Social media is not only an incredible tool for connecting with friends but also is strategically used by brands to reach a larger audience and increase credibility. Here are 5 tips to help increase your platform’s social media engagement.  

#1: Be Active And Post Frequently

Brands can use their social media bios to include, links, account names, and hashtags to increase their social media engagement. A useful tip is to include relevant keywords and thought-provoking content related to your industry in your profile. By following the latest trends, a brand can stay on top of what other brands or products their audience prefers.

In order to maintain a growing social media platform, it is critical to post new content frequently. That being said, it is helpful to set reminders on your phone in order to post consistently and save time. Click on the following link for another article to better understand social media scheduling tools, https://smusmc.com/02/14/2021/three-best-social-media-scheduling-tools-for-communications-professionals/.

#2: Set Social Media Goals

Your goal is what is driving your business and your brand’s social media strategy, and is the sole reason that you are on social media in the first place. Goals not only hold you accountable but also guide the road for improvement and success. “SMART Goals” is a popular goal-setting framework that can help create specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely goals. Individuals, brands, or large corporations can use the SMART Goals technique to set and obtain business or personal objectives.

#3: Outline Your Target Audience

Make sure to identify your target audience and or who you are trying to get your message across to. When defining your consumer demographic, it is important to keep in mind what social media platforms they most use, and focusing on the platforms most preferred. A helpful tip is to do some background research about your target audience’s favorite brands, influencers, and some of the challenges that they face. This allows the organizations to better understand how to make their brand rise above the others and increase their social media engagement. 

#4: Use Tools to Monitor Social Media

Social media monitoring programs provide data and analytics that prove extremely useful for better fulfilling the interests of your target audience. Better targeting and interacting with your audience leads to increased engagement, followers, and overall social media presence. Social media monitoring platforms such as Hootsuite, allow brands to analyze all mentions across their various social media networks in order to better organize their social media activity and engage with followers. 

#5: Create Personal Relationships With Followers

Another way to optimize your social media presence across your brand’s various accounts is to create relationships with your followers. Responding to customers quickly is essential for maintaining happy customers and strengthened relationships. When customers trust and respect your brand, word of mouth will spread regarding your brand’s products or services. Some useful tips for creating relationships with your audience are by addressing them by their first name when possible and being friendly.

By following the latest trends, a brand can stay on top of what other brands or products their audience prefers. With the use of social media, a brand increase their overall social media engagement while also reaching a larger audience.

58% of users surveyed by Instagram say they have become more interested in a brand or product after seeing it in Stories. Instagram Stories can be a useful yet often overlooked marketing tool that can increase audience engagement with your profile. It is also useful to help you sell more or spread information more quickly. Here are a few ways you can use your Instagram Story as a marketing tool to your organization’s advantage:

The Swipe-Up Function

If your organization’s profile has over 10K followers, you have the ability to use the swipe-up function on your Instagram Story. With the swipe-up function, you can embed a link to your story so your audience can swipe-up and visit the webpage. Many organizations will embed a link to their product page or their ticket site. This gives the audience a chance to learn more about the product, performance, or service before deciding to buy. 50% of Instagram users surveyed say that they have visited a website to purchase a product or service after seeing it in Stories.

The swipe-up function is the most important marketing tool to use on your Instagram Story if you qualify. Instagram for business accounts will give you insights into your Story’s engagement. It will show you who and how many people viewed your Story and how many link-clicks the Story received.

Additional Content = Additional Eyes

If your organization only relies on regular Instagram posts to get the information out there, you miss out on additional eyes that may miss your regular posts. Years ago, Instagram would show posts in chronological order in people’s feeds. They now use an algorithm that places certain posts in their feed based on other engagement factors, so regular posts are more often missed than before.

Once you have over 50 views on your Instagram Story, yours will be placed first on the list of Stories. Since Instagram Stories are at the top, most people will look at Instagram Stories first before their feed. It is important to create additional content specifically for your Instagram Story that is visually different from your regular Instagram posts.

