I'm Corey Keller, and this is Partners in Progress. And today I'm joined by Harrison Hargett. How are you?

unknown 0:20

Good.

SPEAKER_01 0:21

How are you doing?

SPEAKER_00 0:22

Good. How are things going today?

SPEAKER_01 0:24

Everything's going good. Just finishing up school, getting my last couple projects in. So it's been good.

SPEAKER_00 0:30

That's a nice feeling, isn't it?

SPEAKER_01 0:31

It is. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 0:32

Well, let's tell everyone a little bit about you. So Harrison is a business admin student here at A State with a minor in theater and is also very accomplished. So congratulations on that for being so young and so accomplished. While pursuing your degree, you have led Phi Delta Theta in the Interfraternity Council. And you simultaneously run multiple companies, including real estate construction, and vending across NEA. And you're also an alumna of our study abroad program. So you've had a busy four years. Has it been four?

SPEAKER_01 1:04

Uh, this is my third year.

Choosing College When You Doubt It

SPEAKER_00 1:06

Third, three years at A State, which is great. Um, you're from the area. So just tell us a little bit about yourself beyond what I just mentioned.

SPEAKER_01 1:16

No, so I'm from Jonesboro, born and raised here, went to Jonesboro High School, came to Arkansas State just because that's what my whole family did, pretty much. My mom and dad are both alumni here, and I think my grandparents too. Uh, but it was something I I wasn't sure if I wanted to go to college or anything like that, but decided to do it just to try it out, and ended up kind of falling in love with it, all the being in the fraternity. That was one of the the biggest steps of being in college and kind of getting involved. But I wouldn't look back. It's just the best thing that I've done, I'd say for sure.

SPEAKER_00 1:51

So you're in high school and you're thinking about going to college and you're a little wary, it sounds like, yeah, about whether or not that's for you. So, what was your final decision point or the final thing that pushed you off the edge to make the decision to go to college?

SPEAKER_01 2:06

Yeah, I mean, I would say probably just my parents pushed me to do it.

SPEAKER_00 2:12

Uh-huh.

SPEAKER_01 2:12

Because I was uh, I mean, I was working a good amount in high school and just doing stuff like that. I was like, I don't, I just didn't really think I needed it. So I'll be fine. And then but they kind of just said I needed to do it for a semester or two and just to kind of see how it was, and and ended up being good for me. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 2:32

So you get to yeah, you get to A State and you love it. So what experiences or what really drew you into staying in school and like making this a reality

Finding Your People Through Rush

SPEAKER_00 2:44

for you?

SPEAKER_01 2:44

Yeah. So when I my first semester of school, I lived at home, which I kind of regret. I think I should have lived on campus. So anybody that's uh if you're watching this that is in between, live on campus for sure. Um like the first three weeks, there was really nothing going on. Like I would I would go to class and just go home and just kind of do whatever, go to work or whatever it was. And then that like third week of school was rush, which I signed up the last day. Uh it's like not gonna do it, it was super against fraternities and Greek life and things like that. Just not for any reason, just I just didn't see myself in that. But did it. My mom was in a sorority, she was in Kyle Omega, and so was my girlfriend, and they both pushed me into doing it and just to say, like, try it, meet people at least that week. Um, and I ended up going through all the houses, everything, and found found a home at Fidel, which is where I where I ended up rushing, and it kind of you know pledged there that semester and met everybody, but I just kind of felt like I had a group of people in college because I had a I have a very tight-knit group of friends in high school and found that in the fraternity here, and then just kind of had to continue to grow a passion for that, and which kept me here ultimately.

SPEAKER_00 4:05

Yeah, yeah, that's awesome.

Changing Majors Without Panic

SPEAKER_00 4:07

So, business administration, did you come in being a business admin major?

SPEAKER_01 4:12

Yeah, so it's I've changed my major a lot. So I came in.

SPEAKER_00 4:16

Tell us about it.

SPEAKER_01 4:17

Yeah, so I came in as an accounting major, realized it's probably not for me. Um, so then I switched to theater because I was like, I mean, I've done theater for a good amount of my life and thought that it'd be fun to do. I was debating even at the beginning, like my first year, I was debating even transferring to go to a theater school, um, which I didn't do, obviously, and I'm glad I didn't. But I stayed here and then I switched after that to like a general studies degree, and then switched to interdisciplinary studies, which is pretty much the same thing, but it's more like emphasis area focused. So, like it's like emphasis in um I have an emphasis like business and theater was what I did. I was like, well, that's perfect. And then went to business admin, then back to interdisciplinary studies, and then I think I'm gonna switch it again to finance and accounting again. So come come back full circle on where I started.

