My time at St. Norbert College is coming to a close, and graduation is inching closer each day. I can feel the nervous energy in the air, as my peers contemplate grad school, jumping into the workforce or taking a year off. However, I need not panic. I know exactly where I want to be, what I want to do, and how I will accomplish my goals. This is partially due to my liberal arts education, but also thanks to my excessive planning tendencies, as well as my Communication & Media Studies degree. Even though my college experience is concluding, my adult life is just beginning.

In my three years at St. Norbert College, I studied Communication & Media Studies, as well as Leadership Studies. I decided on this particular path with the hope that it would build upon, and improve my previous skills. As I progressed through the major I decided to specialize in the media discipline, based upon the fact that it seemed more interesting to me, and allowed for more growth opportunities. Through my experiences, I learned about proper communication techniques in small and large groups, how media is shaped in our current society, as well as the ways in which media may be used to our advantage. I used these skills in the classroom while conducting research on the effects of media on members of a college community. I explored the ways in which reality television programming influences the thoughts and activities of individuals my age. Furthermore, I utilized my media skills in a summer internship. During the Summer of 2019 I worked for a small insurance firm, Laura Burke's American Family Insurance, to help them develop a social media marketing platform. These experiences, though different, have helped to solidify my knowledge within the communication and media studies discipline.

In terms of a career, I would like to utilize my skills for the benefit of others, as well as the surrounding community. I know that my particular strengths lie in organization, communication, and the written word. I would like to work for a large scale company and be responsible for their internal communication. This means that I would send emails, compose a monthly newsletter, plan meetings, and do whatever is necessary to keep internal operations stable. Furthermore, I would like to be responsible for planning company outreach, particularly volunteer events. My strong background in event planning and volunteerism makes this especially feasible for me. It is important to note that I do not have a preference as to what industry I end up working in. However, I have been looking into the insurance industry in particular, due to the fact that women experience much higher success rates within this environment. I do not know exactly where I will be, or what I will be doing, but I know I am ready for my future career.

There are a number of reasons as to why I am ready for my future career, but the most impactful reason is my educational background. The past three years at SNC have been both informative and trying. I have taken many classes pertinent to my major, as well as many that I may never use again. However, the important thing is that I am walking away with a liberal arts degree, which both sets me apart from other candidates, and also means that I have a well-rounded education. Apart from the classroom aspect of college, I also picked up many soft skills along my journey. These include how to deal with roommate conflict, how to speak to a large scale audience, and so on. I am ready to deal with the challenges that come from the corporate world and am not afraid to stand my ground. Furthermore, I have taken many steps to establish myself as a professional. I have a perfected resume, an updated LinkedIn account, business cards, as well as numerous professional connections. The various skills I have developed, as well as the steps I have taken, all guarantee that my life after SNC will (hopefully) be successful.

In short, I am ready. I am ready to leave the protective atmosphere of the small college campus. I am ready to take on new challenges and opportunities. I am ready to cross that stage. While I cannot begin to put my feelings of gratitude and thanks into words, I know I will never forget my experiences -- my time in Boyle Hall will always stay in the back of my mind, wherever I may end up.