Engagement Tools

Instagram offers a variety of marketing tools that will increase audience engagement with your Story. One popular tool is the Countdown function. Organizations can post a Story using a Countdown sticker to incite anticipation and excitement for the organization’s next product launch. Countdown stickers are most effective when they are posted within the 24 hours leading up to an event. Instagram allows you to choose the color or gradient of the Countdown sticker so that it matches your content. Just set the date, and the sticker will begin counting down by the seconds to your organization’s event.

Another popular engagement tool is the Question and Answer sticker. This sticker gives your audience a chance to interact with you by answering a question. Most organizations will use this sticker as a feedback marketing tool. For example, let’s assume your organization is a professional dance company. Posting a question sticker on your Story that asks for your audience’s feedback on the performance will result in engaging responses that you can share onto your Story for other people to see. If someone in your audience answers your question with a question, you can share the user’s question and provide an answer through video or type. The Question sticker allows for stronger two-way communication with your audience.

The Possibilities are Endless

There are many other engaging marketing tools that Instagram Stories have to offer. Hopefully, you will use this blog post as inspiration to help you get started. Use your Instagram Story to your advantage and begin increasing your engagement, growing your following, telling more stories, showing more information, and strengthening the two-way communication between you and your audience with these marketing tools.

Visual digital communication tools are more important than ever, particularly on the ever-important social media platform Instagram. But, it can be daunting to create graphics up to par without a professional. That’s where Canva comes in. Canva is a digital media tool designed to make graphic design accessible to everyone.

The Power of TikTok

TikTok has become a household name in 2020 and 2021. According to Business of Apps, TikTok has 689 million users worldwide. Those users vary in children, teenagers, adults, businesses, and brands. With a $50 billion value, TikTok has become one of the most powerful apps downloaded within the last two years. As a result of TikTok’s massive online presence, the app can be seen as an effective marketing tool for companies.

TikTok in Business

It is clear from the above statistics that TikTok reaches a large audience. As a result, many businesses and brands have taken to TikTok to promote their products or services. There are many different ways for companies to use TikTok as a marketing and promotional tool. According to Social Media Today creating brand channels and utilizing influencer paid promotion on TikTok are two primary marketing tools used today.

Brand Channels on TikTok

TikTok’s versatility attracts users of all different ages from around the world. Creating TikTok channels for brands is a great way to reach a larger audience. Whether the company is a makeup brand or a car dealership, the TikTok possibilities are endless.

Another great attribute about TikTok is that the posts are only 60 seconds long. Therefore making TikTok a great marketing tool to promote quick and interesting videos to viewers.

TikTok Influencer Marketing

Influencer marketing is another great tool for companies to use. Lately, influencers have used TikTok as a marketing tool when doing paid promotions for brands. TikTok allows influencers to post creative and authentic videos promoting a specific product or service. As a result of the large followings that influencers have, TikTok marketing is an effective tool for brands to reach a larger demographic.

The Future of TikTok Marketing

In conclusion, TikTok is a great marketing tool to use for any brand or service. The app is unique and allows its users to be creative and fun with their posts. Their versatility in videos is a great way for companies and brands to reach a larger audience to promote their products.

Social media is not only used for sharing, learning, and marketing but also allows users to feel involved. Understanding social media uses can not only allow a brand to better connect with its audience but also benefit from increased engagement.

What is Digital Communication?

Digital communication is characterized as anything that involves any form of online or digital communication carried out by an organization or individual. This includes all forms of media and communication that is necessary to maintain and manage the reputation of an organization’s clients. This communication can be in the form of an email, Snapchat, social media post, tweet, text message, blog, or even videoconference message.

Who Are You Trying To Talk To?

In terms of digital communication, it is important to keep in mind, who you trying to get your message across to. More specifically, who are your current and potential clients, what do they like or dislike, what communities are they a part of and how do they influence these communities? These are known are the target audiences or key publics. Knowing the target audience or key publics is critical in order to create your goals and messages, communicate effectively, and receive the most engagement and positive results.

