The typical college experience is thought to be four years in the major you select and on

the fourth year, you graduate and enter into career field. I came to college thinking I had to know
what I wanted to study, and have my entire life planned out, but I am not the typical college
student because my path hasnt been a linear path from start to finish but a winding journey. This
journey has allowed me to learn much about myself and the world through my time at Kent State
University. Through my time at Kent I have changed majors, debated entering the navy, taken
several courses across many subjects, had several jobs, and am ending my time here with an
internship. Most of these experiences but some were tough times that required introspection and
perseverance and through this I am a well-rounded individual.
When I first came to Kent State I had a great interest in physics and declared my major as
Astrophysics, with ambition and eagerness to discover the mysteries of the universe. Upon
setting into my first semester I quickly learned that while physics theory was interesting the
hours of math that accompanied it was arduous and boring. Ive always understood math well,
but I never truly enjoyed it. With a course load with physics and calculus courses my first
semester I learned that I did not want to do this for the rest of my life. This is where my path first
diverged with the traditional four year plan, when I knew this major was not right for me.
Dejected and feeling lost since I now had no major in sight heading into my second
semester of college, I decided to take a variety of classes that would satisfy my general credits so
that I would not fall too far behind my classmates. This semester two of the classes I learned the
most from were Principles of Thinking and College Writing I. From these classes I learned that
writing was a strength of mine, and that I wanted to pursue something that had a writing element.
Even though I learned of this strength, I didnt feel like an English major was a proper fit for me,
and began to question college altogether.

This guided me to the next step in my journey of Kent State; after one of my finals I went
to the recruiter office and talked to them about options in the navy. I thought the navy would give
me an opportunity to get my college paid for and give me time to figure out what I wanted to
study. After scoring very high on the ASVAB test, I was able to pick any job that I wanted and I
decided I would go into the nuclear submarine program. With much pleading from my family
who had poor experiences in the military I swayed from the navy and return to Kent in spring
semester.
Still not knowing what I wanted to study but heeding my familys advice I returned and
pick several more general classes. The class that really struck me was College Writing II, as I
continued to build my strength in writing. The professor was great at getting the class engaged
with the material and was very passionate and knowledgeable not only about English but about a
variety of topics. One day in class he asked me what I was studying and I said I didnt know, to
this he asked if I had taken Intro to Human Communication because he felt I was a good speaker.
I had not and decided to take it in the fall semester, with several other communication
classes because I felt that a communication major may help highlight my strengths in writing as
well as speaking. The three Communication classes I took that semester knew that
communication was the right fit for me. These classes were Intro to Human Communication,
Communication Theory, and Gender and Communication. Each class taught me very important
aspects about the way people interact as well as teaching me about myself.
The Human Communication course was a speech class, in which we gave three speeches
throughout the semester. I felt very comfortable speaking in front of people and did well in the
class. In Communication Theory I learned a great deal about the way people communicate with
one another. Not only did I learn a lot about the way we communicate but I was intrigued as I

started seeing these theories appear in every day occurrences. Finally from Gender and
Communication I learn equality and gender sensitivity. The instructor Molly Taggart, was very
enthusiastic and really revived my love for learning. Even though it was a subject I wasnt
particularly interested in I was always excited to go to class. After this semester I knew the
Communication Department was the right fit for me.
I declared my major as Applied Communication, because although I found an area of
study I wanted to investigate but I still was unsure which career path I wanted to take. The reason
Applied Communication was the perfect choice was due to the fact that it incorporates all of the
areas of study in the Communication Department: Journalism and Mass Communication,
Communication Theory, and Visual communication Design. With a variety of skill, I felt they
would be universal across a variety of fields, as communication is central to all parts of daily life.
Now with a major heading into the spring I was confident as a student and started taking
classes to meet the major requirements. I was now on the right path and finally overcame the
hurdle of being unsure about my interest. This still left the hurdle of what career path I want to
choose after graduation. After taking Visual Design Media, I learned a great deal about graphic
design and got some insight into advertising and marketing from the create side of the field. I
was also taking Social Media Strategies, which also gave a good look at marketing through the
use of the wave of social media. From these two classes it became clear to me that I wanted to go
into the marketing field.
Now after three years, I found the career path that I wanted to follow, and was able to
gear my classes more towards business and communication. Some of the classes that I gained the
most from after I knew I wanted to be involved in marketing were: Fundamental Media
Messages, Organizational Communication, Exploring Business, Interviewing and Foundations of

Communication. From each of these classes I gained important knowledge that would not only
help me in my career path but in life, as well as become a better communicator both orally and
written. I could write much better, presenting my thoughts in clear and concise sentences and
speak in front of groups of people with ease.
The final portion of my college career is filled with a practicum with the Division of
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. This practicum has taught me a great deal not only about
graphic design, but how people interact in a professional setting and how a department operates
through its daily functions. In this practicum, I am required to hit the three areas of study within
the major Journalism and Mass Communication, Visual Communication Design, and
Communication Theory and I have met all three. Although, I have incorporated the three portions
a majority of the internship if Graphic Design Work. It is much different from class where you
turn in a project get a grade and move to the next. Now the pressure of creating the best possible
piece because it will be seen by hundreds instead of the one teacher. I have also gained insight
into the planning and organization required to put on a University organizations and the moving
parts involved. Not only have I learned a great deal from my internship but I have also began
networking meeting so many professional and experienced administrators could one day lead to
a job.
My learning has not been limited to academic learning but I have also learned a lot of
life skills that make me a better student, employee and person in general. I learned effective time
management, which is critical in an age where everyone moves quickly from one thing to the
next, with proper time management you can accomplish any task no matter the size.
Responsibility is also another great attribute that helps in all aspects of life as Ive learned to be

more dependable. These skills with the knowledge I have gained have made a very versatile and
polished individual and has helped me push myself closer to my career goals.
As far as the future goe,s I plan on moving back to my hometown of Dayton, Ohio and
began to look for Marketing and Advertising jobs in the city. I would like to work for the
marketing department of a University if possible because I have enjoyed my time working for
Kent State. The possibilities are Wright State which is the most likely choice or the University of
Dayton which would be much harder to get a job at. The important thing is my first job is with a
company that has a decent size marketing department so I can learn all of the tricks of the trade.
After I graduate I will still carry my student mentality because before you can lead you must
follow.
Once I have five to ten years of experiences in marketing I hope to branch out and start
my own marketing firm. I have taken some business and entrepreneurial classes that will guide
me on that path along with the knowledge I will gain from work experience. Branching off on
your own can be hard in this field; gathering clients to start up with is difficult. This would only
be a minor problem with my communication skills and sales experience, I will be able to gather
new clients.
I am not the typical student as my path deviated from the four year plan in the first
semester of being in school. I have finally reached the end of this chapter in life and I will
graduate in august and look to the future with ambition and determination to achieve the goals I
have set for myself. Leaving behind the place I have spent so much time will be tough but I will
have its mark on my personality and knowledge for the rest of my life. The experiences and
people that I have encountered through my time here have pushed me to be a better version of
myself and I know that learning is a lifelong process not a four year period.