With graduation fast approaching, I wanted to look back at my time here at UW – Whitewater. I came here knowing nobody: no friends from my town, nor people I knew from other towns. I am now leaving, knowing I have some of the greatest friends a man can ask for.
I came in as a theatre education major, eventually learning that it was not my true calling. I ended up switching to journalism before my sophomore year because I always had an interest in media. My junior year, I added my second major criminology. I originally wanted to become an investigative reporter – someone who would research crimes for a newspaper.
After failing to get a news internship and instead getting an internship with probation and parole, I realized that I wanted to pursue a career in criminology. I then got an internship with the Walworth County Public Defender’s Office, where I fell in love with what I was doing, and learned that was what I wanted to do after college. I have been applying for jobs, and I am hoping to get one with the State Public Defender.
The Royal Purple will always hold a special place in my heart. It is where I learned to love writing and talking to new people. It helped me grow as a person and as a leader. I originally joined as the community editor, where I spent most of the year by myself in the section. Eventually, I became the managing editor, which allowed me to help grow the Royal Purple as an organization and as a newspaper. I want to thank Dr. Zukas for putting faith in me and allowing me to help out with the newspaper.
I also want to thank the brothers of Lambda Chi Alpha for helping me grow as a man and as a leader. I originally did not want to join a fraternity. I thought it was just about partying – something I learned through the media. However, I learned it was a lot more than that. I had the opportunity to continue my love for community service. It was also a great networking opportunity where I met many alumni and students of other Greek Life organizations.
Now, I am off to the real world. At the time this is published, I am in the job process of applying for a State Public Defender job up in Spooner. I am really hoping to get this job because it is exactly what I want to do. I get to combine both my majors and incorporate my Royal Purple skills into helping others.
My senior advice to everyone is, not to be afraid of trying something new – even if it is something you never saw yourself doing. I never wanted to join a fraternity, yet I did, and it was one of the best decisions I made here. By joining the theatre, the news and Greek Life I met a lot of people I never would have, and became lifelong friends with those people.
