Emilee Durkin had every intention of majoring in Business Administration at Onondaga Community College. But when she sat down with her Student Success Navigator Michele Carey and learned Calculus was a mandatory class, she decided she needed to go in a different direction. "We went over options and she (Michele Carey) thought I would be interested in Communication Studies."
Durkin completed her homeschooling in 2023 and enrolled at OCC that fall. She learned quickly that Communication Studies was perfect for her. "I love the program because it's hands-on. I've really enjoyed Professor Benjamin Miller's classes in Social Media and Public Relations. Those are really fun because you get to work with a brand. I took a Marketing class where I was able to talk to people throughout the college and present to them. I've also done Honors public speaking which I never would have been able to do before."
Her experiences inside and outside class helped her gain confidence and come out of her shell. She's a member of the Lillian Slutzker Honors College, an officer in the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, has collaborated with OCC Social Media and Digital Content Specialist Caroline Mooney on several projects, and given tours to prospective students and their families as a Student Ambassador. "I am an upbeat tour giver. I've been on college tours at other schools where the person giving the tour didn't seem interested. If they aren't interested, why would you want to go there?"
Durkin will complete her degree in May. She's applying for summer internships in New York City and hopes to turn her internship into a job doing something related to content creation, social media, or public relations. "If I hadn't chosen OCC, I don't know what I would be doing right now. I was in a rut before I met with my Navigator. I was thinking maybe college wasn't for me. After the meeting, I thought 'this seems like fun. Let's do it. I actually found what I want to do.' I've had opportunities I never would have gotten if I didn't come here. OCC has been amazing for everything in my life."