SPEAKER_00 5:16

Okay, good. Yeah, well, yes, that is I talked about this in other podcasts, but our paths are not linear. Yeah, they can be like spaghetti noodles and be all intermixed. So, yes, well, that's great. Well, it sounds like you're really busy outside of school, also. You have lots of things going

Time Management For Ambitious Students

SPEAKER_00 5:36

on. So there is a freshman who's also very busy and also very ambitious and entrepreneurial-minded, what seems like yourself. What advice would you give them coming into college about balance and just being a student and also being really ambitious?

SPEAKER_01 5:55

Yeah, I mean, the advice I'd give, for one, is to to rush, I think. That's that's been the biggest thing for me. I was I was in charge of recruitment last year, like I've been helped with it with the fraternity and everything. But they're just on top of all the things you do, it's like you feel like there's not time in the day to add something else onto it. But having just that those connections and that network of people and like the support system with that, it's just very, very helpful. And if you are already somebody that's in it and ambitious doing all that stuff, I think for me, it's just figuring out how to make it happen. I mean, every day's different. Uh you gotta wake up every day and just make it work. You yeah, I just I have a to-do list that's like I just use that religiously. Stay organized. Yeah, you have to. Yes. Um, I plan out my week because if I don't, I miss a lot of stuff. Like just this morning, I forgot to write down an appointment and I completely forgot about it. Like got a text 15 minutes after it started like, hey, did you forget about this? It's like yes, a bit. I I didn't write it down. Because when you when you just have so much stuff going on, you stuff like that's so easy to forget.

SPEAKER_00 7:05

So some things just get lost in the sauce sometimes, and it's okay. That happens, we're all human. Um well, great. So you're leading inside Phi Delta Theta Fraternity and IFC while also running companies.

Leading A Fraternity While Building Businesses

SPEAKER_00 7:24

When did you realize you could actually do it all at once? Of course, you said stay organized, that's your advice, but when did you realize that you could do it all?

SPEAKER_01 7:31

Yeah, so obviously it kind of ebbs and flows. Everything has busier times and everything has times that aren't so bad. Um, like for me in the summers, it's a lot of working with like those companies and things like that, and then kind of hitting the brakes a little bit coming into school just because like I have so much stuff going on and just kind of maintaining. Um, but there were, especially last year, it was it was pretty busy. Like the first two years of being here was go, go, go, business and fight out all the time. I mean, this year, since I'm president, like I've kind of had to really take a step back. But I think it's one of those things you just have to see the projects you're working on and things like that. Like you just have to prioritize it, but know that you can't spend all your time there. You have to do kind of not the bare minimum, but like what you can to get the job done at each thing, yeah and doing it well. I mean, I don't like doing things like 50%. Like, I'm gonna do everything I can a hundred percent, but it's just you have to be able to separate your mind every time you go somewhere different. It's like, okay, I'm giving 100% of this right now.

SPEAKER_00 8:39

Yes. Once it's gone, you've got to shift ears, yes.

SPEAKER_01 8:43

So it's a lot. I mean, I'm and even now just with president stuff, like I'm working until like 10 p.m. most nights just on that.

SPEAKER_00 8:52

Like, so what does a fraternity president do?

SPEAKER_01 8:56

Um, I mean, I think it varies by chapter, but for our chapter specifically, like the the face of the fraternity for one. So somebody that is going out, going on the news, going to speak at events, going uh we're I'm leading the chapter meetings. Um, I'm also involved in all the committees, making sure that everybody's like doing what we're trying to do. Like we've got a lot of we have a lot of things that we plan and and try to do as many events as possible. So making sure that everybody's falling through with that stuff and and also with that coming up with new ideas and and just managing. A lot of managing, a lot of like babysitting, yeah, overseeing. That can be, yeah, overseeing a little bit of that. Um it's uh with our chapter specifically, like you know, we're newer, so we're just trying to push and drive and and challenge a lot of things of like what kind of what it means to be a fraternity. So with that comes a lot of added like pressure and and work, yeah. But it's fun, and I like I like that. I like being busy, um, obviously.

SPEAKER_00 10:01

Yes. So how do you think that your time as president is going to impact you in the long run? Like, how is it gonna make you a better business leader? How is it going to make you a better individual?

SPEAKER_01 10:13

Oh, yeah. I mean, that's it's already impacted me just one semester of doing it. Um, just the just like with that management aspect and then also like conflict resolution and and just all sorts of things that I think would be very beneficial, at least from like a management role or somebody that's running a business. Um it's as a being a junior, like 21 years old, like there's no other experience that I can get like that. Like that's the best experience for what it is.

SPEAKER_00 10:43

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 10:44

Um and I think it'll I think it'll suit me well for sure.

Campus Involvement And Sense Of Belonging

SPEAKER_00 10:48

Yeah. Could you hypothetically speaking, say you weren't really involved on campus, what do you think your life or your experience as a student here would be like?

SPEAKER_01 11:00

I mean, I I don't know. I don't probably I'd either either be really just involved in classes and like I mean, but if I was not involved in anything but school and like personal stuff, yeah. I'd probably just work a lot personally.

