ALYSSA BUMP
Editor in Chief
There is no question that the loss of a loved one can leave a lasting imprint on the lives of those left to mourn.
For Markasia McCreary, the loss of her biological father in 2019 — and his absence during the majority of her childhood — has helped shape her into the woman she is today.
McCreary’s father was incarcerated for 15 years while she was growing up in Niagara Falls, N.Y., with her mother, stepfather and three younger half siblings. Four short years after he was released, he died during McCreary’s sophomore year at SUNY Fredonia.
Despite only being able to spend four years with her father, McCreary describes him as the “greatest influence” in her life.
“I was very much independent, but when my dad came home, he showed me I still had a lot to learn.” McCreary continued, “He taught me things my mother and stepfather couldn’t teach me in a very short amount of time … he still leaves an imprint on me today.”
McCreary’s father taught her “not to be too prideful” and “to know you can always ask for help.”
After his death, McCreary broke out of her shell and began getting involved on campus after using resources like the Counseling Center and being introduced to Crowned Rubies, a program meant to bring together female students of color at Fredonia.
“This was when I got introduced to clubs on campus like Black Student Union (BSU), Accounting Society, I tried out for dance teams … I didn’t do anything my first two years [at SUNY Fredonia],” said McCreary.
Now, McCreary is a fifth-year senior public accounting and business administration management dual major with a minor in writing and rhetoric. McCreary now serves on two e-boards as the president of BSU and the treasurer of Accounting Society.
McCreary has always been interested in business, with her passion flourishing in high school after taking a few business classes.
“I’ve always been fond of seeing women in business suits being taken seriously… I wanted to be that person,” said McCreary. She continued, “Especially as a Black woman, we are definitely underestimated in a lot of aspects, so I felt like being a businesswoman was my calling.”
McCreary has experience working with small businesses like Muriel’s Closet & Book Store in Dunkirk and Maggitti Farms in Fredonia from some of her classes.
With this, McCreary also has experience running her own small business, Kay’s Klassix, which opened during the pandemic. The online store offered an array of comfy loungewear sets and accessories.
But due to McCreary’s priorities as a student, which include her classwork, club involvement, tutoring and an internship, she has currently put the business on pause. The site is set to reopen right after she graduates this spring.
In-depth concepts and creativity go into each of her pieces. “I try to have a storyline each time I create a collection,” said McCreary.
She wanted to have more time reserved for her small business, and she has many exciting plans to enhance the brand’s product photography and social media presence.
With McCreary’s role in BSU, she first started out as treasurer of the club as a sophomore. But after the pandemic, all but one other e-board member was graduating. “I had to step up … But I’m glad I did. It is such a rewarding experience to have,” said McCreary.
BSU’s mission, according to fredonia.edu, is “to promote a feeling of unity and pride among students of African descent and other members of the college community, aiming to to improve cultural and social development and increase Black Awareness on campus.”
As McCreary had previously struggled with social anxiety in high school and had only recently started getting more involved on campus, she was apprehensive to take this position at first. “I was super nervous because BSU is a big club … it was a lot of pressure,” said McCreary.
Khristian King, the faculty advisor of the club, was extremely supportive of McCreary during the start of her presidency. McCreary also had BSU collaborate with other clubs like Brother 2 Brother and Sister Circle for events since nearly every club on campus was facing issues returning to in-person after COVID-19.
McCreary attributes her leadership role in helping her form better organization and networking skills. But there were some more difficult lessons she has learned as well. “One of the things I was glad to learn while being president was to not be so hard on myself … I was trying to recreate the old BSU even though we are a whole new BSU. We had to figure out our foundation and build off that,” said McCreary.
McCreary’s main role in the club is keeping her fellow e-board members organized and completing tasks on time. BSU is known for many of its recurring events, like the BSU Fashion Show, Black History Month celebrations and bringing guest speakers to campus.
She is especially proud of her growth after immersing herself into campus life. “The most rewarding part has been my relationship with the e-board and knowing they are happy with my leadership. Like I said before, I had social anxiety coming in and I did not talk to anybody when I first got here,” said McCreary.
McCreary advises others “not to put too much on your plate.” She continued, “I understand you want to do it all, but don’t do it all at once … Be very strategic with what you want to do and know your limits.”
McCreary already has a job set up after graduation as a staff auditor at Drescher & Malecki LLP in Cheektowaga, N.Y. She has been interning with the company for the last two summers, and they offered her a full time position after graduation.
McCreary will be responsible for working with local nonprofits and municipal government organizations like schools to audit their books. “I’ll be making sure everything is going according to plan and following the standards,” said McCreary.
So far, McCreary has enjoyed her experience working at Drescher & Malecki. “I’ve met a lot of new people, and I eat a lot of great food. That’s my favorite part, when I’m traveling and I see a cafe down the street … I love small little diners because that’s where the magic happens,” said McCreary.
One day, McCreary hopes to “create my own business management company and help small businesses.” She continued, “I really want to branch off and create my own brand to help others be as successful as they want to be.”
McCreary’s time at Fredonia has “most definitely” prepared her to achieve these goals. “[SUNY Fredonia] guided me to know that this is what I want to do. I’m grateful for all the steps and the opportunities that have been provided to me.”
McCreary attended workshops with guest speakers throughout her time at SUNY Fredonia. These events have inspired her to be more open with people. In the future, she hopes she can return to Fredonia to share some of her wisdom in the same fashion.
“I’ve had a taste of [guest speaking] with Crowned Rubies when Khristian King asked me to talk about financial literacy for an event,” said McCreary. She found this experience to be a bit nerve wracking, but after her presentation, many students expressed gratitude and told her how helpful her tips were.
McCreary hopes she leaves a lasting impact on SUNY Fredonia through her presidency with BSU. “Speaking in terms of BSU, I hope people know they have a voice here because that’s one of the biggest things with our community is that they feel like they aren’t seen and heard,” said McCreary.
She added that students shouldn’t be afraid to branch out or stay in a box. She urges others to be proud of themselves and their accomplishments.