Blog Post #3
Your college years can be some of the most beautiful times of your life. Through growing pains, you have an immense support group, and you flourish in numerous ways. A time where I felt that I had flourished and matured the most was during my Junior year. Today I want to reflect on that year in terms of it’s perks.
To start out the year, I had just begun my internship with the ACHA D1 Hockey team. I felt that I had finally caught up to some of my peers in terms of experience. Coming from very unstimulating environment back in my hometown, my experiences with Mercyhurst almost always started out as a blank canvas. I typically had to learn fast and make way without prior experience. With my internship, I could employ what I learned from my classes, and feel useful with my knowledge of communication.
The team mentality also helped me. I felt at home when I would go put in my hours. I was usually greeted with multiple people asking how I was, and felt their excitement surrounding game day environment. The atmosphere of the fans and the games where infectious. I put effort towards my work and enjoyed myself simultaneously.
Outside of my internship was work and classes. Being the workaholic that I am, I had applied as a part time worker for the Mercyhurst mailroom. I and was able to make my own hours and work as much as I wanted. The mailroom was my work study for the years prior, so I had built a great relationship with the fellow students and workers there. I had another welcoming environment to surround myself that was also familiar. I never got nervous while working mail room, and I always had friends working similar shifts as mine.
Classes also became the highlight of my day. I had declared as a Communication major in the spring semester of the Sophomore year. After making it through introductory classes. I met professors like Courtney Lang and It was yet again, another home for me. I felt truly connected to the subject material I was studying. In tandem with making friends within the major. I was immersed in studying different facets of communication. This included video production, print and television writing, and practicum experience with non-profit organizations.
On top of that, I climbed the ranks of the on campus literary magazine, Lumen. Lumen is a multimedia magazine that publishes poetry and short stories. After racking up one year as a student editor, I impressed the department and was given the role as Lead Co-Editor. This meant, I was consulted for the design of the new annual addition, could submit content, and coordinate events for the magazine. I was in control of something so special to my heart, and I had the chance to take control as a leader.
Another highlight of my junior year was turning 21. I now have more access to the city and can explore the clubs and bars. Once turning 21, I found the nightlife of Erie, and enjoyed it with the friends I had already made. While going out, I started to make new friends outside of campus. It was even more liberating to cultivate another life outside of Mercyhurst. I had begun networking and It was an escape from classes and my social life.
Junior year was a beautiful time in my life. I made great strides in my career in communication, and as a creative writer. I expanded my social group while exploring Erie. Lastly, there was always a support system I had during the day. All this structure I was building around myself felt secure and invigorating. Junior year was certainly the highlight of college for me.
