As I grew older, I strongly disliked being asked what I wanted to do when I graduated high school. Whether it was asked at a family gathering or by a teacher, my response was followed by a disoriented look on their face. 

Many people in my small town of Demotte, Indiana, had no idea what a job in media looked like or if one was even possible. I was always faced with confusion and doubt, which, in turn, caused self-doubt and a dislike for the town in which I spent all my life. 

My plan originally when coming to Ball State as a second-year transfer student was to get a job that kept me as far away from my hometown as possible, but after three years at Ball State, I’m glad to be returning to my hometown to continue my career in media.

When it came time to start looking for internships and jobs before the fall semester, there was always an undeniable calling that was pulling me back to Northwest Indiana. It felt like I was being called back home, especially when I stumbled upon a local internship at Eleven Seventeen Media & Company. 

The owner, and fellow Ball State Cardinal, Ryan Flannery, and Tony Pagorek, the creative director at the time, were key mentors who helped me realize working in media is possible in the region. Through their knowledge and experiences as creatives who made their passion into a full-time career, I fully knew this was something I wanted to pursue back in my hometown.

I think the biggest fear many upcoming graduates have is returning home once they finish school, which may feel more so like failure than accomplishment. But for me, I would’ve felt a sense of failure if I wasn’t back home. 

My final year at Ball State made me realize it was not about where you’re working but whether your job is fulfilling or not. I would much rather work in a quiet, small town enjoying my job than live in a city dreading the time between clocking in and out. 

In between those three years, I also found that my career was needed more than ever back home, especially with businesses starting their own social media pages and websites. If I had the power to go back and tell my freshman self one thing, it would be to stop worrying because you don’t have to search far and wide to find your place and achieve your goals.

Contact Jacob Boissy with comments with comments at jacob.boissy@bsu.edu.

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