When I came to college, I had a list of odd jobs that I wanted to try. I wanted to work at an ice cream parlor and a movie theater. I dreamed about becoming a barista and serving up brews for sleep-deprived college students. So when my professor Robert Quigley sent me an email asking if I wanted to work with him, I couldn’t believe my eyes. How could a professor I only talked to once want to give me, a sophomore, an actual job in my field of study?
I kept pondering this question as The Drag itself was born. Quigley was inspired to create a podcast production house, and we brainstormed different ways we could make it happen. We researched various podcasting houses and hired student employees. It felt strange when Quigley asked me to help interview candidates, most of whom were older than me, but I obliged. I felt similarly when I was given free rein to design social media and marketing campaigns with sizable budgets. I was just a college student. Why did these people trust me with so much responsibility?
Three years later, I’ve come to realize why. Quigley, The Drag and the UT School of Journalism don’t believe in waiting until a student graduates to think they are capable of achieving great feats. They have taught me that students can do anything they set their minds to; they have shown me that being young or inexperienced should not inhibit me from taking on real-world, challenging projects.
Beyond teaching me to believe in myself, my little family at The Drag has shown me how I’ll always have someone in my corner, that I’m never truly alone. They have been there to bounce ideas off one another, to impart advice and wisdom. They’ve also been there for celebrations and laughs. If I ever needed someone to lean on, they’ve always been there.
I’m forever grateful for my time here at The Drag and the people who made it ever-so rewarding and memorable. I look forward to seeing the mission of The Drag continue as more students join and learn that they don’t need to wait for graduation to change the world.
