Jack of all trades

Torey Schreiner may be all business, but she has her sights set on making a big difference in the lives of people she doesn’t even know yet. In order to accomplish her goals, Schreiner has gone all in as a university student, using her skills and talent to pursue a rare feat: triple majoring at Northern Arizona University. Schreiner, who is currently a junior working toward degrees in business economics, marketing, and management, wants to apply the lessons she’s learned as an undergraduate to help small communities create and stabilize their own economies through local business. 

“I want to use the skills that I developed through my majors to help people,” Schreiner says. “I want to go to impoverished countries and help develop micro-businesses. That’s what I'm really passionate about. It’s a human duty to help all of mankind.”

Narrowing down a major (or three)

Upon arriving at Northern Arizona University, Schreiner declared a major in marketing, but after calculating the credit she had attained in high school and reexamining her long-term goals, she decided to add business management and economics majors, as well.

According to Schreiner, her objective in pursuing three majors was to ultimately become a well-rounded employee after she graduated. Though her course of action brought short-term costs—like added stress and an extended undergraduate career—she has no regrets about her decision. 

“I didn't feel pressure,” Schreiner says. “I knew I could do this. I enjoy being busy. I’m just taking it one step at a time, from each semester to each class.” 

Thus far, the extra work seems to be paying off. As an undergraduate, Schreiner enrolled in a BizBlock course, which requires students to work in teams and develop their own business plan; Schreiner’s group focused on creating an all-natural agave lemonade company, which went on to win the competition for best student group. She believes having these opportunities as an undergraduate provides critical chances to achieve early success.

“We’re actually making connections where we could potentially make this work in the real world,” Schreiner says. “We’re already seeing where we could potentially turn this into a business.”

Outside the comfort zone

Despite her success in the classroom, Schreiner initially struggled with being away from home and integrating to university life. However, she found support through faculty and friends, and made an effort to get more involved on campus, all of which helped her transition to a new chapter. 

“I think the hardest part was just stepping outside of my comfort zone,” Schreiner says. “Once I began taking classes, I just started meeting so many people. It made me feel like I have a place here.” 

Schreiner doesn’t limit her schedule to the classroom. On campus, she works as a student mentor, a desk clerk at an advising office, and as the Vice President of Philanthropy for the Northern Arizona University chapter of the American Marketing Association (AMA), a nationwide organization for students who study marketing. Her role with the AMA allows her to work with her peers and organize fundraisers and events that benefit the community.

Schreiner also holds an off-campus job with a local outdoor gear store and works additionally as a social media intern for the city of Flagstaff’s Neighborhood Planning Department.

Forging ahead

After graduation, Schreiner plans to join the Peace Corps to help impoverished countries develop their own micro businesses.

“My goal is to help people develop their shoemaking business or their basket weaving or coffee-making businesses,” Schreiner says. “It’s about helping them create something and preparing families to provide for their next generation so they can go to school.”

Schreiner is adamant that her experiences as an undergraduate have prepared her for whatever the future may hold.

“At the university, I've really found who I am,” Schreiner says. “I’ve found what I love and what I’m passionate about through my classes. I’ve gotten to take different lessons from my classes and apply them to myself and my values.”