In May I will graduate with a double major in journalism and Public Relations from Northern Arizona University. While my graduation ceremony was canceled due to COVID-19 and almost all of us have been social distancing in our homes, the downtime has allowed me to reflect on all of the people who have helped me get to where I am today.

Four years ago I graduated from Sedona Red Rock High School, where I had worked my way up to become one of the editorin- chiefs for The Sting newspaper. We won first in the state of Arizona my senior year and throughout the entire process, I learned so much about the publication industry from my journalism teacher, Mrs. Maureen Barton, and Sedona Red Rock News.

Christopher Fox Graham, Sedona Red Rock News manager editor, was a mentor during that time, teaching me about the effective ways to write, report and design a newspaper.

He always kept in touch, even with his busy lifestyle, and I have since learned those are the kinds of people to surround yourself with.

After graduation I decided I would continue my education in journalism and attend NAU. Before this move, Sedona Red Rock News surprised me by publishing an article on the front cover announcing I won their journalism scholarship.

To this day it still makes me smile. Their generosity to award me this scholarship is still appreciated.

Their encouragement pushed me even more to do my best.

My college journey began in the Successful Transition for Academic Readiness, or STAR program at NAU for first-generation freshmen students. During this program I lived on campus for one month in June and took two classes.

On move-in day I was the most nervous I have ever felt. I was nervous about living with a random roommate, making friends, taking college level courses and using community bathrooms — it seemed kind of gross, and it was. My life was going to completely change, but I am so glad it did.

During this month I learned how to live on my own and prioritize my time around class and homework. This way, once I got onto campus to start my freshman year, everything was already familiar and I knew the routine.

I learned the importance of never forgetting my shower sandals, sleeping with the lights on so my roommate could study, and how to make my own air conditioner by putting a fan in front of an open mini-fridge — the summer months were hot and there was no air conditioning.

While these examples may not seem like “educational” items, it felt like I was learning more about myself each day, and I believe that is the most educational part about college.

Once the official school year started, I decided to try something new. There is a radio station located inside NAU’s Communication building called KJACK Radio. I have always been very passionate about music, so I joined the station. I had my own DJ shift where I got to play my own music, and even vinyl records, live on-air.

I really attached myself to the station and eventually became the Promotions Director my junior year.

What interested me the most about this position is the fact that I got to plan concerts. It was a dream to me: To be able to bring people together through music and watch them enjoy themselves was truly powerful.

Throughout my time as Promotions Director I planned battle of the bands, local shows, music festivals, open-mic nights and outdoor activities.

Every single event taught me more and more about the music industry, event planning and just how fun it was. So I tried to expose myself to it as much as I could.

I interned at Orpheum Theater, worked for NAU’s event company, Sun Entertainment, helped another radio station in town, and ran errands for Pepsi Amphitheater. I wanted to learn as much as I could to be able to apply my knowledge to the events I created with KJACK Radio. It became a full-time job and was the place where I consumed the majority of my education and learned how to work with people. From there I decided to add Public Relations as my second major so I could learn more about how to promote a company.

My last year of college then decided to sneak up on me and I still cannot believe how fast the time went and the disappointing way it ended. My plan was to apply to as many event planning jobs as I could during spring break, so I could try to secure a job immediately out of college.

But as the time went on, I watched concert tours, career fairs and even a music festival I planned get canceled due to COVID-19.

It is a bit disheartening to see my goal fade away, but that is the reality for so many of us at this time.

Even if I won’t be able to get a job in event planning in the next few months because of this virus, I know that there will be another time where events will be thriving and I will be able to contribute to bringing people together again.

NAU has since transitioned classes online for the rest of the semester and my last couple months in college feel shortened.

Even though it is sad to have ended this way, I won’t ever forget how amazing it was. I made friends with people who made me constantly smile, worked with professors who genuinely wanted me to succeed, and was able to learn more about myself by living on my own everyday.

I loved the entire process, even though it was hard at times, and I am so thankful for the support systems I had.

Thank you to my parents and uncle for always being a call away, my professors for being passionate, my mentors for making time for me and my friends for always making things exciting. You have all made me a confident person and ready to move on to the next chapter, whatever it may be.

Congratulations, Class of 2020.