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It’s hard to believe my time here as a Seahawk is coming to an end. After spending four and a half years of my life here it is crazy to think that I will be leaving. After my freshman year here I almost left UNCW to go back home and be closer to my family. My freshman year was hard; I was extremely homesick and not fitting in as well as I had hoped. My grades really weren’t that great and I felt like I had gone to college just to let my parents down in the end.

During high school I had a lot of really close friends I grew up with. They knew me better than anyone. Coming to college and starting all over with only a couple people from my high school was a really difficult transition for me. I felt like I had to explain my past to new people in order for them to understand me.

Luckily, my best friends, roommates, and family convinced me to stay at UNCW at least for another semester. I ended up making the best friends I’ve ever had here. They understand me better than my high school friends do. UNCW has helped me grow into the person I have aspired to be.

As I approach graduation I reflect back on my time here and I am grateful for the lessons I have learned. The biggest question I face is, “what next?” although I may not know for sure yet, I am confident I will find the right job in time. I feel society’s expectations are for us to get a job and start a career right out of college. I have to say, I don’t like it. I am only 23 years old. I see so much more to life than graduating college and immediately start working an 8-5 job Monday-Friday with limited vacation time because I’m new to the company.

My dream is to travel the world and experience as much of it as I possibly can before settling down into my career and family. If I could find a job that would allow me to travel everywhere I want and experience all I want then that would be amazing. For now, my future is play it day by day and introduce myself to as much of the world as I possibly can. My advice to those still in college, enjoy it. Don’t stress yourself out about getting a job right away. You have plenty of time to figure out what you want to do with your life. The MOST important thing is making sure you’re happy.

-Kirsten Pascale

It seems like just yesterday I started here at UNC Wilmington. Throughout the last five years, my life has changed so much. If you had told me five years ago that I would be graduating from UNCW with a degree in Communication Studies, I would have never believed you. For the longest time, I had dreamt of being a Pediatric Oncologist. I attended medical camps, took every science class possible, had an internship at the OBGYN, which might I add was still one of the best experiences I have had. When I came to UNCW I was still actively pursuing the medical career path. However, two and a half years later I realized that a career in the medical professional field was not the right fit for me at the time. Don’t get me wrong, I still want to have a career in the medical field, just not right now. We never know what the Future holds for us.

It is kind of funny how things change. When I first came to UNCW I felt so out of place, which was strange because I had dreamt of the day I would come to this school and major in Biology. After completing my first year at UNCW it was decided, I was transferring. Every class I took was a struggle. I went from being one of the top twelve in my class to a student who struggled to get by in each of their classes. After finals for the Spring semester of 2015, I applied to Appalachian State University and got accepted. I was so ready for a new chapter in my life. After spending a year at my dream school and feeling so out of place. The more I sat and thought about it over the summer the more I realized that I was meant to be here. I ended up at UNCW for a reason and I am more than happy that I did. I came back for my second year, again with my sights set on a Biology degree only to find out that it was not for me. I continually pushed myself in a major that I was not pleased with to appease the people around me. I was no longer doing something that made me happy. I was fulfilling these goals everyone around me had for me. It took me three semesters to truly realize that the only way I would be happy was to change my major.

Spring of 2016 I had absolutely no idea what I wanted to do with my life. I signed up for some general education courses hoping something would spark an interest and it did. I took COM 104 – Concepts in Communication Studies. Little did I know that this general education would lead me to find the degree I would graduate college with. Class registration came around and I thought to myself, “are you really going to give up on your lifelong dream?” So again I signed up for Science courses, and again I struggled. Finally, I made the decision to make myself happy. No more taking classes to appease the people around me. This was my future in my hands. So during the Fall 2016 semester, when registration time came I thought back to my semester of general education classes and I remembered the COM 104 class I took. I started researching all the career paths one could pursue with a Communication Studies degree and then I decided, this is it, this is the major I want to be a part of.

Even then I still had no idea what I was getting into. I did not realize that I would finally find my one place at the university where I fit in. I did not realize the types of relationships that you could build with professors. Nor did I realize the importance of Communication Studies. I remember sitting in COM 105 thinking to myself, “how much could there possibly be to learn about communication?” Thinking back on it now I realize I had a lot to learn. I am so thankful for this major and the opportunities it has opened up for me. One person that has made this major so special to me is Dr. Scott. The other night I was talking to my roommate about the people and things I will miss at this university. I said, “How do you express gratitude for someone that had such a monumental impact on your college career?” Dr. Scott, thank you. The only words I can say and they are the simplest. I cannot thank you enough for what you have taught me in my time as a Communication Studies department. You have truly shown me how much potential I have to grow as a person. Your strength in adversity is inspiring. You care so much for each individual student that you teach and it shows. You have so much knowledge. UNCW, the COM department, and I are all lucky to know you. Thank you for being a mentor to me and so many other students. If any of you are reading this and you have the chance, take a class with Dr. Scott. I took three with her and I wish I had the opportunity to take more.

