Ariel Toy
College of New Jersey
Describe yourself in 15 words or less: An eccentric, photography-obsessed travel junkie who’ll probably ask you too many questions about your dog.
Fun fact about yourself: I’ve been to over 15 national parks!
Hometown: Holmdel, New Jersey
High School: Holmdel High School, Holmdel, NJ
Major: Economics
Minor: Interactive Multimedia
Favorite Business Course: Intermediate Microeconomics
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College: I am the previous Vice President of Fundraising for TCNJ Barkada, a Business tutor at the tutoring center, and a member of Delta Sigma Pi (professional business fraternity).
I also studied abroad in Beijing, China in summer 2015 and Heidelberg, Germany in summer 2016.
Deans List: Fall 2015, Spring 2016, Spring 2017, Fall 2017
Where have you interned during your college career?
Mercer Council on Alcoholism and Drug Addiction, Lawrenceville NJ- Policy Researcher Intern
Bristol-Myers Squibb, Lawrenceville NJ- Corporate Affairs Intern
Optima Global Solutions, Lawrenceville NJ- Marketing Intern
Where will you be working after graduation? I don’t know yet, but I definitely want to work in New York City and pursue graduate school!
Who is your favorite professor? My favorite professor is Dr. Tucci. It is evident that he truly cares about his students, being one of the few professors that helps students gain internship experience by posting jobs and inviting companies to speak during class time. He pushes me to do my best and is available for any advice I might need.
What did you enjoy most about your business school? I think it’s great that TCNJ’s class size is smaller than average. This allowed me to come out of my comfort zone and really get to know my professors.
What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business?Grades aren’t everything. Academic performance is important, but above all, real world experience matters most. You can memorize the 4 P’s of marketing, but that knowledge only becomes valuable once you apply it to a real company.
“If I didn’t major in business, I would be majoring in or studying…Graphic Design, for sure. In high school, I loved designing posters (I taught myself Photoshop!) and frequented modern art museums like the MoMA in New York City.
Who most influenced your decision to pursue business in college? My traditional Asian parents convinced me to major in business because of the “job security,” but I’m glad they did.
Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? I’m both proud and grateful that I had the opportunity to study abroad not once, but twice. I warn people to beware of asking me about my travels it’ll be hard to get me to stop talking. Traveling and experiencing new cultures is something that I have developed a passion for, and I know I’m lucky because it is not an opportunity that most students get.
If you were a dean for a day, what one thing would you change about the business school? I would encourage more professors to bring in professional speakers to class. As students, we don’t know what the real professional world is really like, so hearing from one can really help us decide what kind of career we want.
Which classmate do you most admire? I admire my good friend, Jason Kwon. There is not much he won’t do to achieve his goals, and I respect that about him. His bravery and confidence in taking on any challenge, whether it be participating in a case competition or getting his dream job, never fails to amaze me.
Who would you most want to thank for your success? I’d like to thank my parents. They have not only given me overwhelming support, but have also inspired me to work hard. My mother immigrated here from Taiwan for graduate school and my father grew up in an impoverished household in Brooklyn. They’ve worked for every penny they have, and I have adopted the same hard-working mentality at school.
What would your theme song be? “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen. I grew up listening to this song and it has always enforced that in pursuing my dream, nothing should be able to stop me.
What are the top two items on your bucket list?
- Visit a rainforest South America
- Live in Europe for a year and learn a new language
Favorite book: The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls
Favorite movie: Ratatouille
Favorite vacation spot: Germany
What are your hobbies? I enjoy photography, investing in stocks, and running an Instagram page for my two dogs.
What made Ariel such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2017?
“Ms. Toy is a motivated, hard-working student with strong analytical skills. While gaining almost two years of internship experience, she has also managed to stay involved on campus as an academic tutor and a member of Delta Sigma Pi.”
Dr. Louis Tucci
Associate Professor of Marketing & Interdisciplinary Business
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