Graduate Spotlight | Lance Michael Franco, Fogelman College of Business & Economic and College of Arts & Sciences, Class of 2024
If I could talk to my younger self, I’d tell him to get out there.
Bite the bullet. Take the leap. Find the people you enjoy and activities you like and embrace them.
I used to be a very shy, socially anxious person who was always hesitant to put myself out there. I really wanted to, but something was always holding me back.
But all of that changed when I came to the University of Memphis.
My Journey to Memphis
I was born in Sacramento, California, and spent most of my childhood in the Bay Area until my family moved to Memphis in December 2020 — right as I was getting ready to start college.
When it came time to choose, the University of Memphis was the obvious choice since it was only a 20-minute drive from my new home. But it also provided me with a fresh start — an opportunity to get out of my bubble and put myself out there.
Forcing myself to go to college, even though it was close to my family’s new home, allowed me to fully integrate into this new community, in a completely different part of the country than I had grown up in.
“However, the most important thing I’ve gained at the University of Memphis is confidence.”
I definitely didn’t understand how impactful the friends and support system would be when I started school.
During my time here, I was able to discover new passions like marketing and journalism while building upon the stuff I already enjoy, like French and music. However, the most important thing I’ve gained at the University of Memphis is confidence.
Finding My Majors
When I first enrolled at the University of Memphis, I intended to be a nursing major.
But deep down, I wanted to major in something that would allow me to be creative and put myself out there more.
So, I took a big risk and changed my major to marketing.
Marketing is all about communication and helping businesses thrive by reaching as many people as possible, and that’s what really interested me. All of my classes have helped me grow not only as a businessman but also as a person. In my mind, though, two stand out in particular.
I took an oral communications class, and it was fundamental in helping me break down some of those barriers and become a more confident speaker. Marketing 3410 with Professor John Cicala helped me understand the importance of building relationships with customers and how to communicate with the people supporting your business.
While marketing became my main focus, I was also passionate about taking French classes. French is a language I’ve always loved learning about. I took French in high school and wanted to continue studying it in college. Now, I’ll be graduating with a minor in French.
Getting Involved
The classes I took were very important to my college experience but the people I’ve met, and the clubs I’ve been a part of have been just as important.
One of my favorite experiences was my time at The ROAR radio station, where I hosted my music show, “Listen to This.”
I decided to start the show after getting heavily involved in journalism. I never saw myself as a journalist, but I decided to try something new last year by joining The Daily Helmsman, the student newspaper.
I fell in love with journalism and ended up dedicating a lot of time to improving my writing. I was even fortunate enough to be awarded the “Best In-Depth Reporter” at the JRSM award ceremony last semester.
All of this led to being the Managing Editor for the Daily Helmsman for my last semester – a position I’m super proud to say I was able to be part of.
I have also been involved with the Hope College ministry. The connections I made through the ministry have helped me grow in my faith and become a better person.
Looking Ahead
As my college days come to an end, I’m excited about the opportunities that lie ahead.
I have a job lined up with a New York-based fashion startup called Note to Self, and I’m looking forward to using my marketing skills to help the business grow. I’m also hoping to continue my work in journalism by starting a freelance website where I can write about music. Music will forever be a passion of mine, and I want to continue sharing it with others.
As I look ahead, I’m so grateful for the support system I’ve had at the University of Memphis and the opportunities I’ve been given. Without them, I wouldn’t be where I am today.