To UNCW, I am so lucky to have the opportunity to attend here. I cannot actually imagine what my life would be like had I transferred. I have been given so many opportunities in Wilmington and at this university that I would not have gotten anywhere else. Thank you to each professor in the COM department that every taught me anything. Whether that be course knowledge or life lessons. The UNCW COM department is truly unmatched, but I may be a bit biased. To each student just entering this major, you are in for a wonderful ride. You are about to embark on a journey like no other. My only regret is that I did not find this major sooner so that I could have taken advantage of all that it has to offer. Good luck to all my fellow Seahawks.

-Kaylee Earp

The only true luxury we have in life, is time; you can’t get time back. This thought used to stress me out. As I transferred schools three different times as well as my degree. I felt like I was behind everyone that I had graduated high school with. One of my high school best friends has already graduated with her master’s degree in education while despite hurricane Florence’s efforts, I am about to finally see the end of my undergrad. As much as the thought of time has stressed me out, I have also grown to appreciate the value of time more than I have before.

I transferred to UNCW with my associates degree from Cape Fear Community College and the transition was easy. The counselors and professors were accommodating from the beginning. The transition from taking boring core classes to classes that interested me was exciting. After taking courses at two different community colleges, I had no idea the impact that UNCW would have. I have learned far more from my classes that apply the material than lecture classes before.

Over the course of five years, I have worked at the same job and through it, have met some of the most important people in my life. I have managed to pay my own rent for [almost] every month since moving out of my parents’ house, teaching me how bills really work unlike what high school finance classes taught. I learned to save my money, which lead to the ability to travel to Italy last summer through an outside program. I did not travel with anyone that I knew, but a group of people traveling solo like me. I met some of the best people on that trip and still stay in touch with to this day. I also learned how to buy a brand-new car on my own after my car was totaled over two years ago.

I suppose what I am saying is that there’s more to college than just receiving a diploma in the end. The people, the life skills and experiences along the way is what makes college so special. The quote from the mind journal helps put the importance of time into perspective. Everyone works at their own pace and some obstacles in life are all a part of the ride.

– Abigail Moorman

When I started here, at UNCW it was two and a half years ago. A lot has changed since then. There were and have been many many many ups and downs, but I can honestly say, it was worth it.

A year ago I went through probably the worst time of my life. I really couldn’t have gotten through it, not only because of my family, but my professors here in the com department. I have never received so much support and love before from any professor.  I will FOREVER be thankful. Again, although that was a rough year, I can say now, it was worth it.

This year, within a month I lost both of my precious fur babies. One’s name was Barkley (on the right), and I had him for 15 years, and Prince (on the left) I had for over 8. That was the hardest month. Again, through it all, my professors were there for me and were so kind and understanding. I surprised myself with the strength and determination to get through the rest of the workload. Looking at how much I’ve grown from it, and the unconditional love I had from my fur babies for all of those years was so worth all of the pain and heartache.

Here I am, a month after they have passed, and I feel like I can tackle much more than before. I have grown and learned so much more about myself in these two and a half years than I have ever before. It was worth it.

I cannot believe I am here, posting my last blog post. I did it and it was so worth it!

Thank you to those professors that helped me along my journey here at UNCW. You’re the bomb.com.

#GOSEAHAWKS

-Jessica Rohe

This is my last semester at the beautiful UNCW. Suddenly, I’m faced with the consequences of all my academic choices up until now along with the integral question of what do I do next? My college experience is seeming to conclude almost as fast as it started and I feel like I still have so much more potential to learn. A number of these factors lead to me making my next huge life decision, going to graduate school. Here I will outline the benefits of grad school for any one of you who might find that’s what they want to explore in the near or distant future given the opportunity.

1. Graduate school typically acts as the academic version of professional training, enabling students with the exact knowledge they need in their desired careers
2. Going to grad school is an investment in your own potential
3. Along with developing professional skills, you’ll also gain valuable professional relationships with the people you meet there
4. Gaining a strong professional network in your graduate work will serve you throughout your career desires
5. Gain academic recognition for your work and polish your reputation
6. Work with some of the best minds of your field
7. Personal growth, find what exactly you love to do in your field of interest
8. Financial investment in the future, U.S. graduate workers with a master’s degree or higher earn an average of $10,000 more a year than those with a bachelor’s degree
9. Make more connections!

In the field of Communication Studies, success comes from more than just a deep understanding of rhetoric and communication practices, it comes from the connections you can build and maintain with other people in the field. The people you meet can be the ones that ultimately give you opportunities to change your professional life for the better.

My personal expertise is in digital marketing and communication and this upcoming spring I’ve been lucky enough to be accepted into Marquette University’s graduate program for Digital Communication Strategies, the perfect specialized fit for my field of interest. There I’ll be able to make connections and gain further understanding of how to plan effective online marketing strategies and create more digital content in the professional work setting.

Graduate school isn’t for everyone though, it requires a great financial investment along with 1-3 years of your life. It also isn’t the only win condition you need to have a successful professional career starting out of college, though it certainly does help, going without it won’t be a detriment to your career. If you find yourself in the same position I was in, with a direction you know you want to go and invest deeper in your future, graduate school may be the path for you.

Explore any opportunity you’re presented with if it suits your needs and if none fitting are presented to you, go and dig them up. What’s important is following the path that will get you to where you want to be spending your future, and most importantly, don’t give up if that path isn’t easy!

*Graduates*:

– Jordan McFaul

Sources:
TopUniversities.com
USnews.com