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Expressions of Creativity

Ariana Berger is not just a business major, she has also done service abroad, is studying two foreign languages and has a creative streak. How does she express this creativity on campus, in her marketing coursework and in her IPS?

Ariana Berger expresses her creative side through dancing with the Bhangra team.
About Me

I have been learning German since the first grade because I went to a language immersion elementary school. I am so glad my parents enrolled me in the program, and I think it has really given me a competitive advantage as I look for what to do after college. Because of my language background I have chosen to be a German Studies minor and I cannot wait to spend time in Germany after graduation.

While here at the College, I have also learned about Indian culture through my involvement with the Bhangra team and have studied Chinese. I have taken two years of it, and I love the language speaking it and writing the characters. It has also been challenging because of how different it is. There are five different tones and you write in characters, requiring a totally different thought process. However, I have thoroughly enjoyed studying it.

I was initially inspired to become a business major because my family owned a business and my dad has always traded stocks. I chose to be a Finance major, because I have always found math and the markets interesting. I also have a strong creative side, which is why I chose to concentrate in Marketing. I have always loved creating, through music, graphic design, photography, drawing and painting. I also enjoyed the two art classes I have taken at William & Mary, and this helped me to decide to incorporate marking into my Individual Program of Study (IPS).

Ariana Berger with the Bhangra team at one of their competitions.Impact & Engagement

I am on the Bhangra Team and the Syndicate. I absolutely love dancing, and being involved with these on-campus groups has made a big impact on my life here at the College. I love practicing and collaborating with different kinds of people who all have a similar interest. Bhangra has been especially fun because it is a dance form I had never heard of before. I have fallen in love with the dance and the culture, not to mention the beautiful costumes, and have made close friends with my teammates. I have also had the opportunity to travel with the team to Ohio State, Old Dominion, and Mary Washington to compete at competitions.

Ariana Berger teaching a young student English.The summer after my sophomore year, I went on a service trip called Destination China. Along with six other students, I taught English to migrant worker children at schools in the outskirts of Beijing. The trip was nothing like I had expected, yet it was truly the best experience I've had. We lived in the communities where we were teaching, which allowed us to directly experience the people and culture and learn about a different lifestyle.

After my group left, I stayed for another month and interned with a non-profit in the city. I continued living in the outskirts, in a migrant worker community, with a young woman who did not speak English. Though we had a troubled community, I had a great time living with her. She was spunky and very caring, and I will never forget my time in Sha He. I must visit again, which is why I plan to go back to Beijing as soon as I can.

Ariana Berger exercising with children in China, where she hopes to return one day.Highlights

The Marketing classes I have taken at the Business School have been great, especially my Advertising class with Prof. Don Rahtz and Sean Fitzpatrick. I got hands-on experience working with a team to create and present a marketing plan to a company's board of directors.

It was a great experience for me, because I got to do a lot of advertising designs. Not only did I enjoy this, but the whole project is going to be beneficial for my portfolio when I interview with advertising firms. The company loved our recommendation and is in the process of implementing it. It is very exciting to see my schoolwork have an impact outside of the classroom.

Next Steps

Many Finance majors hope to get a great job on Wall Street right out of college. I am grateful to have my finance background and think it will be of great use in the future, but I actually don't see myself going that way at all. After graduation, I am heading to Germany for a year through the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals (CBYX).  I'm excited for the opportunity to immerse myself in the German culture and to improve my language skills!