The drive to succeed differs for every college student. Recent graduate Esme Stasa (BSBA ’23) found motivation in these six words: “Good luck, Mama! You got this!” That’s what she heard when tucking her two young children into bed every night.  

Bedtime for her five-year-old son and seven-year-old daughter was her time to study. Faced with life as a single mother after her divorce, she focused on earning a college degree to create a better life for herself and her young family. 

College as a Path to a Better Future 

Stasa enrolled in Community College of Allegheny County, earned her associate degree, and then transferred to Pitt Business. She attended classes full-time and worked part-time at Carnegie Mellon University, in addition to being a mother and a homeowner. Time and resources were tight. Twice, she considered giving up. 

Even though she had limited free time, she participated in the Outside the Classroom Curriculum (OCC) programs with both Pitt Business students and those from other colleges. 

“Pitt OCC allowed me to get involved and feel like I belonged at Pitt Business,” says Stasa. “It taught me that being a student is more than doing well in academics but getting involved and meeting others and learning outside the classroom.” 

Stasa had an internship at EY in the summer of 2022, which turned into her present position as a business consultant at the global consulting company.  

She says it “took a village” to get this far, crediting the support and encouragement of her supervisors at Carnegie Mellon and the knowledge she gained from her professors at Pitt. She had two classes with Clinical Associate Professor of Business Administration Anthony Rodi and often asked him for industry advice. 

“Esme has a great work ethic and puts lots of effort into everything that she does,” says Rodi. 

“She is very organized, and her strong communication and interpersonal skills along with her willingness to learn new things and ability to adapt to change will contribute to her success as a consultant.”  

A Commitment to Servant Leadership

Stasa has always pursued volunteer opportunities in her community. She served as treasurer for the Parent Teacher Organization at her children’s school, helped at a local food bank, and volunteered with Pitt events.  

“I feel strongly about having compassion for the well-being and welfare of others,” says Stasa. “Life is unpredictable, and at one point or another in our life, we all will need someone’s help.” 

EY’s dedication to making a positive impact in the world, and its corporate responsibility program, resonates with Stasa.  

“I look forward to being active in EY Ripples and creating an at-risk youth outreach program,” she says. “I believe in servant leadership, and I am eager to serve not only my community but eventually turn those ripples into tidal waves.” 

A Desire to Help Single Parents

One day, Stasa hopes to write a book for single parents showing how to “not just survive but thrive through the challenges of single parenting.” She would also like to fund a scholarship for non-traditional college students like her.  

“These students are likely sacrificing something to return to school,” says Stasa. “Opportunity cost is extremely real once you have a family. Having the scholarship would make the transition less stressful. That’s what drives me to help other non-traditional students.”