SPEAKER_00 11:20

Do you feel like your time at A-State would be as like satisfactory?

SPEAKER_01 11:24

Oh no, not at all. I think there's something to being involved here that makes you want to give back as well to the campus and like help help continue to grow. Um like if I was just somebody that came to school here just to get a degree and then like kind of screwed off and what whether it's play video games or like just whatever all the time, like I wouldn't care at all to come back or give back anything like that. I I think being involved is one of the biggest contributors to me wanting to come back and contribute in the future.

SPEAKER_00 11:58

Oh yeah. I think the more that you're involved, the better sense of community you have here because you know, I'm from Stuck Art, so it's two hours away. And when I came to college, you know, that was my family. That was my community. That's who you talk to all day long. Even being from Jonesboro, you spend more time probably with your friends and the people around you on campus than you do sometimes with your own family. 100%. So you build that sense of connectivity with others, and therefore you want to care for the university that gave you so much, also. Yeah. I think it's um it just makes everything more fun because you're doing it with people that you see all the time. And then I've I've said this in the last podcast episodes, it's a little sad and embarrassing to admit, but I literally cried when I graduated. I was so sad. Because obviously, college is so fun and like the most fun you're gonna have working towards a goal, and because you you know, you become an adult and then you have a job and life gets boring again, but not necessarily. But um, college is just so fun, and there's no other time like this to have this sense of community. So you really gotta make the best of it. Say someone's a little wary to be involved. What advice would you give them in terms of like stepping out there?

SPEAKER_01 13:14

Yeah, I mean, I think just if you're gonna put yourself out there, just be yourself, just because you want to find people that like you for who you are, not people that like you for what they think you can be, I guess, and like trying to like mold you into something else, because then it's like you're playing this identity crisis like situation where it's like, oh, well, this is how I think I am, but this is how people like want me to be. And so I mean that that's gotta be exhausting. And thankfully, I've I mean, I've dealt with that before, like earlier in my life, not in college, but it it is. It's like who who am I? You know? Um so that's that's the big thing is knowing who you are, your values, like all that stuff, what you stand for, and then trying to find people that hold that same standard and values as you, um, because then they can help you, you can work together and and grow, and you know, iron sharpens iron too. It's like everybody, if you're working towards common things, like all sharing the same purpose, like wanting to be better or whatever it is, like you're gonna continue to be better with them.

SPEAKER_00 14:23

Yeah, exactly. And I also found too, you find like different groups of community for different things. Like I was in a sorority, so I had my Greek life friends that we did Greek life with, and we did a lot of social activities and like philanthropic things with. Then I had my school friends per se, like those that I'm in my classes with all four years, because they're small class sizes. So you really get to know these people and you see them year over year, semester over semester in your classes, and you build community that way. And then you have your people that you're involved with in the community that are not necessarily on campus all day, every day. And so I found it to be um fun having different groups of friends while having one larger community at A-State. It's it's so it's just cool. And then when you graduate, you'll have your alumni network and you'll make even more new friends. So just wait, you have so much to look forward to.

SPEAKER_01 15:17

Good.

What Greek Life Really Teaches

SPEAKER_00 15:19

So we talked a little bit about Greek life. Um what do you wish prospective students actually understood about what it takes to thrive in Greek life? Like, are there any misconceptions or just things you think people assume about it?

SPEAKER_01 15:36

Yeah, I mean, I I think a lot of people and and coming from somebody that ran recruitment last year for IFC, like that was one of my big things was convincing people that Greek life is not just what you see on move on Annual House, like and the movies and now like TikTok and things like that. Like it's there is a I mean you can you can find that, obviously, if that's what you're going for, but there's a real benefit to it with just the community aspect, especially if you're somebody that like played sports or like was on teams in high school, like coming into college and not having that is hard and not being around a community. So like having that that can really be a good substitute for that. And and a lot of times you get a lot closer than you ever were with those teams and things like that. So it's it's just a really cool, um, just a really cool thing.

SPEAKER_00 16:34

So Greek life misconceptions, what do you think? Oh, I hope it's not just what you see on the movies, people. Yeah, it's fun. And it's especially at A-State, because it's not like an SEC school where you have thousands and thousands and thousands of people going through recruitment. It's still small enough to feel like you have that closeness to your brothers or your sisters, in my case, um, without, but also big enough to where you can meet a lot of new people, and there's a lot of diversity, and there's just different you're gonna find your people. And not everyone may be your very best friend, but you're gonna build connections and relationships with people that are like you and have similar values, which is cool.

SPEAKER_01 17:19

100%. No, and I think the best thing to do is just to sign up for Rush and just to see, try it out. Because like it was for me, it was like Video was the last house I went to, and it was the only house for me. I was like, Yeah, this is this is it. It's like, well, cool.

