Economics Society takes to the lanes at GoodTimes Bowling
Troy University students traded graphs and classrooms for bowling lanes Monday as the Economics Society visited GoodTimes Bowling to learn how economic concepts apply to starting and operating a business.
The event gave students an opportunity to hear about the development of Good Times while also connecting with other students interested in economics and business.
Dr. Noah Trudeau, assistant professor of economics and adviser for the Economics Society, said the idea came from a question he frequently hears from students in his economics classes: How do I start my own business?
“Economics is about everything business,” Trudeau said. “It is the study of decision making, but we usually end up applying that in a business context.”
Trudeau said he wanted students to hear directly from someone with experience starting and operating a business. After looking at businesses in the Troy area, he reached out to GoodTimes about hosting the organization.
By taking students outside the classroom, Trudeau said the organization can give members a closer look at how concepts discussed in economics courses influence the decisions business owners make in practice.
The visit also reflected the Economics Society’s goal of combining social activities, professional development and networking opportunities.
“You get a professional networking event in that the students get to meet a local business owner,” Trudeau said. “And it is a bit of an educational aspect as well, in that you can learn how and what starting a business looks like, sounds like, feels like and the stress involved.”
For freshman general business major Libby Parkman, the event helped broaden her understanding of what economics can look like outside the classroom.
“I definitely didn’t understand the logical side that goes into it,” Parkman said. “Obviously, there’s numbers and graphs, but you also have to weigh how much you want to do whatever you’re investing in and how much you’re willing to put up with on the things that aren’t so enjoyable.”
Parkman said learning about the business also showed her how personal interests can intersect with economics.
“This really opened my eyes to economics not just being sitting at a desk and reading graphs,” Parkman said.
The organization is not limited to economics majors. Computer science major Atticus Cornett said economics intersects with his own field through areas such as business software, economic modeling and problem solving.
“At the end of the day, everybody touches economics, whether you realize it or not,” Cornett said. “Every time you go to the store, every time you work your job, you’re touching economics.”
Cornett said events such as the visit to Good Times can make those connections easier for students to recognize while also giving members an opportunity to meet people outside the classroom.
Trudeau said that broader understanding is one of the organization’s primary goals.
“We just want to facilitate the love of economics across all types of students and have, ultimately, students not come away thinking that economics is something that’s boring,” Trudeau said.
Through events like the GoodTimes visit, the society aims to show students that economics extends beyond graphs and formulas and influences decisions they encounter in their careers and everyday lives.
Students interested in learning more about the organization can find the Troy Economics Society on LinkedIn.
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