It was about building me

If you told me at the end of sophomore year that the next two years would be the busiest, most transformative, and most rewarding part of my experience at Commonwealth University-Bloomsburg, I probably would’ve laughed — and then asked for a nap. 

Coming back from the Disney College Program, I felt like I had just closed the chapter on a dream. I’d spent months immersed in magic, making guests smile, and living in a place where fireworks capped off the night. Re-entering "normal" campus life felt … weird.

Slower. Quieter. I wasn’t sure how to match the energy I had just come from.

Although, junior year had other plans.

Not long after returning, I threw myself into new opportunities — ones I hadn’t even seen coming. I joined the American Marketing Association and somehow found myself stepping into the role of social media chair, where I got to blend creativity and strategy in a way I never had before. 

I added PRSSA to the mix (because why not?), and suddenly I was surrounded by people who got the rush of campaigns, content calendars, and the power of storytelling.

AMA provides their members with wonderful opportunities to visit marketing agencies to network and understand the marketing industry. We got the opportunity to tour WebFX — a digital marketing agency headquartered in Harrisburg with regional hubs in Michigan, Florida, and Pennsylvania — and I immediately fell in love.

WebFX came to a career expo on campus, so I talked to them to get more information on the company and what careers they have to offer. Julie Gardner, their talent acquisition coordinator gave me information on WebFXU. I attended this program in the spring of my junior year and handed them my resume.

And then over the summer, I landed a job with WebFX. It was one of those “pinch me” moments, where I realized I wasn’t just learning anymore. I was doing.

By senior year, I wasn’t done saying yes. I joined Dance Ensemble, a student-run dance organization. It was something I always admired from afar but never had the guts to try. Turns out, dancing on stage in front of a crowd is terrifying and thrilling and one of the best decisions I’ve made.

These past two years weren’t just about building a resume. They were about building me. From mouse ears to marketing plans, social media strategies to stage lights — I learned what it means to show up, to lead, to create, and to trust that sometimes the best thing you can do is just say “yes.”

— Mia Shrawder, a senior communication studies major at Commonwealth University-Bloomsburg with an emphasis on leadership and public advocacy, is interning with the Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications this spring. She is a native of Mechanicsburg who likes to run, dance, do pilates, cook and bake healthy recipes, read, watch Gilmore Girls, and watch soccer with her father.

#BloomOnward #HuskyLife