SPEAKER_00 17:37

It was so fun. I mean, I remember my rush experience, and it is intense in a way because you like so badly want to fit in. And I'm sure for guys it's very different because you know, bros are pros and like that's it. But for girls, it's very much, you know, you want to fit in so badly and you want to get a house and you want to wear the cute shirts and throw the sods and like do all the things, but um yeah, it's it's it's great, it's a good experience here at A State. And that doesn't mean if you're not in Greek life, you're not gonna have a good experience because there's other ways to be involved.

Study Abroad In Italy And Perspective

SPEAKER_00 18:10

Like, for example, you could study abroad. Oh yeah. You could that's a great way to meet people and meet a lot of different people. Um so you studied abroad last summer. I did. How did it change the way you think? And did it affect how you approach your businesses back home?

SPEAKER_01 18:29

Yeah, I mean, it it definitely opened my eyes to how people live lives in different places, live their lives. Uh it's really cool to see just the the difference in the culture and things like that. It it it gave me a greater appreciation too for here, which is weird. Like I, you know, because I was always like, oh, I want to go live in Italy and or go live in Europe one day, just go, you know, get away, be suave and cool, yeah. Yeah, and then I get there and it was great, like fantastic. But by the end of it, I was like, Yeah, I could never live here. Yeah, just I just love America and I love like the fast pace and the the business and the all that stuff.

SPEAKER_00 19:10

Like that's and I like ice in my drinks, yeah. Yeah, I um participated in Global Student Leader, whenever I was a student here, which was like a 20-day excursion in abroad, and by day like 10, I was like, I think I need to go home. Like, I think I'm ready to go home. I need uh everything is bigger in Texas, well, everything's bigger in America, yeah, and just a little more modern, which is fine. And I appreciate the culture and the experience and everything, but I can concur with wanting to come home.

SPEAKER_01 19:46

But no, I mean it it was really a great experience, and I recommend it to anybody that gets the opportunity to do it.

SPEAKER_00 19:52

Uh yeah. How long were you there?

SPEAKER_01 19:53

I was there for five weeks.

SPEAKER_00 19:54

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 19:55

Yeah, so I was there a long time. It was over half the summer. Um but it's it really opens your eyes and broadens your perspective on a lot of things and gives, you know, you have new ideas and things like that to bring home with you.

SPEAKER_00 20:08

And where'd you go?

SPEAKER_01 20:10

Went to Italy. Okay, cool.

SPEAKER_00 20:11

We're all in Italy.

SPEAKER_01 20:12

Stayed in Florence. So that's where that's where I was taking the classes. I took an international marketing class.

SPEAKER_00 20:19

How was that?

SPEAKER_01 20:20

It was good. Learned a lot about uh like basically our project was to find a company that wasn't yet in Italy and develop a marketing plan on how to oh easy get it there.

SPEAKER_00 20:32

Yeah, yeah, easy for you. Yeah, easy work, yeah. That's great.

SPEAKER_01 20:36

We did that, and then on the weekends, me and my girlfriend we went together, which was fun. Um, so we went to Rome, we went to Venice, Amalfi Coast, uh, went to Lake Como. Um I went to Cincitari. I think that I think that's it. But it's still a lot, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 20:56

Yeah, when I did Global Student Leaders, we started, we did like a French Mediterranean excursion. So we started in Spain and did like Barcelona, then we went to France via bus. We bust the coast. It was awesome. Went to Nice, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Cinciterre. We stopped in Florence, and then me and one of my friends, which we were sorority sisters beforehand, but we became really good friends through this experience. We traveled to Florence, Rome, Venice, and then Amsterdam, and then flew back to the U.S. It was awesome. We had the best experience, and I remember just the food was different, the hours of the day in which people went out and about and like took midday siestas and everything closed down at two o'clock. And you were like, we were like, what are we doing? And they were like, You need to go get coffee, you need to go somewhere and like sit down, like you need to rest. And I was like, What is this? This is so nice.

SPEAKER_01 21:49

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 21:49

And I also remember thinking, like, it is this place is so much older than America, which is why I think everything feels so modern here. Even our oldest buildings don't compare. To like Rome, and that to me was just so eye-opening because it's one thing to read about it in school, and it's another to like be standing there looking at it, and it's just a whole different depth of appreciation.

SPEAKER_01 22:14

100%.

SPEAKER_00 22:15

Do you have a favorite thing that you did while you were over there?

SPEAKER_01 22:18

Oh man. I mean, just the I mean the experience of it for one. But I I think going to see Rome and like all the stuff. I mean, that I've I was never like a big history nut and I'm still not, but like seeing that really put things into perspective. And it's like, geez. It's just we are very, very young as a country and just very small compared to to things that people have done. It's so cool.

SPEAKER_00 22:44

Yeah, and it even puts phrases like Rome wasn't built in the day into perspective because they show you when you go, like there's cities on cities on cities that have just like been built on top of each other. And it's it's crazy to think that that's even possible, but it's um it's definitely perspective shifting for sure.