Social Media and Usage

Social media is often used to keep in touch with friends and family, share photos and ideas, discover trends, but also is utilized to promote brands, products, or individuals. Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube are among the most popular platforms used by hundreds of millions of people daily. With the advancement of technology, these platforms have become increasingly user friendly, making instant digital communication more convenient. Click the following link to read another blog post about further understanding social media, https://smusmc.com/02/14/2021/digital-communication-101-where-to-start/.

Misuse of Social Media

Even with all benefits that digital communication can provide an organization, it can easily be misused. When creating a personal social media account, there is a possibility that individual privacy is lost, and that the account could be hacked. Misuse is also present when there are individuals, ambassadors, or employees misrepresenting the organization’s views on social media.

Monitoring Digital Communication

In order to best engage with your target audience, a helpful tool to track social media conversations, mentions, and feedback is to use a social media monitoring program. These programs allow organizations to better connect with their consumers, analyze sentiments, listen for mentions and reach a wider audience. The use of data-driven analytics is essential for measuring engagement, brand mentions, identifying strengths and weaknesses, and critiquing digital communication strategies.

In our ever-evolving world of digital communication and varying platforms, connecting with others is as easy as point, click, and post! But the amount of time, energy, and know-how can be overwhelming to a social media amateur. Especially, when promoting a brand or public figure. Luckily, here are some insights into success concepts for one’s social media presence.

Branding

We all are probably familiar with the phrase “consistency is key.” As emphasized by Forbes, consistency assists in laying the foundation for one’s brand building. This consistency in style, aesthetic, logo-design, and hashtags has the potential to become a recognizable name to one’s audience. Brands like Nike, McDonald’s, and Whataburger fulfill this with memorable designs and catchy slogans.

However, classics like Coca-Cola launched a #RefreshtheFeed campaign (2018) to reboot with a positive twist to promote optimism and kindness. Whereas, Lay’s took the world by storm in their 2019 Lay’s Smile Campaign. This campaign optimized success through product packaging, influencer partnerships, and storytelling. It’s even detailed in a case study of more than 750 influencers. Throughout their revamp, Lay’s stayed consistent in their products, mission, and hashtags to ensure public interest and engagement.

Engagement

Like Lay’s Smile Campaign, marketable branding comes with the need for engagement. To better understand this, one must analyze their current engagement. Platforms like Sprout Social can offer a detailed summary throughout various applications (i.e. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and the like) to better understand analytics and know what suits the audience. This can assist in narrowing down specific times to post, what content the audience prefers, and how to creatively evolve by creating the fear of missing out (FOMO). This FOMO and fun engagement are a result of giveaways, limited-time products or offers, brand partnerships, and celebrating holidays or a company launch.

Relevance

There’s no doubt that social media has grown within the professional field and has transformed lifestyles since the early 2000s. With the fast pace of technological developments, it can be difficult to stay abreast of trending styles and customer expectations. One cannot choose to stay stagnant in their own feed and refuse involvement in trends. Failing to stay abreast of the happenings of the world can lead to its demise.

As such, signing up for specific blogs, sites, or choosing keywords via Google Alerts can be helpful tips to compete with a platform’s algorithm. Furthermore, by publishing consistently, partnering with influencers, and targeting the right audiences, the brand will become notable and memorable. Some great partnerships with beloved celebrities include Justin Bieber and Calvin Klein, Michael Jordan with Nike, and Jennifer Aniston with Diet Coke or Aveeno, and the list could go on.

In the end, branding, engagement, and relevancy are just a few concepts to keep in mind when posting or redefining a platform. For more information on branding and setting oneself apart from others, look into IU Kelley’s School of Business Professor’s Tedx Talks.

Save Time and Stress with These Social Media Scheduling Tools

Communications professionals know how important it is to have a strong social media presence. However, maintaining this strong presence across several platforms can be overwhelming and time-consuming.

