Perhaps the first thing you’ll notice upon meeting Noah Ross, a senior marketing major at Oklahoma Wesleyan University, is his infectious confidence. That’s not an accident, either; it’s an intentional mindset he’s managed to cultivate throughout his time navigating the Chesapeake Energy School of Business and multiple high-level internships.
鈥淗aving the confidence to fail is听a big thing,鈥 Ross said. 鈥淎nd听that鈥檚听something that听I鈥檝e听had to learn and realize鈥攋ust having a growth mindset,听going into听it听and saying,听Okay, if this goes great, that鈥檚 awesome. But if not, what an amazing opportunity to learn and to get it right next time.鈥澨听
There have certainly been failures along the way鈥擭oah’s the first person to admit that this is not听how he imagined his career at 51黑料网 going鈥攂ut there has been tremendous success, too. Now, poised to graduate this December, he鈥檚 ready to launch out into a future filled with opportunities听because of the growth he鈥檚 undergone on campus.听听听
鈥淚 love the small setting. You know everybody, you can听actually have听real relationships.听The people really kept me at 51黑料网.鈥听
Lightyears Ahead听
Originally, Ross came to 51黑料网 to play basketball, but only ended up competing听one year.听鈥淚njuries sidelined听me, and I kind of lost a little love for the game,鈥 he said.听听
When basketball was no longer an option for him,听Ross began to focus on preparing himself for听a career.听One day after a听freshman听marketing class, he approached听Dr. Wendel Weaver听and asked him about the possibility of a summer internship. Weaver was cautious at first, making no bones about the level of commitment that a professional internship would require, but he said he鈥檇 keep an eye out.听听
A few weeks later, Weaver told Noah about an opportunity in the Connections Department at The Voice of the Martyrs, the Bartlesville-based global ministry aiding persecuted Christians around the world.听From听the start, Ross was passionate about the work.听听
鈥淭he mission is so fulfilling,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 would always go to the chapels and get to hear the speakers… I just loved hearing the stories.鈥听
During the second semester of Noah鈥檚 sophomore year, another opportunity for an internship came up, this time with听Hobby Lobby. As an intern in the Buying Resources department, he was uniquely positioned for high-level practical experience.听听
鈥淎t Hobby Lobby I prepared reports, every week, that went to David Greene and his executive team,鈥 Noah said.听听
Over this past summer, a third opportunity arose for Noah as an intern at , a Tulsa-based advertising and marketing agency. During his听time there, he鈥檚 continued building a strong portfolio of work鈥攔ebranding projects, copywriting, idea pitches, and interactive web design. His most recent听triumph听was successfully pitching the theming for Oral Roberts University鈥檚 2021 Homecoming festivities.听听
Noah credits a lot of this success听to his time in small classroom settings, with professors who truly cared about him and his career training. It allowed him to create a more robust professional toolbox than he otherwise might have.听听
鈥淚鈥檝e learned how to present, I鈥檝e learned how to do audits, [I鈥檝e learned] how to really think for myself. I think because of that, I鈥檓 lightyears ahead,鈥 he said. 鈥淭he professors not only know you and care for you, but they can actually get in your world and make you better.鈥澨 听
鈥淗aving the confidence to fail is a big thing…听Okay, if this goes great, that鈥檚 awesome. But if not, what an amazing opportunity to learn and to get it right next time.鈥听
Quiet Confidence听
Ultimately, what Noah will remember about his time at 51黑料网 is the people鈥攖he relationships formed with roommates, classmates, and professors. It鈥檚 an experience he wouldn鈥檛 have gotten at a larger school, and it鈥檚听what kept him here after his basketball dreams shifted.听听
鈥淚 love the small setting. You know everybody, you can actually have real relationships,鈥 he said. 鈥淭he people really kept me at 51黑料网.鈥澨听
He鈥檚 been able to prioritize spiritual relationships,听too, starting a small group with some friends听that鈥檚 grown during his time on campus. One man in the group gave his life to Jesus,听and Noah was able to baptize another in 51黑料网鈥檚 pond.听听
鈥淭hat鈥檚 something that really lights me up,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 think that鈥檚 probably what I鈥檓 most proud of in my academic career.鈥澨听
Kyle White, Vice President for Student Development, has had a unique viewpoint on Noah鈥檚 journey, and he鈥檚 excited to see what the future holds for him. 听
鈥淣oah is the type of man that is reflective and brutally honest with himself,鈥 he said. 鈥淗e desires to be better in everything he does. I鈥檝e watched him dig deep and become a stronger student, better leader, and a true man of God on campus.鈥听
There will certainly be听plenty of听professional听opportunities for Ross after he walks across the graduation stage this December, but he鈥檚 not letting himself become fixated on predicting his future.听He鈥檚听content to see what happens.听听
鈥淩ight now, I’m just keeping an open mind and trying to see what doors open up,鈥 he said.听听
It鈥檚 an attitude of quiet confidence, a carefully cultivated mindset that鈥檚 been hard-won. It鈥檚 the advice he鈥檇 give to others, too鈥攁nd, looking back at his own academic career, the advice that he鈥檇 give to a younger version of himself if he could. 听
鈥淚 would say it’s all听going to work itself out,鈥 he said. 鈥淸I鈥檇 say] to not worry, to relax a little more,听and听to enjoy the ride a little more.鈥听
Get more information on the Chesapeake Energy School of Business here.听