A State Access And NEA Support

SPEAKER_00 23:03

100%. So shifting gears just a little bit, what has A State specifically given you academically, culturally, in terms of access that has made building business and companies as an undergraduate student possible?

SPEAKER_01 23:17

Yeah, I mean, I think you kind of said it in the question, it's just the access that it does give you. Um I think if you really are putting yourself out there, there's great opportunities to meet people and ext expand your network, um, not just with like students, but also alumni and things like that that can then help you with with a lot of that stuff and help. I mean, everybody, everybody wants to help people, I think, uh most of the time, especially people that are older, like helping younger people in college wanting to be successful or grow businesses, whatever it is. So it's like they'll always be willing to give you advice and help you through a lot of that process. Um, but overall, I mean, it's just been a great, like, hold on, I'm trying to think of what I'm trying to say here.

SPEAKER_00 24:06

That's okay. But yeah, I think you you really touched on that, like people really pouring back into you is what makes the difference. How would you let's talk a little bit about just like the Northeast Arkansas community in relation to the university? How would you describe NEA and how it supports and pours into the university?

SPEAKER_01 24:25

Yeah. So it definitely does. I mean, this is, I think with Arkansas State, it's it's very special because it's like if you become someone at Arkansas State that's really invested here and like is putting yourself out there with the community, like they will feed into you and like build build you up. And um, and it's just kind of it's different. I think a lot of people like even that I know that go to school at like University of Arkansas, like you don't get that with people in Sayville. Like when you're when you're at Arkansas today, you're like a part of Jonesboro. But when you're there, it's like you're just a University of Arkansas, like it's different. So, and you have all these business leaders and and people in the community that are invested here and invested in you and the Greek life and the organizations and the sports and everything. So you just you constantly see them around, and like it's just a great way to build that, and it's kind of all intertwined. Like, I don't think necessarily that Jonesboro is like a college town. I think it's gonna become that, but I do think that the people in Jonesboro, or at least a good amount of them, appreciate what we have and know that Arkansas State is the reason that Jonesboro is the city it is, and and want to give back to that.

SPEAKER_00 25:43

Yeah, and if prospective students are watching this, we're not bashing the U of A. It's just a little bit of a different situation here in NEA versus in WA. And um we even just from my time as a student here when I started, I will ashamingly met 10 years ago, I feel so much older, but um the city has grown and expanded and evolved to really accommodate a larger university, to accommodate more activities in town, more places to eat and hang out and really be able to grow that sense of community. But even 10 years ago, I remember coming here, and the more involved I was, the more people in the community I met, the more I was felt like I was integrated here. And it's always made Jonesboro so special to me. I mean, just being here today for this podcast, I got to go to lunch with people that I worked for and worked with and got to know in the community, and it's just really special. And I think people have grown up here, lived here, gone to school here. You're a multi-generational product of this university. So I think it's just it goes to show that A-State's moving and shaking and growing, and so is Jonesboro, and so is Northeast Arkansas, but it's also still that tight-knit community that you can grow and have opportunities in.

Earning Trust And Learning From Mentors

SPEAKER_00 27:04

I think you're a good example of being involved in a lot of different things. Okay, we're gonna talk a little bit more about business development. So you recruit and develop people inside of your fraternity and for IFC and for your business. What have you learned about what actually earns someone's trust?

SPEAKER_01 27:24

It's a good question. I would say that for me and then for a lot of other people that I know, like at least from a business perspective, like it is with the business and fraternity, in a position, what people want to see is just you doing the work and know that they can rely on you if you ask somebody to do something that they're just gonna do it, no questions asked. And that, like that to me, like as a fraternity president, like if I have a freshman or or a sophomore that's wanting to be on that track or do something like that, the number one way I know that they can do it is if you just ask them to do something and then they come back and and do it. And you don't even have to walk them through it or anything like that. And and that builds a lot of trust with me to then pass it on and be like, okay, well, we're in good hands because these guys can do it all themselves. Um, but I and then I think from like more of a personal perspective, like just always being honest and and telling the truth. Um, and if you keep doing that, people know that you're somebody that they can trust. Um and owning up to your mistakes, that's a big thing. Like knowing that you're not perfect and setting your ego aside, just being able to say, hey guys, I I messed up, I'm sorry, and I'm gonna do better next time. Yeah, and that's uh I think that not just with like respect, but also with trust. That's that's a big thing with that. Um but for me, especially on that business side, knowing that people will do things when you ask them to. That's yes, that's huge.

SPEAKER_00 29:05

Yeah, that's important. Um, do you does anyone come to mind when you think about someone who taught you about running a business that's been a good mentor to you or someone here on campus that you've really admired?

