Bursting From My Bubble — A Personal Reflection
Fall 2019
With the time I’ve spent living in central Missouri for my first few months of college, I’ve come to realize that getting out of my comfort zone is how I will live my best life. This means expanding my horizons and giving myself the opportunity to live an independent lifestyle away from home.
I have lived my entire life in Missouri and had originally thought being just two hours from my home in St. Louis would be good for me. Ever since I was a child, I have had anxiety, which I took into consideration while making my college decision. This made the idea of staying in Missouri for college seem like the best solution for my mental health.
As weeks passed, however, I felt as if my college experience was nearly identical to my life before it. The warm sense of security I had going into my freshman year suddenly turned into feeling trapped inside a bubble I was unable to pop. I realized I needed to make a change in my life, and that change involved Marquette University.
When making my decision to go to the University of Missouri, I wanted to try out the college town lifestyle. However, it made me miss being in an urban population. It’s an environment I had always thrived in, so having the chance to live in Milwaukee while exploring my studies makes me ecstatic for the future.
Apart from this, the undergraduate population of Marquette seems to be perfect for me. At the University of Missouri, I often feel as if I’m drowning in the crowds of people on campus and in classes, making it difficult for me to interact with other students. I believe that I will be able to make a bigger difference with my peers at Marquette due to its smaller classes. This will likely push me out of my comfort zone, but this has recently become a goal of mine. New environments can be scary, but I will strive to make the most out of this change in my life.
Similar to Marquette, I went to a small, private high school and felt at ease being able make connections at school. I enjoyed having the educational benefits of a private high school and am looking forward to having similar ones at Marquette. I’m especially interested in learning more about its Jesuit community. Currently, I am pursuing a bachelor’s degree in journalism and, after taking classes that explore its different areas, would like to pursue my studies in the communication side with public relations and digital media at the Diederich College of Communications. Being a student in this college will allow me to develop my academic pathway, giving me practice through internship opportunities and support from my peers who share an interest of media. I believe the academic environment of Marquette will make me more attentive as a student and help me to thrive as an individual.
These past few months, I was able to better understand myself and my surroundings. I realized I need to burst out of the bubble I’ve lived in my whole life. Prior to this revelation, I thought staying inside this bubble would be the solution for my anxiety. But it’s more than that. It’s about the people you’re around, the education you’re receiving, the community you live in and the life you’re making for yourself.
The life I want to make for myself is at Marquette.
