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Itzel Garcia, Class of 2025, is pursuing a double major in  and Spanish at �ǿ����޴�ý University. Coming from Aurora, Ill., Itzel chose to attend �ǿ����޴�ý because of the warm welcome she received, which she said began immediately after she submitted her application. “Everyone was super friendly and helpful. They made me feel welcomed,” she said. 

Since coming to �ǿ����޴�ý, Itzel has immersed herself in campus life as an CCIW-All Conference athlete on the Track and Field team, a Long-Vanderburg Scholar and active member of the Latin American Student Organization (LASO). Itzel remarked that all these experiences have changed her in ways that will benefit her future. “I’ve become more resourceful and have more of an open mind now with getting to meet people from various backgrounds,” she said. “I’ve also learned how to step out of my comfort zone."

As a Digital Media Marketing major in the , Itzel is planning for a future in the evolving world of technology. “I decided to pursue Digital Media Marketing because technology is our future and I want to be part of an industry that’s always growing.” Along with the wide variety of classes that include business and marketing courses, the core experiences of the major are the hands-on  opportunities. 

Itzel serves as an intern for �ǿ����޴�ý’s Marketing and Media Relations office, assisting content producer Richard Ndembe on video production projects. Additionally, she has applied her marketing skills toward promoting Blue Connection, a student-run art gallery located in downtown Decatur. “These opportunities have allowed me to be hands-on with what I want to do in the future, and I’ve gotten to expand my knowledge in multiple areas,” she said.

�ǿ����޴�ý’s Digital Marketing major immerses students in the rapidly evolving technologies, social media platforms, advertising services and much more. Tabor’s Digital Marketing major has a 100% job placement rate among graduates, and it continues to adapt as the industry demands cutting-edge strategy from new hires.

While she is not yet certain about her plan after graduating from �ǿ����޴�ý, Itzel is confident about her future. “I like to live in the present, but I do have a life goal to work for a clothing company.” Looking ahead, Itzel feels prepared for wherever she ends up career-wise because of the versatility of her major. “The beauty of being a Digital Media Marketing major is that I get to choose what industry I work for.”

Track and Field Success

As a member of �ǿ����޴�ý’s  team, Itzel’s performance at the 2022 CCIW Outdoor Championships earned her double All-Conference honors in the 100- and 200-meters races. She was also an All-Conference athlete at the CCIW Indoor Championships in 2022 in the 200- and 55-meter races. Additionally, Itzel’s 100-meter time of 12.26 seconds is the third fastest in Big Blue History.