Arjun Jayaraman, a recent graduate of Anthony Wayne High School in Toledo, Ohio, is not only running towards his future but also encouraging his classmates to do the same.
This fall, Ajrun plans to attend The Ohio State University, where he will major in Industrial and Systems Engineering. Throughout high school, he was an active member of DECA and was awarded the NRF Foundation and Macy’s scholarship. “It was a big confidence boost and showed me that the path I’m going on is the right path,” Arjun said.
Arjun worked at Second Sole, an Ohio-based specialty running store, at its Toledo location. In his role, he helped customers navigate their shopping experience and offered recommendations on shoes and apparel. “I run cross country and track, so my product knowledge applied to the job because I run in a lot of these shoes. That’s how I started working there in the first place.”
Arjun was especially interested in seeing how stores work with distributors for brands such as Nike, New Balance, Hoka, Adidas, and Brooks. The experience in the store gave him insight into how products move from the distributor to the locations, and the decisions that are made in each step of the process. That perspective connects closely to his academic goals.
Arjun sees strong parallels between business and systems engineering, particularly in operations and business management, where success depends on making sure products are managed efficiently and arrive in the right place at the right time.
At Anthony Wayne High School, students participate in a class during DECA competitions and receive college credit through the local community college. The course discusses business and marketing fundamentals that assist with preparing for DECA. “Business was something I was looking at through DECA, but it’s one thing to learn about it and another thing to apply those concepts. Working in retail helped me realize I could use business in a lot more places,” Arjun said. “Through DECA, I learned more than business. I learned how to network, meet people and talk to people.”
Through his work in retail, the NRF Foundation Retail Training program expanded his understanding and showed him that he could apply business knowledge in more ways than he had realized previously.
Don’t be afraid to push yourself out of your comfort zone and do things like this. What’s the worst that can happen?
Arjun has earned two NRF Foundation RISE Up certifications from NRF Foundation Retail Training: Retail Industry Fundamentals and Customer Service & Sales. The coursework reflected many of the situations he has encountered in his retail position, reinforcing skills such as adaptability, quick thinking, and customer service.
Arjun encourages other students to believe in themselves and take initiative, saying, “Don’t be afraid to push yourself out of your comfort zone and do things like this. What’s the worst that can happen? You’re not going to get anything bad from it, so you might as well do it.” He recommends pursuing credible certifications such as the NRF Foundation’s RISE Up program and getting involved in DECA, noting that both helped him build confidence and deepen his understanding of the retail industry. He also emphasizes the importance of stepping outside your comfort zone, because you never know what opportunities may come from it.
Looking ahead, Arjun shares his enthusiasm for what’s next, saying, “I’m always excited to learn. I’m ready for a new experience, and I think it’ll be great.” He is especially excited to join The Ohio State community this August and begin the next chapter of his academic journey.
