I never thought this day would come. I have dreamed of this day with both fear and excitement as I prepare for this next chapter of life. These past two and a half years at UNCW have been amazing, and I wouldn’t have traded them for anything in the world. I came down to Wilmington in the fall of 2012 after transferring from a small school in Virginia. I had come from a school where I was a student athlete and majoring in Business Administration. After realizing that I needed a change of pace, I made the tough decision, packed my bags and headed to the beach.
As soon as I walked onto campus I knew that I had made the right choice. I changed my major from Business to Communication Studies, and I have to say that I really didn’t know what to expect when I signed up for my first class. Everything about this major has been exactly what I needed as the classes I have taken have ranged from Integrated Marketing and Communication to Qualitative Methods. These classes have made me realize that I want to go into a career that involves marketing and advertising. Although this is a competitive career to go into, I know that the COM department has prepared me as I have completed various marketing plans, surveys and advertising strategies.
The days are counting down, as graduation approaches and I am suddenly both excited and afraid of what happens next. I am excited for all the new adventures that lay ahead of me, and all the new people I’ll meet. But then there is also a part of me that is afraid. I won’t ever walk down Chancellors walk with my friends, or attend another lecture in Leutze Hall with some of my favorite professors. All of the little things that I took for granted at my time at UNCW are now coming to the surface and if I could do it all over again I know I would.
Throughout college you make memories that will stay with you forever, and I know that my fondest memories have been made here in Wilmington. I may not know exactly where I am going to end up, but I know UNCW has molded me into a perfect candidate for whatever life throws at me.
Danielle Salas
IMC Hawks Blog 