Emerging Media Narrative — My Grad School Journey!

Embracing Uncertainty and Finding My Way

I didn’t plan on staying in Athens another year. A knee injury forced me to pause — to slow down when all I wanted was to keep moving forward. At the time, it felt like a setback. But now, looking back, it feels like the best wrong turn I’ve ever taken. This unexpected chapter led me to the Emerging Media program, and it turned out to be everything I didn’t know I needed.

When I started, I was fresh out of a world that had defined me for as long as I could remember. Gymnastics wasn’t just a sport — it was my structure, my community, my identity. Losing that after college left me in a weird in-between space. I was unsure of who I was without it, unsure of how to belong in a room that didn’t revolve around chalk, leotards, and routines. Add to that the pressure of starting something totally new, and I felt like I was constantly asking myself: Do I really fit here?

The first few months were full of questions and doubt. Everyone around me seemed so smart, so sure of themselves. Meanwhile, I was still figuring out how to introduce myself without leading with “I’m a gymnast.” But slowly — with the support of professors who saw my potential before I could, and classmates who made me feel welcome even on my off days — I started to find my footing. I realized I didn’t have to come in with all the answers or a perfectly laid-out career plan. I just had to show up, be curious, and give myself permission to grow.

This program didn’t just teach me new skills — it helped me redefine who I am beyond what I’ve always done. I learned how to explore without judgment, how to blend my passions in unexpected ways, and most importantly, how to be okay with the unknown. Not having it all figured out no longer feels like a flaw — it feels like freedom.

Thank you, Emerging Media, for turning a detour into a turning point — and for reminding me that sometimes, the best things begin when everything else falls apart.