SPEAKER_01 29:20

Yeah, I mean, I've kind of I've been in a situation where I've been around that kind of my whole life, a little bit. So I mean, just growing up, like I'd say when I was probably 17, 18, that's kind of when I started to get more into business type stuff. Um, I went to work at a real estate company, doing like cold calls and things like that, like just doing the doing the grunt work, doing stuff like that, and just kind of learning learning that aspect of the business, being bottom the bottom of the company and just kind of like still slowly developing like your way up and building your way up into that. Um so but that he's been a big mentor to me, uh, Robert Wells in that regard with that, which he's now moved on from Jonesburg, he's now in Northwest Arkansas doing the same thing. But and then his uh Jake Butler was somebody that was big with me. They all worked for the same company, but me and Jake, we ended up starting a claw machine business together. And I was like when I was like 18. So it's like, and he's a little older than me, he's but me and him working together, and like he kind of helped me develop not just with that business, but also like with the real estate things like that. Um and but I mean we ended up taking that business and going to like had 50 machines um with that, and I ended up selling out of that last semester. But it was a good like two-year endeavor, and you really got to learn the ins and outs of running a business and things like that. But then also my dad has been a big, big person in that. Um guys like Scott McDaniel, who runs uh Ramsons construction here in Jonesboro, like there's so many people to list. I mean, Todd Shields has been a big one. Um but I I don't even quite remember the question.

SPEAKER_00 31:16

But I mean, I know that influences, mentors, people you look up to.

SPEAKER_01 31:20

But those guys, I mean, everybody I I do think too that you can learn a little bit from everybody. It's like every everybody you meet, there's a story. Yeah, there's a there's a reason you're meeting every person you're meeting, and like there's something you can learn, and whether that's for business or for life or whatever it is, but I think uh if you are open to it and like aware, you can end up taking a lot out of just small interactions, even.

SPEAKER_00 31:47

Yeah, and those can even be your peers. I remember when I was getting my master's degree, I had two friends that were they were international students, and I wanted to learn more about what life was like internationally, even though I'd visited abroad to talk to people who grew up there and see what their experiences were like. I think those are just great ways to continue, like you said, to learn something from every interaction and every person you're around. And I think A-State does a good job of creating that community and environment of diverse backgrounds and diverse people to where you can learn something different from everyone, which I love.

Staying Connected As An Alum

SPEAKER_00 32:22

So you're looking to graduate and you're going to become an alumni.

SPEAKER_01 32:26

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 32:27

How do you envision yourself interacting or being involved with a state after you graduate?

SPEAKER_01 32:35

Yeah, I mean, I I just I want to keep giving back to it, whether that's with sports or whatever it is. I mean, I'm I plan to come in and be an advisor for my fraternity. So I mean, I'll at least stay involved in that way. Um, but honestly, I don't I don't really know how to, to be honest. I I don't I've never thought about it.

SPEAKER_00 32:57

Well, the A-State Alumni Network is there for you. Enter lower third for the alumni website. You can give and participate that way. They send out emails for events and different things. I'm part of the Young Alumni Network in Lurok. So I go to their events and follow them on Facebook. They have Facebook events, so there's lots of ways to stay involved as far as connecting with other alumni. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 33:20

It's good to know.

SPEAKER_00 33:21

Really learn something new every day, people. So um, so great. We love that. Do you plan to stay here locally in Jonesboro?

SPEAKER_01 33:31

Yeah, I think I mean after I graduate, so my girlfriend, she lives in Chicago. She moved there to pursue acting and like modeling and things like that. Yeah. She's up there doing that, thriving. Um, so I will probably end up living there for a couple years. Um, and then I do plan to move back to Jonesboro. This is where my family is. It's where all my friends are. Um, I think that's just Jones World's a special place to me, especially after traveling and and going all over. It's like there's there's no place like home for sure.

SPEAKER_00 34:02

Dorothy, click your heels and come back. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 34:05

But I do plan to be here and spend pretty much most of my life here, I'd say.

SPEAKER_00 34:11

Well, good. Well, that's amazing. Well, congratulations on all your endeavors and your many successes while here at A State.

Rapid Fire Favorites And A State Trivia

SPEAKER_00 34:18

So now we're gonna have a little fun. We're gonna talk about some fun things. So, fave restaurant on campus.

SPEAKER_01 34:24

Ooh, on campus? I mean, I eat at Chick-fil-A every single day. So I'd say that.

SPEAKER_00 34:29

Shout out to Chick-fil-A. It's tried true. What's your order?

SPEAKER_01 34:33

It's just a chicken sandwich meal with fries and then a uh a 12-count grilled nugget.

SPEAKER_00 34:40

So Polynesian sauce, Chick-fil-A sauce.

SPEAKER_01 34:44

I get Chick-fil-A sauce. The grilled nuggets I just eat alone.

SPEAKER_00 34:47

They're pretty good, yeah. But I feel like that's a controversial statement. I have some friends that like are totally grilled nugget averse.

