I want to preface this post with the notion that my grad school experience was one of the best things I ever did for myself. I'm a proud 2015 MACOMM Grad of Sacred Heart University.
After graduating with my undergraduate degree in May 2013, just like every other Class of 2013 graduate, I headed out on the interview circuit. I was looking for my forever career, at the time, thinking it was destined to be in the radio field. Where did I end up? Working at our local grocery store five days a week. Not what I'd imagined.
While working there, I remember scanning my customers groceries and thinking that I wanted better for myself. I worked so hard and graduated with top honors; how did I end up working at a grocery store? I went home one night and researched grad schools.
I crave a schedule. I love structure and I was always the kind of kid who loved getting and doing homework (at least at the college age). I searched and searched through different schools and eventually landed on the MACOMM program at Sacred Heart University. Lucky for me, they had an open house that weekend.
I begged my parents to go with me and let me tell you, they were not on board with the idea of me going back to school to further my education. I practically had to drag them to Sacred Heart that weekend to even look at the idea of me earning a graduate degree.
The MACOMM program was extremely structured and would be a tough program to complete. I lived in a Connecticut for a little while but my apartment became too expensive and I had to move back home. I'm not the type of person who doesn't start something without the intention to finish it and that's just what I did.
Every Tuesday and Thursday, I spent my days driving to my night classes at Sacred Heart. I'd get out of class around 9:30 PM and drive home, often times not getting home until after midnight. I also managed to work part time and devote time to my studies. It was not an easy year.
Sacred Heart University Media Exchange, May 2014
One of my fondest memories from my year at Sacred Heart was getting to produce the SHU Media Exchange. As part of the curriculum, the entire MACOMM class had to come together to put on a networking event for local students and media professionals. There were so many moving parts. I decided to apply for a leadership role and landed one as an Associate Producer of the Logistics Department.
When I got confirmation that I was indeed chosen as an Associate Producer, I jumped in as fast as I could. I learned a lot about myself through the process. I was in charge of fellow classmates, helping to develop menus for our pre and post event cocktail hours, planning the day of run of show, and much more. I also progressed in my leadership skills, managerial skills, and event planning skills.
Sacred Heart Graduate Commencement, May 2015
The nights were long and the work was tough, but it was all worth it when I signed up for my final module. I felt lucky that I got the opportunity to learn from professors who were once in my shoes.
One of my favorite things about the Sacred Heart MACOMM program was that the professors were industry professionals who also passed their knowledge on to the next generation by teaching. I had a great relationship with my academic advisor and we often found time to hold meetings, just to check in.
My final module for the MACOMM program included a class in video production. I really became passionate about creating mini documentaries. The eight week video production class taught me more about Final Cut Pro than I ever could have imagined. What started out as learning about different shots, my final project was a legacy project that is housed in the archives at the USS Wisconsin.
Telling the story was something I was always taught in that video production class. I proudly told the story of my stepdad who is a combat veteran from the Gulf War. He sat down with me and really opened up about his wartime experiences, why he decided to enlist in the US Navy, and what being a battleship sailor meant to him. It's one of my proudest accomplishments yet.
I never pictured myself in grad school, but when I set foot on the campus of Sacred Heart University, I found my home. I forever bleed red. From one alum to another......
Go Pioneers!
Signing off,
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