As a transfer student, I have not spent more than 2 years at UNCW. However, my time here has been wonderful and I am beyond proud to be a Seahawk. I believe it is where I am supposed to be, despite the trials and tribulations. Anyone at UNCW during the last two years knows what I am talking about. If not, here are a few highlights and different ways that I got through them (or am still getting through them).
The wrong department.
When I first transferred to UNCW from Cape Fear Community College, I started off in the Cameron Business School. I knew I was interested in marketing but was completely lost in all of my classes. Things like financial accounting, microeconomics, etc. just weren’t for me. I did not feel a sense of community and had a hard time overall. Then, I learned about IMC classes and the Communication Studies Department. I quickly made the switch and, ever since then, I’ve felt entirely at home with my COM friends and professors! My advice to anyone not 100% sure which path to take is to explore ALL options first (especially before wasting an entire semester in the wrong place, like I did). There is a place here for everyone. We just have to find it. I sure am glad I found mine along with the wonderful friends that came with it.
Hurricanes.
Ah, the lovely storms that love to threaten (and damage) our beautiful campus. During my time at this school, my fellow students and I, have experienced the infamous Hurricane Florence, Tropical Storm Michael, and Hurricane Dorian. While Michael and Dorian did not cause us too much trouble, Florence did. That was a scary time for the entire UNCW community with school being closed, no one allowed on campus, copious amounts of damage, and a struggling community. I got through it the best way I knew how…by pushing forward. I stayed in contacted with all professors and many of my peers, stayed up to date on information, and did not give up on our school. Soon, everything was (somewhat) back to normal. The best thing anyone can do in that situation is to stay open-minded and trust that everything will be okay.
A global pandemic.
Whoa. Who knew this was going to happen? It has raised all sorts of anxiety, hardship, and uncertainty for many students. The Coronavirus is scary and uncharted territory for us, but the UNCW faculty and staff have dealt with it gracefully and promptly. One reason why I love UNCW so much – we have some great people backing us! With all of our classes going online, there are many challenges. If you’re like me, you simply are not an online school kind of person – maybe focusing is hard, there’s a lot going on at home, etc. but giving up is not an option. Thankfully, most professors at UNCW are extremely understanding and willing to help (especially those in the COM department). By writing down due dates and checking them each day along with staying in contact with professors, I have been able to get by. It takes a lot of strength, energy, and self-motivation but we Seahawks are forces to be reckoned with. We can get through anything.
Amongst many other challenges that you may face while at UNCW, always remember this: you are never alone, and things won’t be tough forever. I am blessed to have shared experiences with my peers, whether they be good or bad, and I am sad to end this chapter of my life in a virtual platform. All in all, I’ll forever love The Dub. Through the good times and bad.
IMC Hawks Blog 
Hi! I completely agree with some of the things you mentioned in this blog! I found that through all of the different unexpected events that have happened since my time at UNCW, I have become a lot more connected with my peers and have found a better sense of independence. During the coronavirus, I have stayed here in Wilmington at my off-campus house, and have been working. In some ways, I feel that going through the two different hurricanes prepared me for this latest school closure, and I have found myself to be a lot more productive and creative than I had thought. Thank you for sharing!!
This blog was very relatable! I also transferred here as a business major and quickly switched to COM. It was very comforting when I quickly learned how many others also have to find their path after believing they knew what it was. I love this school, even though I have not had a ‘regular’ school year, I wouldn’t trade my experiences here at UNCW for anything!
Reading your experience of placing yourself in the wrong department rung a similar bell for me and had me reminiscing on my first year as a UNCW student. As an early college student, I was certain I would be graduating in two years because of the maximum amount of credits I brought in as a freshman, but being lost in what I truly wanted to do always led me towards an impasse. This is currently my third year as a student, and it was not until the beginning of this academic school year that I decided to explore communication studies and what it had to offer. Since being in the department, I only wish I had known of the love and joy the department would bring me from the classes offered and the professors who make it great. I fully agree that you should explore all your options, and similarly yet different from you, I found myself wasting two years of school because of how uncertain I was. Thinking back however, I am at least glad I ended up finding the department that was home for me.
That is absolutely correct, seahawks are a force to be reckoned with. We have all endured many struggles during the last few years here at UNCW, but each situation has only made us bond together more as a university and as a community. I’m glad you were able to find the COM department staff and fellow students during your time here as a source of encouragement to continue pushing forward!