SPEAKER_01 34:54

Yeah, I just I just like them. I don't know. I I do love the the normal nuggets, like totally don't get me wrong. Yeah. But I gotta, you know, gotta watch what I eat. I'm getting older. Gotta watch your figure. Yeah, gotta watch my figures. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 35:08

That's so funny. Where's your favorite spot to study on campus?

SPEAKER_01 35:13

Uh there's a the leadership center. There's like a little spot. It's just it's just like right over here. I I know you can't see in this video, but we're in the union. Yeah, we're in the union. Yeah. Um, but you go up the stairs and it's like just big open hall, and there's like a little, there's little rooms in there, and I go in there and just study. I don't not many people know about those.

SPEAKER_00 35:37

Every time I go, like we're not gatekeeping here though.

SPEAKER_01 35:40

That's right.

SPEAKER_00 35:41

We need people to know the good study spots.

SPEAKER_01 35:43

That's my favorite. And it just typically has a table, so you can do like group study stuff.

SPEAKER_00 35:47

Well, how did you find it?

SPEAKER_01 35:48

Uh stumbled upon it. Yeah, I was just like, oh, it's a meeting room. Cool.

SPEAKER_00 35:54

Okay, well, now you know. What is a fun fact about A State? Do you know any A-State trivia?

SPEAKER_01 36:01

Oh.

SPEAKER_00 36:03

Um so A State's had many mascots over the year.

SPEAKER_01 36:07

I do know that. They were the gorillas, right?

SPEAKER_00 36:09

Iconic.

SPEAKER_01 36:11

Indians.

SPEAKER_00 36:11

Uh-huh.

SPEAKER_01 36:12

And Red Wolves, obviously.

SPEAKER_00 36:14

The Red Wolves. And we used to not even be Arkansas State. It used to be Arkansas AN College. So that's what the arch is. Do you know the lore of the arch on campus? Insert picture here.

SPEAKER_01 36:25

Or you're not supposed to walk under it. Correct. Don't know why. I've probably done it many times.

SPEAKER_00 36:29

So from what I was told, you're not supposed to walk under it or you won't graduate in four years.

SPEAKER_01 36:34

Oh, well, that's probably who knows? I might not. Especially after switching majors again.

SPEAKER_00 36:40

You still have time.

unknown 36:42

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 36:43

That's okay. You didn't know. Well, you don't know can't hurt you, right?

SPEAKER_01 36:46

I know there's a a tunnel system under campus.

SPEAKER_00 36:50

Oh no.

SPEAKER_01 36:51

Yeah. I haven't been down there.

SPEAKER_00 36:53

Don't try students. Don't do these things at home.

SPEAKER_01 36:56

See, that's that's a fun fact. I don't remember what it was for. Maybe like war or something. I don't maybe like back in the day.

SPEAKER_00 37:02

I don't know. I think now that's a previous tunnel system. We're gonna get this rumor started, and people are gonna start now seeking out the tunnel.

SPEAKER_01 37:10

Yeah. There was what else is there? I mean there was an old fraternity house that burned down.

SPEAKER_00 37:16

Oh I didn't know that.

SPEAKER_01 37:18

Yeah. In 2002.

SPEAKER_00 37:20

Oh, that was BC before quarried. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 37:24

BH before Harson. Um that one was, and it was like burned to the ground. So that one's cool, or that's a little trivia, fun fact. Whoa. Yeah. Well, we're we're the reason I know is because we are like rebuilding it. We're like in the process of doing that. So yeah.

SPEAKER_00 37:43

Very nice. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 37:44

It wasn't Fidel. It was uh it was Sig app.

SPEAKER_00 37:47

Okay. There's been some notable alumni. Do you know the country singer?

SPEAKER_01 37:53

From Arkansas State?

SPEAKER_00 37:55

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_01 37:56

I don't. Is it Craig Morgan?

SPEAKER_00 37:58

Ashley Ashley McBride? Yes. Okay. I'm like, I asked the question. I don't even know. Ashley McBride, she's an alumni notable.

SPEAKER_01 38:06

That's cool. Uh Craig Morgan's son is an alumni. That's right.

SPEAKER_00 38:11

Johnny Cash's daughter was honored at graduation not long ago.

SPEAKER_01 38:17

That's cool. Pretty cool.

SPEAKER_00 38:18

You know, we have the Johnny Cash Museum.

SPEAKER_01 38:21

Is it here?

SPEAKER_00 38:22

No. It's in his childhood home in Docks. Yes, I'm pretty sure. Fact check me before we put this in, but I'm pretty sure. Um. And we're a part of the larger system, the ASU system.

SPEAKER_01 38:36

I didn't know that.

SPEAKER_00 38:37

Who are our sister colleges?

SPEAKER_01 38:38

Do you know? Uh, I mean, if I'm correct, we have Henderson State.

SPEAKER_00 38:43

Yep.

