When I started my position as a student ambassador for the college in the cold winter of my freshman year, I wasn’t quite sure what lay ahead. I was in no way prepared for a global pandemic to uproot a large portion of my college experience and I hadn’t come to terms with the fact that the 4 years I was here were already starting to fly by. December of freshman year quickly turned into staying at home for weeks on end taking classes online, to a summer started early and then a masked beginning to my sophomore year. It felt like I blinked and woke up in an entirely different world. So much happened in those next two years, that sometimes it often felt like two steps forward and one step back. Mask mandates were changing or up for debate, there was still a lot of fear in the world and the uncertainty of my college experience made me anxious. However, being on campus and being surrounded by the amazing individuals of Nazareth college (faculty, staff, and students) made me feel secure and hopeful I would finish out my career here on the best note. That’s exactly what’s happening. Despite all of the change and craziness, I’m looking back on the memories and experiences so fondly.
When I graduate in May of 2023, I’ll have a bachelor of arts degree in communications and media on the public relations track, with psychology and marketing minors. I came into college with 9 credits already under my belt and was able to take about 15 credits per semester to finish on time. I had two formal internships that I earned credits for and I also took advantage of taking a class or two over the summer if I needed to. I did have transfer credits this past summer from Monroe Community College for a class I needed to take and the registrar’s office made it a smooth process to make sure the credits counted towards my degree at Naz. My advisors have been so helpful along the way and I have nothing but great things to say about Naz when it comes to my education. More importantly, I am certain that I chose the right place to become home. I’ve settled into the city of Rochester, with an amazing group of friends, and have made so many connections in the different positions I’ve had. I don’t think had I settled in another school or another city that I would have acclimated as well as I have at Nazareth. I found a job that will support me until I decide to pursue a career with my degree. Through my internship I built relationships in my field that I can use as references and I am confident in all the opportunities the city has to offer me.
This last year, I’m working on finishing my portfolio website with everything I’ve done during my time at Naz and I’m getting ready to apply to graduate school! I plan to join a master’s program for clinical psychology and hopefully further pursue a doctoral degree in psychology. While I’m not quite sure where I’ll go to school, even though I’ll stay in the Rochester area, I’m incredibly excited to start this next chapter in my life. Naz will always be a beautiful part of my story.