That’s where social media scheduling tools help. Effective use of these tools can boost your overall social media management process. Look no further – here are the three best social media scheduling tools to save you time and stress.

Digital communication is more important now than ever before. So let’s start with the basics. What is digital communication? Resaerchnet.com defines digital communications as “the physical transfer of data over Point-To-Point or Point-To-Multipoint communication channel. It is the transfer of discrete messages.” Digital communication is the cheapest, most accessible way to reach large audiences, making it essential to the quarantine lifestyle.  

The Digital Spectrum

According to Steve Lee, Digital Communications professor at Southern Methodist University, there are five categories of ‘The Digital Spectrum’: preparation, planning, content and/or channel management, monitoring/responding, and analytics. Preparation involves creating goals, measurable objectives, and audience profiles in conjunction with conducting preliminary research. The next step of the spectrum is to create either a digital communication plan or a quick (mini) digital plan to execute said goals. This plan should include content marketing, channel determination, blog/social writing, and social media monitoring. Furthermore, response management and customer relationship management are critical to maintaining a positive relationship with the audience. The last step is to measure the efficacy of the digital communication through evaluating the execution, monitoring the digital channels, and analyzing the analytics.

The Digital Diamond

The primary digital channels make up the four points of the digital diamond, each having specific uses. Starting at the top of the diamond is the website, the cornerstone of the digital world used for reference information. The second point is email, which is the most direct way to reach the public although it requires prerequisite permission. The third point is blogs that utilize their topical and storytelling abilities to captivate an audience. The last point is social media, perfect for its entertaining, compelling, and personal appeals. Social media is the driver providing a constant stream of content. Next week, we will dive into the most important social media channels when building your brand.

When the pandemic first started, schools, institutions, and organizations adopted Zoom as a means of meeting online. Over the past year, we have seen and heard many embarrassing stories about users with their microphone or camera on, users stuck with virtual face filters, and users who had nonsense going on in their backgrounds. We can obtain professionalism on Zoom with more robust user knowledge. Here is how to disable filters and apply backgrounds on Zoom so you can avoid embarrassment in your next interview or meeting:

Is your lawyer a cat?

This week, a lawyer appeared as a white kitten on Zoom for a live court proceeding in Texas. He had logged on to Zoom from his assistant’s laptop, which his assistant’s daughter had previously used to play with Zoom filters. Attorney Rob Poston announced that he could move forward with the hearing as a cat, but he eventually got the filter off with guidance from his assistant and the judge.

Face filters on Zoom are fun to play with, but before you log onto your next important meeting, make sure that the filters are disabled.

How to disable filters on Zoom:

1. Hover your mouse over Stop Video. 
2. Click on the upwards carrot next to Stop Video.
3. Click on Choose Video Filter. 
4. Select None. 

What does your Zoom background say about you?

Do you feel like you have a dark cloud looming over you when you are on Zoom? It might be the enormous dark-colored oil painting in the background above your head. You could solve that problem by taking the oil painting down or moving to a different location in your home. But what about the inevitable and unexpected distractions that come from your background?

If your goal is to keep your home-life private or keep your audience free from the unavoidable distractions in your background, Zoom backgrounds can help. Zoom backgrounds act as a green screen to help other users focus on you and take away minor distractions. Zoom backgrounds add an element of fun or professionalism. Make sure not to choose a background that is too distracting, which would defeat the purpose of a Zoom background. Zoom backgrounds are not hard to find; you can select one of your photos, search for “Zoom backgrounds,” or choose one of these to download:

After you have chosen a professional background, here is how to apply it on Zoom:

1. Hover your mouse over Stop Video. 
2. Click on the upwards carrot next to Stop Video. 
3. Click on Choose Virtual Background.
4. Click on the plus sign to add an image or video. 
5. Upload the image or video you want to use as your background.

