Mina Marsow ’11 grew up in a Hasidic community in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. A first‑generation American, she was raised by immigrant parents in a close-knit home, her childhood and education rooted firmly in her culture. “I wanted to go to college but didn’t have access to that much information about universities while I was growing up,” says Marsow. “I read about Brooklyn College in The Princeton Review she says. “The school was listed as having an excellent academic reputation, and it was affordable.”

Marsow entered higher education without a clear understanding of what college was meant to prepare her for, so she approached it with a simple plan to learn as much as possible. As a liberal arts college, Brooklyn College provided her with a wide variety of programs to choose from, so  she explored nearly every major, taking courses across departments to discover what fit. What felt like “floundering” at the time ultimately became a period of finding herself: She loved music and had a strong affinity for math, which led her to an interdisciplinary major in music and economics. She joined a study abroad trip to Ghana. She also joined the cheerleading squad—she had trained in gymnastics as a child and loved sports; cheerleading was something she had dreamed of doing.

A Macaulay Honors College student, Marsow credits mentors, including Lisa Schwebel, the honors program director, and Professor Robert Cherry, who helped her navigate the economics major, with giving her the guidance and support she needed. She also recalls the “compassion and attentiveness” of professors at the Conservatory of Music (Marsow plays the flute) who not only challenged their students but also recognized and respected the cultural and linguistic differences many brought to the classroom.

Marsow is grateful for her mentors but also speaks effusively about the Magner Career Center staff, relying on them for advice on scholarships, internships, and career opportunities. “I practically lived there,” she says.

Through the center, she received  a Jewish Foundation for Education of Women Scholarship, which paid for two summers of internships at Morgan Stanley (later part of Citigroup Smith Barney) and the New York Attorney General’s Office, among others. She also interned at PBS.

As Marsow approached graduation, she imagined a future in finance. As the child of immigrants, she felt a career in the field would provide financial stability. But she had interned at Morgan Stanley during the turbulent years following the 2008 financial crisis. The environment proved deeply discouraging. She found the field male‑dominated, “an atmosphere reminiscent of the show Mad Men,” she says. A speaker at a Brooklyn College event later offered advice that stayed with her: Breaking barriers is admirable, but not at the cost of one’s own well‑being.

Ready for change, she took a job at Carnival Cruise Lines as an entertainment host, then transitioned into a human resources role at B’Above Worldwide Institute, an early childhood education agency. It was a return to the Magner Center that inspired her to start her own business in a field she loved. Through conversations with staff, Marsow realized that the one consistent thing in her life was her love of sports. She applied for jobs in sports management, but nothing came of it. She explored the possibility of starting her own business and wondered whether a local gymnastics school might be in demand. After speaking with families in her community, she discovered that there was indeed a need.

Marsow entered a special entrepreneur program that required her to develop and submit a business plan, marketing strategy, and other foundational documents. She also took free business courses through local organizations. In four short months she opened Prospect Gymnastics.

Today, in addition to teaching gymnastics and running a business she loves, Marsow writes regularly, has published pieces in several magazines, and is working on a memoir. Creative writing has become a meaningful outlet—now, with a flexible schedule and steady career, she has the freedom to develop her voice as a writer.

Looking back at her own journey, Marsow encourages prospective students to explore what Brooklyn College has to offer thoroughly and take their time in choosing a career path, “because the stakes are not as high.” For current students, her advice is clear: Make full use of the Magner Center, pursue internships, and explore widely.

“College may be one of the few times in life when exploration is possible before you go out into the world,” she says. “Join a sports team, take classes in unfamiliar departments, participate in music ensembles or theater productions, and meet as many different kinds of people as you can.” These experiences, she believes, are crucial to personal growth and a future career.