Faith King

I often make the joke that I decided to come to NMU because of the trees, specifically the pine trees. I was raised in a very small town in northeastern Wisconsin. Although many people picture expansive corn fields and family-owned farms when thinking of the Nation's Dairyland, the geography of northern Wisconsin is much like the Upper Peninsula—acres of expansive forests and miles of hiking trails. When I first had the chance to tour NMU as part of Wildcat Weekend in the fall of 2019, I knew it was where I wanted to be. Unlike many other colleges I toured, NMU was the middle-ground between small-town and city life. It was reminiscent of home, yet offered me the opportunity to explore many new environments.

In all honesty, I decided on my major in a matter of 15 minutes. At the beginning of my senior year of high school, I had no idea what I wanted to study in college. When prompted with questions about my future, I only ever had one response: I wanted to talk for a living. Many college advisors directed me towards communications or business, but I knew that wasn't quite the right fit. Yes, I wanted to talk, but I wanted to do so much more than that. I wanted to create stories. I wanted to establish connections. I wanted to build relationships. Social Media Design Management—a degree only in its first year at the time of my application—allowed me to explore all three areas at once. With cores built in Marketing, Public Relations, and Graphic Design, this degree has allowed me to gain skills and experiences in multiple disciplines. Although selecting this degree was a ‘spur of the moment’ decision, it has allowed me the flexibility to pursue my all of my interests at once.

Although I cannot pinpoint one specific experience, some of the most cool, interesting, and helpful experiences that I have had as a part of my major are hands-on and experiential projects. Whether developing a digital marketing strategy for a local coffee shop or coding a website for a French museum, these projects have allowed me to gain practical experience that will help me in the future.

On-campus, I work as a marketing assistant at both the Lydia M. Olson Library and the NMU Marketing and Communications office. I am also involved in student organizations such as Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), the Student Leader Fellowship Program (SLFP), and Superior Edge. One of the most rewarding opportunities I have had from these experiences is the ability to create my own Community Service Internship through SLFP. In this internship, I am volunteering as a social media intern for the Marquette District of St. Vincent de Paul. This has not only allowed me to implement material that I have learned from my courses, but also gain practical, real-world experience to add to my resume.

I believe “being Northern” is allowing yourself to experience things you’ve never done before. Whether it be a job opportunity in your future field, a volunteer experience in the community, or even watching a sunrise from the top of Sugarloaf Mountain, allow yourself to say “yes” to things that you have never done before.

For students who are considering coming to NMU, I would like to share the importance of creating connections at the university. Although you will see a new face on campus every day, you will also see at least one—if not many—faces that you already know. Form study groups with your classmates. Attend office hours with your professors. Get dinner with your suite mates. The most valuable memories come from creating connections.

Wake up early for a morning swim. Stay up late for the sunset. Walk to your favorite coffee shop. Hike up the mountain. Say “yes” to new opportunities. People don’t lie when they say these are some of the best years of your life. Take advantage of that.