As I sit at my computer and write this letter, I can’t help but think of how much I have evolved as a person over these last few years. I remember coming to Florida State not entirely sure of who I was or what I wanted to be. I started off my freshman year majoring in Communications and French with a minor in Arabic. I planned on joining the Army, so I joined the Army ROTC on campus with hopes of becoming a Military Intelligence Officer and a war correspondent, which is mainly why I began taking Arabic classes. Two semesters in, I realized that even though I used to love running track, I actually loathe distance running so my dream of joining the military was short lived.
Sophomore year, I failed a couple of classes and dropped out of a few courses, all of which messed with my grade point average, and even though I wasn’t too sure what I wanted to study, I knew what I didn’t want to study. I still continued taking the Arabic courses but when I got into Intermediate Arabic, I realized that even though I love languages, I wasn’t in love with Arabic and I no longer wanted to be a war correspondent. Spring semester, I applied to the College of Communications but didn’t get accepted and thought to myself, “Great. This is just great. What do I do now?” So, I switched my primary major to English with a concentration in Editing, Writing, and Media.
As a junior, I joined Her Campus during the fall semester and began working as a contributor writing bi-weekly articles. It was through writing for this online magazine that I found my true calling: writing. I learned how to write compelling articles and how to create attractive titles to capture the attention of my readers. I would later use these same articles writing samples for a public relations internship with Do Tell. I was blessed with the opportunity to attend Miami Swim Week and create pitches for various companies. The internship taught me how to write about the same product from different angles. Miami Swim Week made me realize how much I love swimwear.
Come senior year, I began writing poetry and although I had been writing for years at this point, I learned that creating poetry requires a great deal of skill. I took a Poetic Techniques course and began working on my poetry. I can definitely say that I’ve gotten better and now cringe at my past work. The beginning of this year was emotionally taxing. I was stressed because I wondered what would happen after graduation. Will I have a job? Will go back home to Miami? Will I work as a writer or in another field? Then, I ended up not graduating during the summer like I was supposed to which was rather frustrating, to say the least.
As I graduate this December, I’m not anxious, stressed or sad. I’m the happiest I’ve been in a while. I’m about to get my degree in English and French. I’ll soon begin my life as either a writer or an assistant to a publicist. I plan on attending graduate school in South Florida. I have a lot more planned for the rest of my life.
I’m ready to begin my life after Florida State.
All photos courtesy of Debbie Sanon