My Waynesburg experience was truly transformative.
When I first walked onto this campus there was no one here due to Covid-19, but something made it feel like home. At this time, I did not know exactly where my journey was going to take me. I was excited about the medical field, meeting new people, and playing a collegiate sport. After a semester I changed my area of study to Finance. Throughout my years here, I tried many different things. Of course, it was not always a walk in the park, there were always ups and downs which is natural and has prepared me for my future endeavors.
Looking back over my time here, I try to remember who I was when I was a first-year student. I was ready to start a new chapter in my life, but was also anxious and hesitant about what was to come over the next four years and where I would go from there. I'm proud of how I spent my time here at Waynesburg, integrating myself into the community as much as possible and being a student whom people could come to for advice.
One of my goals in life is to put a smile on people's faces. I feel like I have not only been able to do that during my undergraduate but also gained the knowledge, experiences, and qualifications to be able to continue to do so in my professional career. These things have allowed me to do an internship with Sasser Restoration as a finance intern, going on for seven months now. Waynesburg allows you to make sincere connections with great people who want the best for each individual who steps on this campus.
Some advice I'd have to give to others is that everyone's path is different, and everything will work out the way it is supposed to even though you might not think so at that exact moment. Your failures in life will teach you to be wiser and learn more about yourself by the way you handle these things. You must embrace the moment as it comes, work hard, and most importantly, build relationships. I think that the one thing Waynesburg has taught me the most is that relationships in life go a long way. Whether this be friends, professors, coaches, or advisors, these relationships make you more engaged in your work, improve your potential, and provide support in times that you need it. The last piece of advice I would give is to be thankful for the things you have in life.
Now on to the next stage of my life - being an adult. I am not sure what is next. Waynesburg has opened a lot of doors for me professionally, but have not decided on what route to take. I have started my master’s degree through Waynesburg University. I am getting an MBA with a concentration in project management. I plan to finish that by the end of this summer. While doing this, I plan on moving back home after basketball season and help run my family’s business. Similarly to when I came into college, I am apprehensive of what is to come next, but I know the skills I have obtained while going to school here have prepared me to navigate this unknown.
I want to give thanks to everyone who has helped me throughout my journey. My friends, family, coaches, and professors, I value the relationships I have built and the support Waynesburg University has provided.
