A main reason why I choose to work in higher education is because of the people I get to serve. In my opinion, there is no better group to keep you positive than college students. I get to go to campus each day and be around people who are driven, happy, healthy, and optimistic. How do you beat that combo?

Working at Coastal Carolina University has exposed me even more to this special demographic. When I was at the University of Montana I worked exclusively with student-athletes. While athletes no doubt excel at the characteristics I mentioned above (you won’t find a harder working group), I immediately became introduced to a much broader scope of the college population when I started work at CCU. It was very refreshing.

Last academic year I had the amazing opportunity to personally interview over 100 students for a social media campaign I took on. By connecting with so many students on this personal, face-to-face level, I seemed to really get a special feel for the pulse of this university. Besides the 100+ students I did features on, I met countless more through the work I do on a daily basis for #CCUSocialMedia. The people I met and the experiences I went through made one thing clear to me about Coastal Carolina: I really like it here.

With that said, I am very excited for the start of the academic year tomorrow. Although I worked this whole weekend and am already in “full blast” mode, there is just something about that first day of classes. I liken it to opening day of Major League Baseball. There is just a special feeling in the air that is full of excitement and optimism.

The campus of Coastal Carolina University is beautiful, even when students aren’t around. But…

When it all comes down to it, I am mostly excited for campus to come alive. Students bring an indescribable energy to the table. Without students, none of us at CCU would have jobs. I personally prefer to have the people around who make it a possibility for me to enjoy a paycheck. I am also pumped to see the individual students I got to know and work with last year. They keep me young!

…I prefer when Coastal Carolina University is full of students.

From a professional standpoint, I am ready to unveil all I have planned for #CCUSocialMedia this year. Last year was an incredible, record-breaking couple of semesters but that means nothing starting tomorrow. The plan is to continue to push the envelope, grow our brand, tell our story, and stay ahead of other universities. Luckily I have a passionate student body of 10,000 Chanticleers who are really the ones who make our social media program such a success.

I have a feeling it is going to be another great year for #CCUSocialMedia.

Best of luck to all students returning to campus tomorrow. Thank you for motivating me. I have a feeling it is going to be another great year. Don’t Blink.