Cougar Scholars is a monthly series highlighting Chicago State student-athletes through the lens of their studies and professional pursuits. This month features women's basketball freshman Aaliyah Collins.
Read more from our previous scholar-athletes here:
- December 2021:Â Justin Johnson, Men's Track & Field, Cross Country
- November 2021:Â Barbara Castellanos, Women's Soccer
- October 2021:Â Andrea Calderon, Volleyball
- September 2021:Â Shaquan Reid, Men's Soccer
- August 2021:Â Susie Andres, Women's Tennis
- July 2021:Â Kevin Bullington, Men's Golf
- June 2021:Â Dominick George, Men's Soccer
- May 2021:Â Carmen Acedo, Women's Soccer
- April 2021:Â Josh Stig, Men's Golf
- March 2021:Â Leilani Moncrease, Women's Basketball
In her first month as a college basketball player, Aaliyah Collins owned the hardwood.
She didn't just play well, resembling a typical freshman phenom who hits a few buckets and adjusts well to the higher level.
No, she owned the hardwood. She swiped more steals than all but two Division I players. She poured in double-digit points in every game after the opener. She powered the Cougars to a Big Ten road win, the program's first victory in nearly two years.
Collins hauled in the Western Athletic Conference's Freshman of the Week award for three consecutive weeks, unprecedented for a Chicago State player.
"College has been a lot more fast-paced," Collins said. "You can't wait to do something. You have to do it right then and there."
She's started to do plenty, and it's not just on the court. Collins has thrived in the classroom, too, as a business management major, earning her selection as CSU Athletics' January Cougar Scholar.
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Photo by Sebastian Montoya for CSU Athletics
Collins hails from Snohomish, Washington, a suburb of Seattle, where she was named the 2021 Washington Girls Basketball Player of the Year by The Herald. At Chicago State, she quickly elected the business management major, as her sights are set on running her own business.
"I want to have a business doing eyelashes," Collins said, "Eventually, if I get bigger than that, I would love to have hair stylists, too."
Collins has long been infatuated with the beauty business. And much like she's honing her craft as a multi-dimensional basketball player, she wants to be a beauty maven.
"At first, it was hair," Collins said. "I love to braid. Then, it moved towards eyelashes. My end goal is to have the skillset in different parts of the beauty industry.
"Plus, in the beauty industry, you can bank if you're successful. Then, I'm set."
To equip herself for the rigors of running a business, Collins has delved into her business classes at Chicago State.
In her first freshman semester, she took Principles of Marketing, Career Fluency and Entrepreneurship, which drew the budding entrepreneur in the most.
"For Entrepreneurship, I had to put together a business plan," Collins said. "I was able to lay it out, and now I can add and take away things as I need to over time. We had to run through finances, costs, location and more. It was a major project. It's a rough draft for my business."
Through the experience, Collins heeded valuable advice for business owners.
"Don't settle for less," Collins said. "Keep your options open, but never settle for less. There are a lot of risks in managing your own business, but if you keep an open mindset about it, you should be successful."
Photo by Kendra Krutsinger for CSU Athletics
Collins "plans on going way after college" in her basketball career, but feels she may start her business pursuits simultaneously.Â
In the meantime, Collins is prepared to continue owning — both the hardwood and the classroom — and then the beauty industry.
"Chicago State has provided me with an amazing opportunity," Collins said. "Every student and staff member are so supportive, and it feels like one big family. I want to keep working hard for my teammates, coaches, family, and CSU itself.
"There are a lot of challenges, but I love a good challenge."
