Okay, I didn’t graduate yet… but I cannot believe I am getting ready to graduate in a few weeks. College, where have you gone? The thought of leaving Wilmington had not really hit me until this morning, when I was packing up my car with most of my stuff to go back home for Thanksgiving.
I spent my freshman year in New Orleans studying at Loyola University. Bourbon Street was fun but I wanted something else, something more. I spent the summer after my freshman year and first semester of sophomore year off finding myself in New York. While in New York, my parents decided they were going to move from Michigan to North Carolina by the summer. I knew I didn’t want to go back to NOLA and decided I would just apply to schools in North Carolina. I never actually visited UNCW; I saw some videos on YouTube, researched the university, and I knew that this is where I wanted to go. I am a firm believer in what you put out in the universe, you will attract. So, I would spend hours out of my day imaging myself at UNCW (this is absolutely weird, I know) but hey, it worked! I was so excited when I received my acceptance letter.
My two and a half years at UNCW have been different than I imagined. I came here with the idea that I would be a double major in Marketing and Management Information Systems. After two semesters I knew that, once again, I was looking for something more, in particular with my major. Also, side note, it was going to take me 3 more years until I could have graduated with a business degree. And I did not have the time for that. So after doing some research, I thought Communication Studies sounded interesting but I was not exactly sold on being a COM major. After being in business, switching to COM seemed like the easier major and would be less rewarding than business.
So, now that I am about to graduate what do I really think about COM? It is the opposite of what I originally thought; it is not just an easy major and it is more rewarding than I ever could have imagined. COM was the perfect major for me—I was able to take classes that I was interested in, got the opportunity to develop great friendships, was able get to know professors and bond with them, all while discovering my true potential.
Since the beginning of my college career, I knew that before I graduated I wanted to have a job with a company that had opportunity for advancement, a great salary and benefits. For the past four years in the back of my mind, this is what I have been picturing for myself (refer back to what you put out in the universe, you attract). It was not until this past semester in Ms. Chin’s COM 400 (by the way take her class, it’s worth it, I promise) I knew that I had a shot at my goal.
I applied for a position with one of the top companies in the world and got an email for an interview! After that interview, I made it to the second round and finally to the third and final round. I was in a real treat for the final round; I had a 30-minute interview, take a 15-minute test, give a 10-minute presentation and conduct a 20-minute role-play. I spent about 40+ hours preparing for all of this over the course of two weeks. I do not believe that I would have made it this far if I had not switched to COM or if I was not in Ms. Chin’s capstone class.
I have spent all of college preparing for this moment, interviewing for a job, and I knew that I was ready to shine. I was able to use what I learned throughout my COM degree to help differentiate myself from the other 35 candidates at the final interview. Most of which were business majors. My hard work has paid off and I am happy to say that I have reached my end goal. I have accepted a Sales Representative position at a technology firm in Research Triangle Park.
Coming to UNCW has been the most rewarding experience and I am so appreciative for the opportunities it has presented to me during my time here. I want to thank my mom and dad for their love and support throughout these years. I also want to give a shout-out to Dr. Bolduc, Dr. Olsen, Meghan and Debbie in the COM Department for hiring me as their work-study student for the past year and a half. I am going to miss the candy, laughs and especially seeing you all everyday. It has really been a pleasure and an enriching experience to work in the department.
So long UNCW, thanks for the memories!
-Carey Shetterley
IMC Hawks Blog 
Carey,
I would not have had the guts to go from New Orleans to New York to Wilmington. It is inspiring that you did not settle until you found what you were looking for, and I’m glad that you finally found it at UNCW. Congratulations on getting the job you wanted and on your graduation, and good luck in all that you do in the future!