Graduation Reflections

Mari Ann Loucks
May 1, 2016
3 min read

Walking down the hallways of the IRC has felt different this week, and even though it’s my last week of class at Ferris State University, it’s almost like I’m a freshman again. I can smell the summer air drifting through open doors, the busy hum of students rushing to their classes and the crinkle of people looking over their notes, quickly studying before an exam.

Next Saturday morning, I will walk across a stage, and be recognized for all that I have done in the past four years. These have been the best years of my life, and I would go back and do it again if I could. However, I would change a few things.

Here are a few tips I would tell my younger self:

1. It’s okay if you don’t know what you want to do forever.

I had three other majors before I decided on public relations. If I hadn’t taken all of those other classes and been a healthcare major for an entire year, I don’t know where I would have ended up. All I know is that I loved my writing in my English class more than any other classes I had taken and I eventually ended up in PR (with the help of my patient mother, and Google).

2. Get involved sooner, rather than later.

I didn’t join PRSSA until my junior year and my biggest regret was that I didn’t get involved sooner. The amount of both personal and professional development opportunities I had within the organization has been more beneficial to me than I could ever say.

3. The only person you should try to be better than is the person you were yesterday.

Don’t try to impress everybody. Not everyone is going to like you and that’s okay. The only person you should try to be better than is yourself. Continuously working on yourself is the best thing you can do to become the best version of yourself.

4. Make new friends.

Your best friends from high school are great, but they won’t understand how much you’re struggling with a presentation like the people in your major will. Don’t be afraid to reach out, and make new friends. My best friends are people I met because I had classes with them, and I couldn’t imagine going through college without them.

5. Make sure you are getting the experiences you need.

I was recently talking to an industry professional that said your experiences will always trump you GPA. Make sure you are getting those experiences. Internships, internships, internships!

6. Don’t forget to enjoy the ride.

These past four years have been better than I could have ever imagined. I have been so blessed with the best friends and the most amazing professors. School can get overwhelming, but don’t forget to enjoy the ride. These are the best years of your life. Make sure you’re taking it all in.

In the past four years, I have met my best friends, my forever friends and my favorite professors. I have decided what I want to do for the rest of my life, found what I’m passionate about. I have been on the Deans List for the past three years, and I was recently named PR Student of the Year. I cannot imagine where I would be without the support of everyone I’ve encountered at Ferris. Because of my time here, my life has been forever changed. I’m proud to be a bulldog.