While everyone else was counting down the days until their first day in college, I dreaded it. The idea of moving away from home for four years in a different state was terrifying. How could I leave everything I’d ever known and start somewhere new?
Looking back now, coming to Sacred Heart was the best decision I could have made. As tough as college seems in the beginning, you find your place. I was lucky enough to find my place through my friends and several organizations on campus.
Before I even stepped foot on campus, I had a guaranteed community in the Choir Program. While the program saw its ups and downs during my time as a student, I have deeply treasured my time in it. I got to travel abroad to Europe for the first time, met so many wonderful people, and found a place for my love of music to shine.
This year, I took on a bigger role in the program by taking charge of the advertising efforts. I was given creative liberty, making videos, flyers, and more that I was proud of, and people responded to.
News Writing and Reporting was a class I wasn’t going to take at first, as I am a Public Relations major, but I am very glad that I did. I have grown immensely through my time on the Spectrum Newspaper board. While I have always had a passion for writing, the idea of interviewing people was nerve-wracking. Now I think that’s the best part of journalism, getting to hear people’s lived experiences and putting that on the page. I have become a more confident and well-rounded writer over these last two and a half years with the Spectrum.
As president of the film club for two years, I feel that I have created a fun little community. I truly love film, and getting to show others my choices was a treat. I am very excited to pass on the torch to continue thriving in my absence.
One thing that I am extremely happy I decided to do was intern at the SHU Discovery Science Center & Planetarium. I got to take the skills I have learned out past the campus bubble in a team that uplifts one another and welcomed me with open arms. Getting to see a booklet I helped design in the hands of people at their last gala was such a proud moment for me.
The SCMA program shaped me into the person and student I am today. I have been taught to think more critically and openly with creative abandon. The things I have accomplished as a student in this program, I would have never dreamed of. I want to thank all the professors I have had, especially Dr. Belinha De Abreu, who trusted me to aid her work.
To my friends, you have all become my home away from home. I love every one of you. Thank you for always being there for me. Now I have the opposite attitude about college as when I started; I am dreading leaving. This campus has become my home, and I am so lucky to have the opportunity to miss something this much. My freshman self would be amazed at all I have accomplished at Sacred Heart. Now it’s onto whatever the future holds! As one of my favorite Wallows songs puts it, “My life’s going by, but it’s just begun!”
