As my time at Ashland University comes to a close, I never thought that I would actually be excited about graduation. But honestly, I have never been more eager for a new chapter in my life. It isn’t because I am excited to leave Ashland Ohio, the “world’s headquarters for nice people”. (This is a real thing. There is a sign on your way into town validating that statement.)
The reason I am so excited is because Ashland University has done exactly what it promised to do: prepare me for the rigors of living and working as a citizen aware of my global responsibility. Yes, they educated me in the fields of Marketing and Hospitality Management, but they have taught me so much more.
Ashland has taught me the idea of community. From day one, I have never had a professor who didn’t know my name, meet with me when I needed help, or develop an interest in my life outside of class. I have never walked across campus without a person smiling at me or a guy running ahead of me to open the door. I’ve even had men I’ve never met offer to carry boxes across campus for me, one of which literally hopped of his bicycle and left it on the sidewalk as he walked me across campus. There wasn’t a day where someone didn’t ask me how I was doing, how my classes were going, or if I had any exciting plans for the weekend.
Ashland has taught me the importance of being the best version of myself. The professors push you, pile on the course work, and give tough exams. But you never know what you are capable of until you break past the limits you’ve set for yourself. They make you take classes you think you’ll never need as a part of the core curriculum. Art history? Global Health Concerns? English Composition? I never thought I would need any of these classes. But I can now hold intellectual discussions if I find myself in a European art museum this summer and better understand the impact of HIV/AIDS on the children I am working with in Africa this winter. I guess it is a good thing I can write blogs well!
Ashland University has taught me to have faith in our generation. There are so many young people eager to make an impact. We have manners, we respect one another, and we don’t let people discourage us. If we have a dream, we will fight to accomplish it, especially in the face of adversity. We want to learn, we want to work, and we want to grow spiritually. We will out-compete anyone, win with humility and lose with graciousness. We will learn from our losses, get better, grow stronger, and try again. We are motivated, caring, and consciousness.
And most importantly, Ashland has taught me to live a life you are passionate about. Go out into the world and do what makes you happy. It could be building the best financial portfolios around, teaching the alphabet to preschoolers, writing the next best novel, or being a labor and delivery nurse. But no matter what you want to do, do it with all your heart. This is our time to accomplish great things!
So the reason I am so excited to leave Ashland University is because it has prepared me for my next chapter. Ashland has taught me what I need to know to succeed and I am ready to change the world!
