By Allie Joseph
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I enjoy the beautiful outdoor spaces on campus, like around the fountain. |
Pursuing college may not be a straight line, but it can work out fine — with the bonus of what you gain from getting through the challenges.
When I graduated high school in 2014, I spent two semesters at a state college as a broadcasting and mass communications major. I realized during the second semester that I wasn’t sure about my career path, so I returned home to attend community college.
I tried out many courses from different areas of study, hoping to find the one that “clicked.” It took me a while, but I finally finished my Associate of Science degree in human services at Monroe Community College in December 2025. I applied to Nazareth for social work and was accepted, but I realized that I wanted to switch my major to communication & media. Making a difference in the lives of others remains important to me, and achieving this in the communications field is my goal. I anticipated that changing my major would be a challenge, and I was in the midst of finals during my last semester at MCC. Luckily, the process was uncomplicated, which made my transition from community college to Nazareth smooth.
When I transferred to Nazareth University, I felt proud of myself for getting that far.
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Group discussions and group learning are a fun part of my Rhetorical Style class. |
One thing that surprised me about transferring was how supportive the faculty were. During my first semester at Naz, I took five courses, including Argument & Research and Digital Storytelling. Deadlines are inevitable in college, but I struggled with the workload. My professors were patient and understanding as I adjusted to being a full-time student. They made it clear on the first day of classes that I could reach out to them with any questions or concerns. I emailed my professors throughout the semester for clarification about assignments and to touch base about my progress. When I received grades on papers that I feared I’d done poorly on, I was surprised to see their positive notes along with constructive feedback. This made me a stronger writer and a more resilient student.
I had high expectations for myself and the quality of my writing. I especially struggled with meeting length requirements for papers. A 10-page research paper was intimidating. One of my professors pointed out that I had a lot of strong points, and that I just needed to elaborate on them through explanation and examples. This simple but practical piece of advice helped me feel more capable and confident.
Now I’m in my second semester at Nazareth and am proud of my perseverance. I will graduate in May 2027. I’m proud of how far I’ve come, and I know that I will achieve much more before graduation.
Allie Joseph (they/them) graduated from Honeoye Falls Lima High School in 2014. They’re passionate about the Rochester community and hope to make a difference using the skills they’ve gained from their bachelor’s degree.
