Meet Presidential Ambassador Anaiah Bell
Anaiah Bell, a social sciences major at Virginia Peninsula Community College, is positioning herself for a photography career. Along the way, she’s taking advantage of an opportunity to develop leadership skills by serving as a Presidential Ambassador this academic year.
Participants in the Presidential Ambassadors program – four each year – commit to 10 months of assisting the College. They volunteer at events and in various roles on campus as part of service. Each receives a $1,000 incentive and mentoring by VPCC leaders, Program Coordinator Michelle Manfred explained.
Bell, a Tabb High School graduate enrolled at VPCC in 2018. Here, she shares about her VPCC experience.
Why was Virginia Peninsula Community College your choice for higher education? I tried going to the Virginia Peninsula to see if college was the right choice for me.
What influenced your college major decision? I chose a social sciences major when I first started my college journey because I wanted to become a therapist for children.
What inspires you as you explore higher education? The types of jobs and opportunities I want for my future require that I get a degree.
What are your academic and career goals over the next five years? My academic goals are to graduate from VPCC and attend Virginia Commonwealth University for two years. Currently, I work in childcare but, in a few years, I would like to change careers and work in photography.
How is VPCC helping you as you pursue your goal? There have been a lot of students, staff, and teachers that make this experience great.
Would you recommend the College? Yes. I would recommend the College to anyone who has a busy schedule and still wants to go to school.
Manfred is pleased Bell makes time to serve as an ambassador, particularly given her schedule.
"Anaiah works part-time and attends school part-time,” said Manfred, noting that balancing school and work epitomizes the VPCC student experience. “In a recent meeting, Anaiah mentioned her desire to learn more about the arts to really grow her skills in not only photography. She wants to explore everything – drawing, painting, ceramics, and more.”