Senior broadcast journalism major Aspen Steib may look like your typical college senior. But has one distinct accomplishment.
Aspen is a small town Louisiana native with big time dreams. Along with her strong will and determination, Aspen has a list a mile long of major accomplishments and goals. One item that she's been able to cross off her agenda: to make it on to Wheel of Fortune.
Aspen ran into the Wheel of Fortune crew in New Orleans during the early summer. The show was conducting a "Wheel Mobile" event where they travel throughout the country searching for contestants.
"Me and my mom just happened to be in the area, so we went there and I interviewed with them and they called me back to go to the show," she said.
While it took the other contestants a year to make it onto the popular show, Aspen managed to find her way onto the set in only two months.
"They were saying how tens of thousands of people try to do this every day," she said. "I didn't know that so many people would try to be on the show. It was definitely an honor."
Aspen attributes her great success to her get up and go attitude.
"I'm not afraid to try something new," she said. "I think that's definitely helped me a lot. It's opened a lot of doors."
Aspen's character has not only gotten her into beneficial situations, it has also given her the strength necessary to become a representative and role model for Howard University and African Americans.
"I was the only person there from a black college," she said. "[The other contestants] really didn't know a lot about Howard, so it was good to explain everything about it."
Aspen won almost $11,000 in cash and prizes, including a trip to Thailand; a perfect prize for a person who loves to travel.
Another "must" on Aspen's to-do list: travel the world. Before Aspen continues her education by going to law school, she will head to Europe.
"I'm starting off at France and I'm going to do sort of a world tour for a year. I want to write a book on it," she said.
Aspen hasn't come up with a name for her book yet, but has already found a publisher who is interested in her project.
After four years of an undergraduate education, Aspen has learned a lot about herself and the world around her. She said that Howard has played a huge part in her personal development.
"It's definitely given me a platform to stand on and has solidified my personality. Getting here I was a little insecure and a little naïve about the way the world works. Being at Howard, I've definitely solidified myself."
Aspen's hard work and initiative have landed her many internship experiences. During an internship with Dateline NBC in Washington, she was able to pitch a story idea that was later broadcast on the program. As an intern for Top Media Systems in France, Aspen's voice was used to narrate a computer program for Microsoft. She was also able to work on a commercial with them.
Aspen is fully confident in her ability to excel and achieve her goals, resting on her belief that every situation can become a time to shine.
"I don't think that there are any mistakes in life" she said. "I think that everything that happens happens for a reason. The point is to learn from that experience and move on."
