Hi there! I am Sydney Zima, an (almost) college graduate eager to jump into the craziness of the real world! Over the last couple of years I have learned how it becomes so easy to let others and society define who you are, but it somehow seems quite challenging to define who we are for ourselves. When I think about who I am and what I want to be, I try to look at who and what I hold close to me. I am an athlete. I am a daughter and a friend. I am a sister. I am a Child of God. I am a designer. I am a chocolate lover. I am a helper. I am a planner. Whether big or small, I use these things to determine what I can do to be there for the world around me; to find what my calling and true purpose is in life. Some days it might feel like I have it all figured out, and others it feels like I am back at square one. Despite feeling like we have to live up to the standards given to us by society, I have learned that growth through our mistakes and shortcomings is what helps determine true character.  So if you are still trying to figure out who you are, and are making a few wrong turns along the way, just know that you are always forgiven and can always bounce back. I am working on it too! 

 I am a Communication & Media Studies Major with a concentration in media; in addition, I also have a Graphic Design Minor. These two areas of study have helped me to learn more about who I am and what some things I am passionate about. For me, social media is a tool that I use on the daily, like many other people. It is something that I believe has so many benefits, but can also be used in some very negative ways. I think that social media has been created to have a poor connotation and tends to be the source of negative news rather than positive. One of my goals is to help people use social media for good. I believe that we have a lot of amazing things happening in our world, and we want to be able to share these things. Whether it be promoting a business, empowering groups of people, fundraising for events, or simply spreading positivity, I think that technology is a way for people to connect, communicate, and flourish together. 

Most importantly, I want to use all that I have learned in ways that will help others. I believe that our world needs leaders and friends. We have dealt with times of struggle and defeat, and will continue to do so, but if we can work together, we have the ability to change ourselves, our families, our communities, and our world for the better. We are presented each day with unique opportunities to do good, spread love, and make a difference in someone else's life. I am so excited for what that could look like in my everyday life!