Confidence propels Mirzoyan to succeed

Mariam Mirzoyan, ’17 has worked in the optical industry since she was a teen, including three years in Germany, giving her personal experience in international business.

Confidence propels succeedMirzoyan to

When Mariam Mirzoyan came to GGC, she had returned from living in Germany, was going through a divorce and was worried that she had lost her study skills.

Her situation left her with doubts, but the support of her loved ones and mentorship from her GGC professors propelled her to succeed in ways she could not imagine at the time.

“When people believe in you, you have an obligation to prove them right,” she said.

Mirzoyan’s family emigrated when she was 10. In their native Armenia, her father was a successful businessman and her mother was a kindergarten teacher. However, due to decades of war, Armenia did not offer a future for their children, so the family moved to Gwinnett County.

Like many immigrants, Mirzoyan’s parents found that foreign education and experience do not always earn comparable careers in the U.S. Her father stocks groceries and her mother works in retail.

“This is why I work as hard as I do,” said Mirzoyan. “Their sacrifice matters. Failure is not an option.”

Today, Mirzoyan’s three siblings have professional careers, and she will soon graduate with a degree in

business administration with a concentration in international business – a field in which she already is experienced.

Mirzoyan has worked in optical offices since she was a teen, including three years in Germany, where she moved with her then-husband. After returning to Gwinnett towards the end of 2014, she got another optical job and enrolled at GGC. Dr. Kathleen Pinson, interim associate dean for the School of Business

organization at GGC before, but in its first year, she led SBD in holding three student seminars, a fundraiser and SBA’s first Grizzly Networking Night, a job fair featuring only employers requiring a bachelor’s degree. “Dr. Young pushed me to conquer my fears, and he never let me doubt myself,” she said. “It didn’t matter how big my dreams were.” Mirzoyan worked as a resident Administration (SBA), advised her to advisor, served as chief of staff for the major in business during orientation. Student Government Association and Moved by Pinson’s belief in her Mariam Mirzoyan, ’17, with the European Union flag. was named to SBA’s Student Advisory ability to succeed, she took the advice. Board. She also volunteers on the This belief in Mirzoyan by others became a theme Duluth Fall Festival organizing committee. defining her GGC experience. She said the highlight of her GGC career was an in“Every professor I’ve encountered had so much ternational business study abroad course featuring prifaith in me. I know I am where I am today because of vate, in-depth discussions with international business them,” she said. She recalled emailing Dr. Benjamin leaders in Belgium, France and Switzerland. Pre-travel Akins, assistant professor of legal studies and taxation, work involved researching these organizations. to introduce herself and express concern about starting “This trip gave me the opportunity of a lifetime,” over as a student. To her surprise, he responded. she said. “It felt good to know that my college prepared me so well for having professional discussions “It felt good to know that my college with prominent business leaders around the world.” prepared me so well for having professional Mirzoyan researched the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and was so impressed that she discussions with prominent business leaders hopes to work for the ICRC. around the world.” While her optical work and time in Germany – Mariam Mirzoyan, ’17 brought personal experience to her coursework and class discussions, Mirzoyan said the trip changed her “I couldn’t believe he took time to email me during as a student. his summer break,” she said. “The advice he gave me “I approached classes with a different mentality. helped me succeed in all my classes. This made me This trip, my previous experiences and my courses more comfortable about going back to college and for have prepared me for a successful future in any choosing GGC.” element.” Mirzoyan cited many examples of faculty showing With her GGC degree, international experience, concern for her, inspiring her to believe in herself and fluency in three languages and confidence in herself, facilitating opportunities to expand her experienc- Mirzoyan is ready to make her mark. es. One advised against a job offer because she was “capable of so much more.” Another checked on her when she missed classes due to the flu. “It leaves me speechless how these professors care about students,” she said. “My professors not only know my name. They know who I am. They know my story.” Dr. Brett Young, assistant professor of management information systems, encouraged her to serve as the first president of Sigma Beta Delta (SBD), the international business honor society. She’d never led an