{"id":59729,"date":"2021-05-11T19:12:12","date_gmt":"2021-05-12T00:12:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=59729"},"modified":"2021-05-11T19:12:15","modified_gmt":"2021-05-12T00:12:15","slug":"senior-spotlight-taking-a-look-at-some-of-fhsus-2021-graduates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=59729","title":{"rendered":"SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: Taking a look at some of FHSU\u2019s 2021 graduates"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

BY CARMEN FANNING
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Graduation season is among us, and with that comes a mix of emotions – nostalgia, excitement, and confusion. When college life comes to an end, it\u2019s important to look back at the journey and the lessons learned. Fort Hays State University\u2019s senior class of 2021 has some of the brightest individuals this world will encounter.
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Let\u2019s reminisce with some of them as they reflect on their freshman selves and the journey to where they are now.
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Anna Deal – <\/strong>Communication studies major with an emphasis in Public Relations and Advertising and minor in Psychology and a certificate in Leadership Studies <\/em>
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Deal is very active in campus life and her sorority Delta Zeta. Throughout her four years she\u2019s learned how important self-acceptance is. 
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\u201cI would tell my freshman year self that it\u2019s okay to not be perfect,\u201d Deal said. \u201cYou will find people who love and support you with all your flaws. It\u2019s also okay to not always have a plan and to just figure life out as it comes.\u201d 
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Deal won\u2019t be leaving FHSU anytime soon as she plans to attend graduate school at Fort Hays in the organizational communication program.
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Megan Jaminson – <\/strong>Elementary Education major and minor in Spanish<\/em>
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Jaminson learned college isn\u2019t about being perfect, but a place to try new things and be bold.
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\u201cI would tell myself to enjoy the little moments and cherish the laughs. It\u2019s not all about the big stuff, it’s about the small moments with friends and the good times. I would tell myself that I\u2019ve got this and I can get this degree,\u201d Jaminson said. \u201cPeople aren\u2019t going to remember the one thing you said that one time, they\u2019re gonna remember your personality, how you presented yourself and how you were with other people. College taught me that it\u2019s important to feel confident in who you are and everything you do.\u201d
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Jaminson\u2019s bubbly personality will translate well as she plans to start her teaching career at Windsor Elementary in Colorado as a third-grade teacher.
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John Egan – <\/strong>Finance major <\/em>
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Egan spent his past four years with an intention of cultivating connections with people. On-campus, most people might agree that John would meet you with a huge smile and hello.
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\u201cWhat I would tell freshman John: Be involved as much as possible on campus and in the community. There are so many opportunities to meet new people and make lifelong friends,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019d also probably tell my freshman year self to not gain the freshman 35 in one semester… although it is funny looking back on pictures.\u201d 
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Egan\u2019s favorite memories have been anything involving him and close friends. 
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\u201cWhether that be bonfires, playing spikeball, yard games, intramurals, movie night or going out  – especially Rose Thursday\u2019s – I\u2019m grateful for all of it,\u201d Egan said. \u201cAs Barney Stinson said, \u2018Whatever you do in this life, it’s not legendary unless your friends are there to see it.\u2019\u201d
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Egan\u2019s future plans include an internship this summer for Travelers in their Operations Leadership Development Program. Then he\u2019ll be returning back to FHSU in the fall to take classes directly related to his professional work before he spends the spring backpacking in Europe for 60 days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Britta Coleman – <\/strong>Geology major with an emphasis in Environmental Studies<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Coleman is pursuing her passion for the environment in any way she can.
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\u201cMy four years at Fort Hays State have taught me to have passion for whatever you do,\u201d Coleman said. \u201cWhether it\u2019s your major or your friends, have passion for what you do and who you\u2019re with.\u201d
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Ellea Ediger – <\/strong>Finance with an emphasis in financial planning<\/em>
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Kansas native Ediger hopes to use what she\u2019s learned over these previous four years at her new job at Swindoll, Janzen, Hawk & Loyd, LLC Financial Group.
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\u201cI\u2019ve loved my four years at FHSU and have made the absolute most of it. I have met the most amazing people and friends that I will have forever – including the author of this article,\u201d Ediger said. \u201cIf there\u2019s something I could\u2019ve told my freshman self – it\u2019s to be the person who always listens and acknowledges others. You know the people who always ask you how you\u2019re doing even though you\u2019ve met them once? Be one of those people. And make an early impression on your professors. You\u2019re not being a suck-up, they want to hear from you.\u201d
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Diane Nunez – <\/strong>Geosciences-Geography <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cDon’t be afraid to change your major. I think there is a preconceived notion that if you start with a major you should finish it and that’s not the case. I think college is all about growth and realizing what you do or don\u2019t like and if you want to explore other majors you should,\u201d Nunez said. \u201cThe potential for it to be anything I want to make it. My college experience is for me, my path, and my future, and I can shape it any way I want. Society makes it so important to define yourself by what you major in or where you go to school, but I prefer to see it as a chance to better myself and explore what is most interesting to me. It gives me the power to become whoever I want to be.\u201d
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Nunez will be returning to FHSU in the fall to pursue her master\u2019s in medical geography.
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\u201cThe biggest lesson college has taught is to not be afraid to ask for help. This actually took me a really long time to get used to because I am a very independent person. I used to think that if I asked for help whether that be for classes or for mental health reasons I would be looked down [on],\u201d Nunez said \u201cWhich is not the case because it takes a lot more to ask for help and being vulnerable. It’s okay not that you aren’t perfect at everything, ask for help if you need it.\u201d
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Carmen Fanning – <\/strong>Biology major with Spanish minor<\/em>
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And finally, as the author of this article, I couldn\u2019t help but reminisce over the past four years with my fellow senior classmates. 
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It\u2019s cliche, but these last four years have really flown by. It\u2019s not too long ago I was a small, nervous and awkward freshman. I would tell my younger self to fully express herself and go after the things she wants, to be her unapologetic self and encourage her to try new things. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I would tell her to literally meet anyone and everyone, beautiful connections can be made out of the most insane circumstances. College has taught me so much and brought me some of my favorite people ever. I wouldn\u2019t trade these memories for anything.\u201d
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I plan to combine my major, minor and love for writing and utilize it in the Health Policy field to work as an advocate for oppressed groups.
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I find myself going back to the infamous song Three Little Birds by Bob Marley. \u201cDon\u2019t worry about a thing, because every little thing is going to be alright.\u201d With every obstacle we encountered these last four years, we overcame. 
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What feels like the end is often the beginning. Congratulations class of 2021!
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