My journey to the EMDD program was full of ups and downs, but here’s the short version.

I graduated in May of 2016 with my bachelor’s in sociology from Ball State, with a minor in peace studies and conflict resolution. It wasn’t until graduating that I realized I didn’t want to pursue research, diplomacy, or teaching for my career. After applying to jobs for months, and to the United Nation as a last-ditch effort, I sent in my visa application to live in New Zealand and work on a farm. With my travel plans all squared away, my would-be host canceled on me last minute, and I was left jobless, directionless, and New Zealand-less.

So I decided to go in a different direction. I started looking into graduate school. I looked everywhere from Vancouver, to New York, to Dublin. I didn’t find anything, and the couple of programs I was quasi-interested in were way too expensive. This was now late fall of 2016, and I was tired of feeling stuck. I looked into a few programs through Ball State, but none of them really resonated with me. As I was nearing the end of my internal rope, I was telling a good friend of mine how nothing seemed to be working out and I wasn’t sure what to do next. She told me she had a friend in this new program called Emerging Media Design & Development, and that I should Skype her about it.

After our conversation, I was sold. I had no idea a program like this existed. One that seemed to fit so many of my interests. I applied as soon as I was able to get my materials together.

I will always see 2017 as a year of change for me. I was accepted to EMDD, I got a wonderful graduate assistantship, and I started working at a brewery.

I still say that going back to school was one of the best decisions I will ever make. I love that I get to work with people with different interests, skills, and backgrounds. People who are passionate, tenacious, and empathetic.

And the cherry on top? I feel like I’m actually using my sociology degree. I’m the Research Director for the Water Quality Indiana team project where my principle tasks include similar-case research, demographics, and survey design and distribution. For my creative project, I’m using transmedia storytelling to investigate and understand how breweries deal with inclusivity and empathy with the hopes of creating a space where people can discuss and understand the differences that exist between people.

I’m not quite sure where I’m going next, but I feel more confident than I’ve ever felt.

(Shouts out to Alyssa and Aiste: I would not be in the program if it were not for them.)