The beach. Always one of my happy places. It makes sense that I found my perfect fit when it came to college. Southeastern Connecticut became my home away from home for three years. I look back on those years with nothing but a smile.
After struggling through freshman year, I was desperate to find a school that fit me. While I did not have the best freshman year, it did teach me a number of lessons. I learned a lot about myself in that first year, mainly how strong I really am.
When I moved out of Nazareth College in May 2010, I was the first one out the door. I couldn't wait to see that year go. I was so excited to go to college but my experience was so awful. I hated every aspect of my own personal experience from my major, to the food, to the lack of friendships.
I began looking at colleges that summer and landed on Mitchell College. I won't ever forget the day that I toured the school. I fell in love from the moment I stepped on campus. The sound of the waves was excellent, the salty air smelled incredible.
I have always had trouble with math. In elementary school, I was always pulled out of regular math class with my classmates to go to resource room math. My struggles with math only got worse as I got older. I definitely knew I had a learning disability. During my freshman year at Nazareth, the very first class I took was basic math. I failed the class and that's when another major part of my shutdown began.
On the campus of Mitchell College, April 2013
Mitchell wound up giving me a gift that truly helped me excel during my college career. When I arrived at Mitchell, I was used to every college basically telling me that I was my own advocate and if I needed a tutor, I was in charge of finding and paying for one. I always stood up for myself but academically, I always struggled.
Mitchell was home to a new learning center where kids with learning disabilities had a writing specialist and a learning specialist who they would work with twice a week. I had to go to appointments and bring my homework or papers and the staff at the resource center would help me with them. Suddenly, that freshman who was failing out of classes was making Deans List.
While my grades were great, I wasn't excelling in joining clubs or participating in extra curricular activities. I figured that since I was doing well academically, I should also beef up my resume and get involved in some on campus clubs.
Sigma Alpha Pi induction ceremony, April 2013
I had taken COMM101, Introduction to Communications, with Dr. Catherine Erik-Soussi and I really loved the class. Dr. Erik-Soussi had asked to speak with me after class one day and I immediately thought I had been in trouble. Quite the opposite. Dr. Erik-Soussi was the staff liaison to the National Society of Leadership and Success (Sigma Alpha Pi). Because of my academic success, I had been nominated by a former professor for induction into the academic honor society.
To be inducted into Sigma Alpha Pi, I had to take part in all different on campus events and networking meetings. Being the person that I am, I also decided that I would go for the President Award. To earn the President Award, I had to do double the networking meeting requirements, submit an essay, and do some hours of community service. I got inducted into Sigma Alpha Pi and earned the President Award in April 2013.
I was also involved on campus on the executive board of Delta Alpha Pi. Delta Alpha Pi is an international academic honor society for students with disabilities. I was inducted into the society in April 2012 and elected secretary for my senior year at Mitchell in May of 2012. As secretary, I had the opportunity to serve the community at Mitchell and help influence the next round of inductees.
While on campus, I also dedicated numerous hours to running and operating Radio Mitchell. Radio Mitchell was where I found my family. I spent many nights and weekends in the radio booth producing my weekly shows. I covered many basketball games in the athletic center, helping to shine the light on our student athletes. I helped produce the first ever Mitchell College Evening News show on Radio Mitchell. I found my passion and love for the art of communications.
Commencement, May 18, 2013
Flash forward to May 2013. Graduation came fast. Those three years at Mitchell hold so many of my fondest memories. There were good times, stressful times (especially finals week), and many laughs. If the walls could talk in Moorings 22 and Moorings 32, they'd probably have a lot of stories to tell you. My years at Mitchell were good to me and prepared me well for the future, both career wise and personally.
The Thames River led me home to Mitchell and I will forever be grateful for the time I spent on her beautiful banks. There were lots of laughs, times where tears were shed, and I developed into the successful, career driven, organized person I am today.
Signing off,
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