Sam Miranda

Meet Sam

English, B.S., NDSU, 2020
Business Administration, Minor, NDSU, 2020
Master of Arts in Leadership, UJ, 2021

I currently work at Gate City Bank. My official title is AVP, Senior Human Resources Generalist, but I get to touch a little bit of everything within HR. A lot of my time is spent supporting team members and leaders through different stages of employment, whether that is hiring someone new, working through a performance concern, navigating a leave of absence, or simply providing support when situations come up! I would say a large part of my role is helping people work through situations that aren't always black and white. That takes a lot of empathy, understanding, critical thinking, and of course, clear communication.

How did your time as an English major prepare you for your current role or your career?

I am very, very thankful for my English major! I'll be completely honest, as I was nearing graduation and COVID was at the forefront of our minds, I had no interest in pursuing a career in Human Resources. That said, I fell into the industry of banking, fell in love with it, and realized I wanted to be in a position where I could help others find careers they love and are passionate about, while also finding ways to bring compassion, empathy, and a little more "human" into HR/the workplace.

Looking back, my English major helped me build a lot of skills that I use daily. Studying literature constantly challenged me to look at a story, character, or situation from a perspective different from my own - and great dialogue with my classmates helped me broaden my understanding even further. Some of my courses pushed my thinking further than I thought possible, and those lessons still stick with me to this day. One of my favorite courses was ENGL 454: Language Bias with Kelly Cameron - she chose content, assignments, and conversation starters that opened my eyes to a whole world I hadn't considered. Today I consider one of my top strengths to be my ability to see different perspectives, read between the lines, and recognize that most situations are rarely as simple as they seem.

What advice would you give to someone considering an English major?

Your opportunities are endless! I had no intention of falling into Human Resources, but it is the perfect fit for me. My English degree has genuinely supported me just as much as a Business or HR Degree would have. One of the most valuable things my degree taught me is how to be comfortable with ambiguity. In language and literature, there is rarely one "right" answer. Instead, you learn to sit with that uncertainty, look at it from different angles, learn to LOVE the ambiguity, and then build your case from there. Those skills can take you just about anywhere - in any industry, field, or role you are passionate about. An English degree is versatile, useful, and so, so impactful.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

Get out into the world, try something new, and build a network! Take the classes that challenge you (shoutout to Bruce Maylath for the hardest grammar class I've ever taken!), but also find ways to explore the things you're passionate about through your work. For instance, I wrote my capstone on The Bachelor and it is the piece I'm most proud of from college. An English degree is anything but boring, and it definitely isn't just for people who like to read. Let yourself be surprised by the benefit of an English degree. 😊

Note: Sam was also profiled by Fargo, Inc. for a 35 under 35 feature. We’re proud of you, Sam!