SPEAKER_01 38:44

Now Henderson State. There's ASU Newport, ASU Mark Tree, ASU Mountain Home, ASU BB.

SPEAKER_00 38:50

Three Rivers.

SPEAKER_01 38:51

Three Rivers. Lang. There's probably one or two other There's more.

SPEAKER_00 38:57

Please don't be mad at me. ASU system alumna.

SPEAKER_01 39:00

Yeah. There's a lot though.

SPEAKER_00 39:02

There's a lot of us out there.

SPEAKER_01 39:03

ASU uh in Mexico. I don't know how to pronounce it.

SPEAKER_00 39:06

Katero or whatever it is.

SPEAKER_01 39:07

Something like that.

SPEAKER_00 39:08

Yeah. Okay. So when I was a student here, that happened and it was like really cool. And I begged, I begged our chancellor at the time to take me with him to Mexico. And he said no.

SPEAKER_01 39:18

But I do want to go see that.

SPEAKER_00 39:20

I definitely that would be really cool. Study abroad to Mexico. Yeah. I'm sure that exists.

SPEAKER_01 39:26

Oh, it does it does. Yeah. It was an option last year.

SPEAKER_00 39:29

Oh, what?

SPEAKER_01 39:30

Yeah. Jealous.

SPEAKER_00 39:33

Favorite event on campus.

SPEAKER_01 39:35

Oh, my favorite event? Well, it depends on if we're talking about sports. Sporting. Oh. I personally love the basketball games. That's my favorite.

SPEAKER_00 39:49

Okay. I hear those have become really popular.

SPEAKER_01 39:51

Yeah. It's fun. Yeah. I mean, football's always great. Great time. Love football. Of course.

SPEAKER_00 39:56

Yes. Cannot deny it.

SPEAKER_01 39:57

Um, that's always a good I always sit with my parents. Yeah. We sit on the North End zone, which is fun. Um, but also like the pines with that. There, there's football game days are always a great experience.

SPEAKER_00 40:09

Oh, and the waterfalls. You can't beat them. Yeah. Can't beat them. But basketball's really basketball's fun. Stepping it up. Well, that's great. What is your favorite like student activities event on campus?

SPEAKER_01 40:21

Well, there's a lot to choose from.

SPEAKER_00 40:26

What is it called? It's like the first week of Welcome Week. Yeah. I love Welcome Week. That was so much fun.

SPEAKER_01 40:32

Yep. There's that. I mean, Homecoming Week has a lot of fun events. Uh, we just, as a fraternity, we just did a music festival on Saturday. Cool. So that's like that's my personal favorite.

SPEAKER_00 40:45

Well, who all came? Who sang?

SPEAKER_01 40:47

Uh, we had a couple local artists, then we had a rapper, uh, Big Fizzle, come before Big Fizzle. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 40:55

What does Big Fizzle sing?

SPEAKER_01 40:57

He's at a Blabble. He sings uh Superfly, which was featured in Fast and Furious. But I mean, uh, he's had like some platinum songs.

SPEAKER_00 41:05

Uh so he's like kind of famous.

SPEAKER_01 41:07

Yeah, he's he's well known in Arkansas at least.

SPEAKER_00 41:10

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 41:11

It was it was really cool. Like I've been working on that for two years, so that's like why it's my favorite event.

SPEAKER_00 41:16

That's awesome, though.

SPEAKER_01 41:18

It's really cool.

SPEAKER_00 41:18

Where was the music festival?

SPEAKER_01 41:20

It was in our backyard, fraternity house.

SPEAKER_00 41:22

Well, y'all have a lot of backyard.

SPEAKER_01 41:24

We do, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 41:24

Yes, yes. Oh, neat. Okay, so they also used to do like large bonfires out there.

SPEAKER_01 41:31

Really?

SPEAKER_00 41:31

Back in the day. I think those have but since been stopped. I'm sure it's a fire hazard or something.

SPEAKER_01 41:38

Yeah. But we have small bonfires.

SPEAKER_00 41:41

Nothing too big, nothing crazy, just local kumbayas.

SPEAKER_01 41:46

I do love bonfires though. Those are great. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 41:48

Roasted marshmallows, a s'more?

SPEAKER_01 41:51

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_00 41:52

It's the best. So good. That's the best flavoring, too, of like anything. If something's s'mores flavored, please send it to me. If anyone's watching this, DM me. It's interesting. Please don't actually. That's okay. Um, all righty.

Final Thanks And Closing

SPEAKER_00 42:09

Well, this has been so fun. Thanks for joining us. Any final words for us?

SPEAKER_01 42:13

No, just thank you for having me. This is a really cool space. Uh, come to Arkansas State. It's the best.

SPEAKER_00 42:19

It is.

SPEAKER_01 42:19

Best in Arkansas.

SPEAKER_00 42:20

It really is. I concur. Well, this is the Arkansas State Media Network and Partners in Progress. What's up?