From Poland to UToledo to the Apiary: University College Senior Finds Her Buzz

From Poland to UToledo to the Apiary: University College Senior Finds Her Buzz

My background very much shaped me as a person and as a student.

I was born in Chorzów, Poland, and adopted by my American family at the age of seven, an experience that instilled in me a sense of resilience, a global perspective to learning and a desire to travel.

When I was in the fifth grade, my dad accepted a job transfer to London, where I attended The International Community School of London. My time going to school there helped teach me the importance of learning about new places and new ways of looking at the world.

Before transferring to The University of Toledo, I earned an associate of arts degree from Sinclair College in Dayton, with a concentration in liberal arts and sciences.

I chose to come to UToledo for several reasons.

First, I was drawn to the University's academic program, challenging curriculum, and experienced faculty. Second, I loved the campus and how welcoming it felt; the beautiful grounds, the classic architecture, and friendly atmosphere made it easy to picture myself here. Finally, my dad, who is originally from Toledo, graduated from the UToledo College of Law (class of 1988), so I had a personal connection to UToledo that made the decision to attend more meaningful.

When I came to UToledo, I was still trying to decide what career I wanted to pursue. Not long after classes began, and with the help of my advisor, things started to come into focus. Classes in environmental sciences and business entrepreneurship helped me to better understand in what direction I wanted to go.

Since I was in high school, I knew I wanted to have my own business; I also had a fascination with the natural world, particularly the ways in which even the smallest organisms exert substantial influence on ecosystems and human societies. This curiosity led me to an interest in pollinators, specifically the study of honeybees.

I combined what I learned in class (such as how to develop business plans, marketing plans, and product designs) with many field study experiences like attending conferences and educational seminars in the United States, St. Lucia and Malta. These engagements showed the critical role of bees in global agriculture, biodiversity and food security, inspiring me to establish a long-term objective: to become an entrepreneur in the apiculture sector while advancing sustainable and ethical beekeeping practices.

I started my hands-on involvement in apiculture in 2023, honing skills in hive management, honey production and pollinator health. My apiary is located within an apple orchard where my bees help pollinate not only apple trees but other crops on the farm as well, including vegetables and peaches.

In 2025, I went a step further, founding Aleksandra's Apiary LLC, a venture dedicated to ethical and environmentally conscious beekeeping. I have successfully test-marketed my honey products and am poised to expand into full-scale marketing and sales in 2026, with an emphasis on promoting local, sustainable sourcing.

After I graduate on Saturday, May 2, with a bachelor of arts degree in liberal studies with honors, summa cum laude, I will be entering the University of Florida in August, where I will be pursuing a master's degree in entomology and nematology. Obtaining my master's will equip me with the advanced knowledge, research methodologies and key insights necessary to realize these ambitions. This will enable me to contribute meaningfully to conservation efforts and innovative apiary management.

I am eager for the opportunity to advance my educational and professional aspirations, the foundation of which I established at UToledo. Taking what I have learned at UToledo into the next chapter of my life is very important to me. My goal will be to make meaningful contributions to the field of entomology that will deepen my expertise in entomological principles, pest management and pollinator ecology, ultimately helping me to innovate within the apiculture industry.

My time at UToledo has provided me with invaluable lessons in ethical business practices and environmental studies. It has taught me that anything is possible if you are willing to work hard and to follow your dreams. Thanks to UToledo, I feel that I am ready to take the next step in achieving my goals.