I started at the Daily Campus barely knowing how to use a camera and somehow ended up seeing my entire college experience through one.
When I first came to the University of Connecticut as a transfer student my sophomore year, all I knew was that I wanted to pursue a degree in healthcare as a physician assistant. While that goal hasn’t changed, my time at the DC gave me the unique opportunity to explore my creative side that existed far beyond the endless lab reports, lectures, and assignments.
So much of my time at UConn can be traced back to the small brick building behind Moe’s, where I spent hours every Sunday night picking events to photograph that week. Those meetings were followed by endless conversations and laughs with a close-knit group of students who slowly became the most important people that college gave me.
The DC didn’t just give me opportunities to build a portfolio of images or improve my understanding of ISO, aperture and shutter speed; it gave me a place to grow, build a community, and form memories that will undoubtedly last a lifetime. I learned to notice every detail and be present in the moment — skills that are not only key in photography, but also the heart of patient care.
My best college memories didn’t happen in lecture halls, labs or the library. Instead, when I think of my time at UConn, my mind floods with moments from the athletic facilities where I became passionate about sports photography, and most importantly, the photo office in that little brick building tucked away in Downtown Storrs that gave me a version of myself I didn’t even know I was looking for.
As I leave the DC and pursue my goal of becoming a physician assistant, I find myself preparing to leave behind the people and places that shaped me. I came in as a timid transfer student with the goals of continuing my academic success and building lifelong friendships, and it is safe to say I have done that and so much more. Somewhere along the way, I also became a staff photographer for the student-run newspaper, something I never could have predicted when I first set foot on campus. Looking back at my time at the DC, I can’t help but feel grateful for the memories I have made and feel excited for the future in photography I can now pursue.