Transferring to NMU: My Journey to Find Where I Belong - NMU Blog

I had no real idea of what I wanted to do when I grew up. I knew I wanted to go to college, but where? What would I study and would I be able to get a job with my degree? My path from high school to Northern Michigan University was not a straight line. I tried community college, I tried another university, and I finally ended up at the place where I truly feel a sense of belonging.

Hi, I'm Jessica-Ann Woodard (but I usually go by Jess.) Like many students, I transferred to Northern in the fall of 2021. But before that, I went to two different colleges - St. Clair County Community College and Michigan Technological University (MTU).

As a first-generation college student, I went to a community college after graduating high school. During my two years there, I earned my associate’s degree in marketing and I truly enjoyed my classes and my professors. The best part was that it was close to my hometown so I still got to see my family every weekend. My experience and coursework there solidified my passion for marketing and creativity. Even though the COVID-19 pandemic ruined my graduation ceremony, I knew I wasn’t done with college. I didn’t feel like I had learned enough to become a real-world working adult yet. I wanted to transfer to earn my bachelor’s degree but in what discipline? Where would I go? Where could I afford to go? And when I was finally able to narrow it down, was campus life going to be engaging or boring? How far away from home was I willing to go? All of these questions ran through my head all summer long.

Nearing the end of my associate degree program, I applied to a bunch of different colleges in Michigan and I finally chose to go 9 hours away from home - Michigan Tech - where I would study business management... probably not what you thought I was going to say, right? Well, I thought, “Hey, I can become a marketing manager someday, that’ll be fun!” Well, as it turns out, Tech is a STEM-centered school and I am not a STEM girl. Not at all! I am much more of a liberal arts and creative girl.

My professors at Michigan Tech were wonderful but I just didn’t feel like I fit in there. MTU just wasn’t where I was meant to be.

After a year of online classes at MTU, I found myself constantly looking at NMU’s Instagram account and looking at what others were posting about Northern. I was so envious of the student experiences, activities, and I was jealous that these students actually got to live in the beautiful town of Marquette. I remember thinking to myself, “I need to be there and I need to do that.” So I re-applied and was accepted again! Social media isn’t always what it seems but for NMU, their photos are just as good as it is in-person. The views are breathtaking and the atmosphere here is always positive.

I decided to transfer here with just one month until the start of the fall 2021 semester. I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to experience NMU for myself. I knew since my high school yearbook class that I wanted to go into the business field but I wanted to do something creative with it. Initially, I thought I would continue my bachelor’s degree in business management until one day I found the public relations (PR) program and did some research on it. The coursework and job opportunities that come with a PR degree combine business with creativity, which was exactly what I was looking for. With the help of my amazing advisor, Miranda McShane, I was able to use most of the courses from my previous two colleges and apply them toward my PR major and general education credits. I had a belly full of butterflies and the typical first-day jitters but after sitting through Dr. Jes Thompson and Dr. Derek Hall’s lectures, I instantly felt at home and safe here.

This is where I belong. It took me a while to get here but without having gone to St.Clair Community College and Michigan Tech, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Literally, sitting in the Marketing and Communications office in Cohodas Hall, writing my personal story for the NMU Blog!

I’ve realized that it doesn’t matter how long it takes you to get to where you're going or achieve your goals, it just matters that you get there and achieve them. For me, my goal is to be able to get a degree and work in a career field that I will be happy in. NMU is helping me achieve those goals. Every day my goals are evolving and I am thankful to have taken a leap of faith and transferred to NMU. During my short time here so far, I have taken advantage of the job opportunities that have presented themselves to me and I have made amazing network connections both in-person and online.