Looking back on my time at UConn, I am very grateful for The Daily Campus. Although I was only part of the organization for a year, it was truly one of my favorite and most meaningful experiences during my four years. It introduced me to many events, talks and opportunities that I never knew existed and never would have sought out on my own. In doing so, it quietly pushed me outside of my comfort zone. When I started, The Daily Campus was slightly intimidating, but it became something I looked forward to. Along the way, I became more comfortable showing up in unfamiliar spaces.
Being behind the camera gave me a sense of purpose in spaces where I may have otherwise felt out of place. It allowed me to observe before participating and take in my surroundings. A large part of that was the people. From the beginning, The Daily Campus was welcoming in a way that made it easy to keep coming back. Our Sunday night meetings became some of my favorite parts of the week. They were something consistent and genuinely enjoyable in the middle of everything else.
I have always been a very creative person. When I travel, I am constantly taking photos, trying to capture the moments and feelings around me. However, my academics don’t always allow me to express this creative side. As a cognitive science major with minors in anthropology and environmental studies, as well as a fast-track Masters in Public Administration, much of my work is structured and analytical. Daily Campus enabled me to take this passion and instinct into my everyday life at UConn, giving me a space where my creative side could exist alongside my academics. What once felt personal became something that was shared. The images didn’t just sit in my camera roll but were published and viewed by others, becoming part of a larger story.
While I can’t fully capture everything UConn was to me in words, I know that the habit of noticing the small moments and the feeling of being part of something bigger will stay with me long after I leave.