Q&A with Mr. Canfield and CBHP students Michael Lane and Amie Nguyen
Written by Michael Lane and Amie Nguyen
Edited by Kelly Georgestone
Each year in March, the Canfield Business Honors Program hosts Discover Canfield BHP, an all-day event dedicated to helping admitted students get a feel for their experience as a Longhorn and CBHPeer. This year, the special event was held in person for the first time in two years and included a welcome by CBHP Faculty Director Dr. Andres Almazan, student and parent panels, mock lectures, a keynote speech by Mr. Phil Canfield, and opportunities for the admitted students to chat with current students.
The opening statements conveyed the intellectual strengths and ambitious drive of the current Canfield BHP students and expressed the plethora of resources, opportunities, and unique experiences available to students. Furthermore, a large number of current student volunteers supported the event, displaying their love and strong advocacy for the Canfield Business Honors Program.
During the keynote address, Mr. Canfield also spoke about his vision for the program going forward. He wishes for the program to produce people who can change the world, and he gave examples of incredible alumni who went on to found million-dollar businesses, attend top law schools, and become industry leaders. He believes the Canfield Business Honors Program is the No. 1 undergraduate business program in the nation as it is the whole package: a degree, a community, and a plethora of opportunities. His generous donation of $20 million in 2018 is a strong testament to this belief, and he hopes to provide every student that comes through the program a scholarship in the future with his and others’ contributions.
Two current Canfield BHP students who graciously served as the co-chairs of the 2022 Discover Canfield BHP event, Michael Lane (sophomore) and Amie Nguyen (senior), shared their perspectives and experiences from our virtual event:
Q: What was your favorite part of the day?
Amie: My favorite part of the day was the dessert reception that concluded all of the events. I loved being able to see all the admits and parents in one place and feeling a cohesiveness between the new community that formed throughout the day. Students began hanging around their new friends and parents were ecstatic to have their children join the program. During this finale, most of my responsibilities as co-chair were wrapping up, so I could take some more time to talk to all the attendees and get to know their backgrounds and interests. I had the privilege of seeing the future of the program through the Class of 2026!
Michael: Watching the students converse and become more comfortable with each other. Coming into Discover, one of my biggest goals was to ensure that students were interacting with one another. To do this I tried to incorporate as many student orientated activities as possible. The ice breakers really displayed this effort as it was amazing to see the students engaged and responsive to their group leaders and their fellow cohort members. But I was thrilled to see the students were communicating long before this. From the beginning, the students were not shy and gravitated quickly towards each other. In between panel sessions, I loved seeing groups form as it displayed they were really taking a liking to each other. This gave me confidence going through the rest of the day because I felt I was already reaping the fruits of my labor. I wouldn’t trade that feeling for the world.
Q: Can you recount how your experience was with Discover Canfield BHP when you were a freshman?
Amie: I remember being extremely intimidated by the vast amount of new people there. Coming from high school, I was a bit more reserved and nervous to meet all the admits. However, as the day progressed and we got introduced to each other, I began feeling a lot more confident and comfortable beings surrounded by my future classmates. They were so friendly and fun to be around that it made me feel so much more excited to come into college. My favorite part of the day was the ice breaker groups and mock lectures because it gave me a little snapshot of how fun the next four years would be like.
Michael: Unfortunately COVID-19 ruined my opportunity to participate in Discover. The youtube video we had could never match the enthusiasm, energy, and engagement I witnessed at this year’s Discover. It’s a shame to know that my cohort could never experience Discover in its true glory but I am grateful I still got to be a part of the experience one way or another.
Q: How does it feel to be on the other side now that you are a student organizing this event?
Amie: There was definitely a lot that goes into putting it all together! Seeing how dedicated the volunteers and staff were to wake up early in the morning and devote their day to ensuring the admitted students had a good experience was definitely heartwarming. We all truly do care when it comes to advocating for CBHP since we’ve all had fantastic experiences in the program, and we carry a genuine interest in making sure parents and students know that as well. Leading the event and making sure the audience was receiving the best experience possible was a bit stressful at times, but it was certainly one of my best memories I’ve made in college. I’ll remember the day of the event forever!
Michael: It felt surreal. Being in charge of such a wide number of people was eye opening. It took awhile to get used to having people constantly coming up to me asking me for directions. I remember talking to Shelly and asking if this is how she feels every day at the office. Also, it felt as if I was getting two experiences for the price of one. By sitting in on student panels, the breakout groups, etc. I was able to gain the student experience that I could not obtain upon entering college. This was awesome because it felt as if I was reliving the early stages of my college experience. Preparing this event along with Kelly, and Amie was a great experience, and I am thrilled to have been a part of it.
Q: What are words of advice you would share with students, after listening to the two panels sharing insights on Career & Internship and Student Life & Study Abroad?
Amie: Everyone has such different interests in terms of a future career path and desires to get involved in school! While everyone might seem to be thinking about one particular path, you should be thinking about what it is you want out of your college experience. Personally, I find the healthcare industry extremely interesting, so I sought out a certificate and student organizations that would help me delve deeper into the area. You certainly don’t have to do what everyone else is doing, and I would encourage you to carve your own path with the abundant resources CBHP and McCombs give you.
Michael: I would say that it is fine to not know the answers to everything. Coming into college, you are going to meet a wide variety of people. Some have their entire life planned out and others do not know what courses they need to graduate. It is perfectly fine to not know where your passions/heart desires. It can be very intimidating to see the plans or success your peers receive. Don’t get caught up comparing yourself to everyone and focus on how you can improve, whether that is a student or a young adult. College is a time of self discovery, and here at CBHP we have all the resources to help you find your calling. All in all be patient, it is not about the end result but the memories and skills you learned along the way to get you there.
On behalf of the entire Canfield Business Honors Program, we are so excited to welcome the Class of 2026! After our successful virtual Discover Canfield BHP event, we can’t wait for this new cohort to make their way to the 40 Acres in August.
