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South Carolina Honors College

Natalie Ford

Ask me about... the International Business program, the Darla Moore School of Business, study abroad and Honors College Cool Courses!

Hi! I am from Charlotte, North Carolina and am majoring in International Business and Finance. As a part of the IB program, I studied abroad in Austria during the Spring 2023 semester. I am thinking of working in international corporate banking or in the private wealth management area. 

My advice for prospective students: When deciding where to go to college, consider where you can truly see yourself for the next few years, whether it is walking to class on campus, sitting outside with friends, or taking advantage of a specific program. If you can’t see yourself there, that’s not the place for you. 

 My advice for current student: Take advantage of all the fun events the Honors College puts on! There’s the Honors Gala, Freshmen Flotilla, and Bedtime Stories. They are a great way to take a break from homework, destress, and make some new friends. Also, go to the less-attended sports games! My hall freshman year went to a women’s soccer game to support one of our friends and had a blast!

 My favorite thing about the Honors College: The cool courses and the great opportunities that come with them. I took a course on the U.S. Constitution and my class got to take a field trip to Philadelphia. It was a lot of fun; I became better acquainted with the students in my class and I learned the course material in an interactive way. There are many unique courses in the Honors College that you will not find anywhere else. Some examples are Philosophy and Knitting, Southern Writers on the West, and even a course that examines gender roles in horror films! 

 My reason for choosing the SCHC: I really enjoy the small class sizes. They encourage more interaction between students, and I find the professors are more engaged. I’ve had professors go above and beyond to help me understand the material, connect me with colleagues to further my network, and even invite classes over to their houses for dinner. Honors professors can do that because of the small class size. 

 My favorite things: I love movie nights with friends. I am a big movie buff and have seen more movies than I can count. I also enjoy playing the guitar! I played in a performance program in high school where I learned songs by Paramore, Heart, ZZ Top, and more! I practiced with my bandmates, and then performed a live show at the end of each semester. It was such a blast, and I enjoyed learning a variety of genres.

Favorite movie: National Treasure! It may be silly, but I’ve loved this movie since I was a kid. I love the action, comedy, and historical aspects. I can quote almost every line, to the point where I annoy my family! I also enjoy Top Gun: Maverick and Argo!

Favorite study music: The Study lofi playlist on Spotify by Lofi Girl. It doesn’t have any lyrics and is great background music to help you concentrate. 

Song I could listen to non-stop: “Casualty” by Lawrence! It was my number one song on my Spotify wrapped in 2022. Lawrence’s music is considered soul-pop and is fun and bubbly. They have two saxophone players and a trumpet player who add a jazzy feel! 

Currently reading: The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton. I love reading mysteries and this one is so unique. It is about someone who relives the same day over and over again trying to solve a murder. However, each day they wake up in a different body. They have to play on the strengths of each person in order to solve it. 

Something I’m proud of: My decision to study abroad! I will be way out of my comfort zone by travelling by myself, navigating a new city, making new friends, and attending classes at a new school. However, I know I will grow so much through this experience and am excited to explore and learn more about international business.

Something that makes me laugh: Schitt’s Creek! It is one of my favorite TV shows and I like how it is a good mix between funny and heartwarming. My favorite characters are David and Moira.

My favorite childhood memory: When my family went to Disneyland! My twin sister, father and I rode Thunder Mountain Railroad, and when we got off, they were giving out fast passes! We got to skip the lines for other rides like Space Mountain and Mount Everest. I also got to have breakfast with many Disney princesses. It was such a magical trip and one of my favorite childhood memories. 


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