Blog Post #1: The Man Behind The Blog

Hello and welcome to my marketing blog. My name is Aaron (AJ) Benway.  I am currently in my Junior year of college; working towards obtaining my degree in accounting. Like most students my age, I am in the process of applying and interviewing for summer internship. As well as, balancing a full schedule.  Educationally, I am taking four classes, Intermediate Accounting, Cost Management, U.S. History: 1865 until the Present, and Marketing.  My social activities include intramural soccer, floor hockey, basketball and I am a part of the business society.  In the long run,  I am just your every-day student, except one thing.  In the three years that I have been in college I have managed to go to two different schools.  

My first school was Castleton State College in Castleton, Vermont. I chose Castleton because there were a lot of external forces influencing my decision.  The first, is the fact that I grew up an hour away from Castleton. This allowed me to visit the campus whenever I wanted.  Trust me, every time that the opportunity came up, I took it.  I would go to the campus to watch football games with my uncle and baseball games with my father. When I was not able to make a game, I did not need to worry because Castleton has consistently been a Division three powerhouse.  There was constant coverage and news reports discussing how Castleton did.  Over time, I started to form the idea that winners went to Castleton, and I wanted to be a winner.  Plus,  my Aunt and Uncle received their degrees from Castleton and they are both very successful.  

http://www.castleton.edu/news-media/the-office-of-marketing-communications/brand-identity/athletics-brand-identity/athletics-logo-set/

Being a cautious student that I am, I decided to look at Castleton State's mission statement and compare it to all other colleges.  I immediate liked how I was going to receive a liberal arts education and only pay a half of what I would at most colleges. To top it all off was I was going to be able to play baseball.  Everything was perfect! Well, at least for a little bit. 

Two weeks into the year I had had enough.  I wanted out of Castleton.  This is when I called the admissions office at Saint Mike's and prepared to transfer.  The only thing that I had to do was tell my parents.  The conversation went a little like this, "Saint Mike's?! There is absolutely no-way that we will be able to send you to a private catholic school, especially one that costs so much. We have only saved so much money to pay for you to go to Castleton.  We don't have the money this year, maybe next year."  Clearly, it was a shock to their system, especially since I loved Castleton and everything that the school stood for.  Little did they know, Castleton's mission did not encompass what the students wanted. They enjoyed partying, or "spartying" as they called it, a little too much.

http://www.nsnsports.net/colleges/st-michaels-college/

Now,  I am a proud student at Saint Mike's, and I can easily say, "I like Saint Mike's!"  Everything about this school seems to make my life better.  I am challenged everyday by professors that care about me and my education.  I have great friends that stand by me through thick and thin.  To top it all off I was able to stay in Vermont, and go to a school where most of the students are from New England and embrace the work ethic that New Englanders have.  

Personal Photo

Due to the fact that a majority of the students at Saint Mike's are from New England I have decided that for this blog I will focus on products that are common to New England and what marketing procedures I would like to embrace the spirit of New Englanders and the pride that we take in what we do.




Background Photo Provided By: http://www.hayfieldqualitytours.com/new-england.asp