Senior Reflection

From passing your light onto others to shotgunning beers, in four years at Wittenberg University you have the chance to learn many unique things that can take you far in life, but its important to keep in mind that your journey is just beginning.

When arriving at Wittenberg in the fall of 2014, I was young, scared and eager to see how the next four years of my life was going to turn out. I was ambitious and knew this was my opportunity to live the life I had always dreamed of. I was a member of the football team and loved every second of it. Being a student athlete means your schedule is always full, but I was lucky to have coaches that wanted me to succeed and taught me the proper work ethic needed to be a Wittenberg Tiger. After taking English 101 with associate professor Michael Mattison, I learned that I had a passion for writing, but I chose to major in communication because it utilizes my skill set the most.

Entering sophomore year, I had a newfound courage inside of me, because I was finally starting to figure out how the real world, and college, worked. I was named the captain of the JV football team and realized that I truly belonged at Witt. Wanting to become more involved on campus, I decided to join the fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta and learned exactly what it means to be a courageous leader. I accepted the leadership position of correspondent secretary and tested my abilities by controlling all forms of external communication.

Junior year, I decided to challenge myself. I knew I needed to step outside of my comfort zone and face new obstacles, so I could learn more about who I was as a person. After suffering one too many injuries on the football field, when the season ended, it was time for me to hang up my cleats and retire. It was one of the toughest decisions I ever faced, but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. It gave me the opportunity to explore my love for writing by becoming a staff member for The Torch. At first, I was scared to have people read my writing, but once my first article was published, it turned into an addiction. Later, I took over the position of Sports Editor.

Senior year was a time to gain experience and cherish every moment spent around the Wittenberg community. Each day you will cross off one more requirement you need to graduate, until one day your list is empty and you’re interviewing for your dream job. First semester it didn’t seem real, but as the clock ticks closer to graduation, every day I rediscover the feeling we all had during our orientation and when we first stepped foot on campus; the feeling that the sky is the limit and you’re walking in the right direction.

Wittenberg helped me grow in ways that I didn’t know was possible. Because of the values and ideas behind a liberal arts education, I am entering the work force more prepared and determined than ever. Although it’s time for the class of 2018 to begin the next chapter of our lives, we will never stop passing our light on to others.