As my time at St. John’s comes to an end, I wanted to reflect on the past three years and how Her Campus shaped this chapter of my life. I wish I could remember how I specifically discovered Her Campus; all I know is that I learned about the organization while in my senior year of high school. After committing to St. John’s, I found out they had a Her Campus chapter, and I couldn’t wait for my first semester so I could join.
In my freshman year, I attended the first Her Campus meeting of the semester. We made friendship bracelets and the executive board explained the different committees, including social media, marketing and events. But what interested me the most was the editorial committee. I’ve always enjoyed writing, but outside of academic writing in school, I never had the opportunity to focus on topics that I was truly passionate about, let alone get my writing published. From the first meeting, I knew that Her Campus would provide me with a platform to explore my interests beyond my major.
My first article was about the 2022 Netflix film, “Blonde,” and its exploitation of Marilyn Monroe, which is still one of my favorite articles I’ve written. After seeing it published on the Her Campus website, I was immediately drawn to the creative freedom of writing about things I was interested in. I have written over 30 articles during my time at St. John’s, and the passion I felt for the editorial process grew stronger with each new piece.
My involvement with Her Campus didn’t end at writing articles. In the fall of my sophomore year, I was offered the position of Senior Writer. I had never been on an executive board, so I was anxious about taking on this new responsibility, but I knew this would be a great way for me to step out of my comfort zone. As Senior Writer, I was responsible for collaborating with our Vice President/Editor-in-Chief to edit articles and pitch ideas to the editorial committee. After serving as Senior Writer for a semester, I was offered the role of Vice President/Editor-in-Chief. I was nervous to take on such a significant role on the executive board, but this was the next step in my personal growth journey of becoming more comfortable with public speaking and improving my leadership skills, so I accepted.
I served as Vice President during my junior year, including my spring semester, when I lived in Florida to participate in the Disney College Program. Since I graduate early, I wasn’t able to stay on the executive board in my final semester as per the university’s regulations, but my time as Senior Writer and Vice President has given me so much. When I first joined Her Campus in my freshman year, I never imagined that I would do anything beyond writing and attending meetings, so I am very proud of myself for stepping out of my comfort zone and taking this leap of faith. Not only did serving as a student leader and being involved in Her Campus significantly contribute to my personal growth, but it also provided me with a community that I would not have had otherwise.
As a commuter, I was worried that it would be a challenge to feel connected to the campus culture. However, from the first Her Campus meeting I attended, I felt a sense of belonging. Her Campus provided me with a beautiful community of women dedicated to empowering each other, while offering a safe space for creative expression and helping us unwind from the stress of college.
As I wrap up my final semester and look back on the past few years at St. John’s, I know that the thing I’ll miss most is Her Campus. From providing me with a creative outlet to introducing me to amazing people, I am so grateful for what it has given me, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.
Thank you, Her Campus at St. John’s.