Muyia Stephanie Tracy has been pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Hotel Management degree at Strathmore University. She is an outstanding character who has participated in many hospitality and tourism student challenges such as the EuroChrie Challenge 2020. We journey with her through her #StrathmoreExperience.

 After high school, I got a scholarship to study at Strathmore University. When I found out Hospitality and Hotel Management was among the courses being offered, I was beyond delighted since I had prerequisite knowledge of the course coming from high school. The sheer diversity and flexibility of the industry sparked an interest. It’s one of the industries with a variety of career paths to choose from plus one can work anywhere! from a cruise ship to a hospital. For someone with an adventurous spirit like mine, it offers the opportunity to travel the globe and work in different cultural settings.

I have been a member of the Strathmore Entrepreneurs club, Hospitality and Tourism Students (HATS Club). I also participated in the EuroChrie Challenge 2020, an International Hotel Management simulation challenge that was contested by hotel schools across Europe, the Middle East, and the Africa Region.

Richly nurtured

Generally, my Strathmore experience has been quite enriching. Strathmore has expanded my horizon, I feel more confident as a person as I have made friends, participated in events, career fairs, and networked widely. I’d say I have been richly nurtured in terms of my profession. When my exams were cut short in March it took some time to process what was happening. I was already in that celebratory mood; I was eventually finishing undergraduate studies and getting into the next chapter of my life. Then everything came to a standstill. The fear and uncertainty grew of what the future had in store. The hospitality industry was and has been hit hard. Establishments were being closed down, there was no travelling. To cope with the situation, I enrolled in online short courses on Coursera, whom Strathmore had partnered with, to learn some new skills and enrich the ones I had. Eventually, our pending exams were done online.

Food Euphoria…an epic high

The epic high for me was when the STH class of 2020 organized a highly successful 3rd Food Euphoria held on 24th August 2019. The Food Euphoria is an annual event held by the graduating class of the current year at the School of Tourism and Hospitality. The main aim of the event is to raise funds for students at the school who are unable to cover their tuition fees, and also to apply skills taught throughout the four years in a practical event. Everything was organized by the students. We marshalled funds, sought sponsors to fund our event, and did the whole food production and service for the event.

Gratitude

What I have learnt from this COVID-19 era is to be appreciative and thankful for all that I have. It has been quite a journey with so many challenges and memorable moments. Getting this far for me is quite an achievement and deserves to be acknowledged.

What next after graduation?

With the new regulations put in place, hospitality is being redefined, conventional methods are now changing. I am glad this era found me while I was getting into the job market. For now, I am seeking an entry-level position to further grow my skills and gain industry experience. It’s almost everyone’s dream to increase their knowledge base in whatever capacity, and I have a genuine interest of furthering my studies.

Strathmore has helped me to think outside the box and instilled invaluable skills in me such as personal branding: how to present myself, how to interact with others, communicating effectively, and good moral conduct. I believe this will go a long way in helping me build my brand post-graduation.

To those yet to join University: Do extensive research, take the initiative to learn more about current trends in the job market. Find a mentor who can help you get into the right path and lastly do something that is in line with your vision, talents, and passion.

 

This article was written by Francis Kabutu.

 

Would you like to share your experience of living through the circumstances brought by the Covid-19 pandemic? Kindly email: communications@strathmore.edu