On paper, studying business administration sounds fairly dreary. Most people might imagine a lecture hall full of college students sitting shoulder to shoulder with heavy eyelids, barely listening to a professor droning on and on about the way the world worked thirty years ago. This was not the Aquinas experience Aijamal Kasymova described. 

For her, the Aquinas liberal arts education was alive—not just in her classroom discussions, but in the relationships she nurtured, the skills she forged, and the future she stepped into with both grace and confidence. 

Learning in Community

When Aijamal began her Aquinas journey, she knew that she wanted to study business administration, but she didn’t exactly know what other studies to pair it with. She initially spent some time exploring psychology, but after a few standout experiences with her professors, she ultimately found her path in economics.

She described how every single professor made a point to connect the class’s subject matter to current world events. “I think our professors do a really good job at keeping up with current times,” she shared. “It’s not like we were learning history, what happened 10,000 years ago. We were learning what’s needed right now.” The classroom discussions allowed her to contextualize the theories presented in class, effectively giving her a more nuanced understanding of the material. 

Today, Aijamal works as a financial professional at New York Life Insurance Company, helping clients reach their financial goals. In her work, Aijamal often meets people who don’t realize how much guidance they could benefit from when it comes to managing their finances. As their goals evolve—whether they’re planning for the future, looking to minimize their taxes, or finding ways to support their loved ones—the need for sound financial advice grows with them. 

The skills she learned at Aquinas gave her the real-world insights necessary to connect with her clients on a deeper, more personal level, making complex financial concepts easier for them to understand and apply. 

“Even some of the accounting classes help me right now because everything is so related,” Aijamal explained. “I think the best classes that I had were my economics classes with Michael Curry. I use the discussions from those classes every time I talk to my clients.” 

She expressed that she finds profound fulfillment in walking alongside others as they navigate life’s financial decisions, offering the knowledge and tools they need to make confident choices for themselves and their families. 

Global Perspective, Local Support 

Building on the financial and professional skills she developed at Aquinas, Aijamal took advantage of many opportunities that helped her broaden her perspective and sharpen her interpersonal skills. A common thread among these experiences is that she spoke to many people, in many cases across nations, who helped her learn how to build and maintain relationships. 

She was even selected for a highly coveted position as an Operations Specialist intern at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. 

Originally, she doubted that she would be able to do it with her class load. She was a sophomore at the time, in the thick of her studies, and the internship was a short-term program that only lasted a month. Normally, internships run for either a summer or a full semester, so a month-long program presented an awkward span of time that could have easily interrupted her studies. 

Still, Aquinas worked with her to make sure she had the time and flexibility to complete her coursework even while she was away. Her advisor and professor, Kerri Orders, even connected her with WOOD TV8, who published a story about her internship. “That made me kind of famous,” said Aijamal with a smile.

“Having that support from Aquinas really helped me become who I am today. I met so many people, and I loved how everybody was so connected. We all had at least one common interest, right? The World Cup. Even though they were rooting for their own teams, they were still super nice to everybody else. The relationships that I got to build there—with the other interns, with some of the volunteers, with some of the workers, managers, and so on—really helped me with the relationship building in my current job.”  

What Stayed With Her Beyond Aquinas 

The lessons Aijamal took from her time at Aquinas extended far beyond the classroom, influencing everything from her personal connections to her core values. She expressed that her experiences at Aquinas expanded her understanding of community and service, and that she also gained a new appreciation for sustainability. 

She shared that she didn’t come from a family where sustainability was talked about or even really understood. “I honestly never even knew about teracycling. It was so new to me. The only thing I knew about was recycling,” she explained. “I think the most I learned about sustainability was at Aquinas. It changed my life.”

The habits that she built and reinforced at Aquinas—like sorting her trash into compost, recycling, and waste bins—are still present in her life today. Plus, she has shared these values with her family and friends, many of whom have also worked those habits into their own lives.  

Returning to her professional life, she reflected on the way Aquinas’ rich community impacted her. “When I started this job,” she shared. “ I learned how important it is to keep in touch with somebody. That support is necessary. I moved out to New Jersey. I am currently not in Michigan, and I think I needed that support.” 

It’s this combination of support and opportunity that defines the Aquinas experience, shaping how students approach life beyond the classroom.

When asked what advice she would give to someone just starting out, she replied, “Aquinas gives you so many opportunities to try things—extracurriculars, sports, and different classes. There’s so much wiggle room to try different things before you actually choose your path, and I think it’s important to take advantage of that.”   

Aijamal also expressed that she is deeply committed to the students, alumni, and faculty at Aquinas College and that she is always willing to act as a resource, whether that means offering financial advice or connecting applicants with internships and job opportunities. She’s just one LinkedIn DM away!