March 2, 2016
It's been a tiring week. Monday we announced the 21st president, it's the last week of Phonathon and it's almost spring break for the students. Why has this made me tired? I don't know. My alarms were set for 5 a.m., 5:15 a.m. and 6 a.m. What time did I get up? 6:29 a.m. Yup, waking up to my alarms is a new issue.
A project I'm helping with for work has given me the opportunity to speak with students. Man, do we have a school full of great individuals. While I was a student, I was involved and busy, but I wouldn't say that I was anything more than an average college student. I was cum laude, Broadcaster of the Year, a scholarship recipient, and graduated a semester early. I wouldn't really boast these things or think of them as accomplishments others couldn't have earned. But, many people tell me how amazed they are for what I've accomplished while a student and since graduation.
Compared to me, there are many, many Muskies doing extraordinary things and not thinking it's special or out of the ordinary. Today, we spoke with an international student who was very modest. In a sense, he didn't think he was worth speaking to about his time as a student here. Man, he was being extremely modest. I won't go into details, but he had internships in two different countries (one for the United Nations), learned how to play football once coming to Muskingum and is applying for graduate school to make a positive difference to help countries communicate effectively.
Since we spoke with him, my jaw hasn't come back up. I attended the same school as a student who has these experiences? I can't wait to see him on the news being honored for the international relations he's been a part of to make this world a better place. There are so many students like this at Muskingum who are doing great things. I have four Muskie friends alone attending graduate school, two ready to graduate this May. Another went on to get a masters degree and be a school psychologist. I have another friend who is basically going to graduate school for free. Many professors have high honors and leading his or her pupils to achieve greatness, too.
My boss today told me she was proud of my choice to become a Big Sister with Big Brothers Big Sisters. To me, so far, this is just a way to meet a few new people and maybe put a smile on a little girl or boy's face twice or more a month. But, deep down, many of the children who are matched with a big see this is a blessing and as gaining a role model. I guess it just hasn't really settled in that this could be something big for another individual, maybe even for a whole family.
Anyway, the point is that I'm a part of a very great community at Muskingum. From alumni to current Muskies, there are some amazing people who I can call classmates and co-workers. Be proud of your college or university. Don't always doubt the accomplishments and goals you have. Of course you shouldn't brag all the time, but it's okay to take ownership when deserved. I am so proud to come from an institution supporting and nurturing future leaders and innovators. Hopefully, I can call some of these individuals friends, too.