Before your next meeting, check your Personal Meeting Room.

If you are worried that a filter or a non-professional background was recently used your computer, enter into your Personal Meeting Room on Zoom and disable filters and apply backgrounds to meet your professional standards.

Instagram’s newest algorithm is being as well-received as losing an hour of daylight in November – that is, it’s not being well-received at all.

Word of a new algorithm started circulating among the social media influencer community last week. Influencers like Cameron Rogers of @freckledfoodie and Danielle Berstein of @weworewhat took to their profiles to let their followers know that Instagram’s newest algorithm likely meant that followers wouldn’t come across their content as frequently anymore. For influencers, or for anyone that makes money off of Instagram, for that matter, this threatens the engagement rate of their posts. Cameron Rogers reposted an Instagram from the account @shityoushouldcareabout instructing her followers on the best way to engage with her posts in order to keep engagement up amongst the new algorithm change.

So, what exactly is Instagram’s newest algorithm going to mean for the average, run-of-the-mill user? According to a social media managing website, Mavsocial, the algorithm is supposed to show you the content by the people that you actually care about: “Their idea is to show you posts that could be most valuable to you based on your previous activity.”

It’s unclear exactly when the new algorithm is going live and how different it’s going to be from the current algorithm, but if you want to make sure that your or your clients’ posts continue to have high engagement on Instagram, you need to educate your followers on how they can best interact with your posts.

1. Saves. The save functionality on a post is the biggest factor affecting engagement rate.
2. Shares. Instruct your followers that direct messaging your posts to other users on the platform is another great way to keep engagement high.
3. Comments. Interacting with a post via commenting is another great way to show influencers support.
4. Likes. Likes are the fourth and least impactful way to increase engagement. Encourage your followers to keep on liking, but let them know that the first three steps are even more important.

Instagram has become notorious for switching up its algorithm when users are least expecting it, so it’s best that you stay up to date on how the app changes on a regular basis. As far as Instagram’s newest algorithm, encourage your followers to follow the four steps of engagement, and continue to support your favorite influencers as well by doing the same.   

Social Media in the pandemic

Social media usage has exploded in the last year as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The rise of TikTok specifically can be attributed to thousands of people stuck home during lockdowns looking for a source of entertainment. According to Business.com, “July 2020 saw a rise of 10.5% in social media usage compared to July 2019”. They also note that 46% of women and 41% of men said they had spent more time on social media.

The Rise of TikTok

The rise of TikTok is one example of how a social media platform saw a massive influx in users due to the COVID-19 pandemic. TikTok allowed people worldwide to come together on one platform to share dances, recipes, and fun videos. According to The Drum, “TikTok has now surpassed 2 billion all-time global downloads across IOS and Android users”. This is an incredible accomplishment. The Drum also notes that TikTok was one of the most downloaded apps in a singular quarter. The rise of TikTok came out of people stuck at home in isolation looking for entertainment and fun. 

Looking into the Future

TikTok has continued to rise as a dominant social media platform going into 2021. It is used as a source of entertainment and now an advertising and marketing tool for companies. The short, clipped videos created on TikTok are a great way to grab the browsers’ short attention span. Many brands are now using TikTok as a way of influencer marketing. It will be interesting to see if TikTok will be as prominent as it was in the pandemic’s first 2020 lockdown.

Staying Connected and Having Fun

Without social media, people worldwide are unable to stay connected. As COVID-19 is still dominating much of the world, people are still facing lockdowns. Social media, especially TikTok, has allowed many to stay connected while isolated in their homes.

The rise of TikTok has brought laughter, inclusion, and fun to the COVID-19 pandemic. Without TikTok, quarantine might have looked very different. 

Where has the time gone? Looking back at the past four years and my time and highlights at SMU I could not have picked a better school. I can say with confidence that SMU is a very special place, and the friends I have made will last me a lifetime. It feels like yesterday when I was moving into Armstrong and setting into my new college home and the place I would come to love so much. I cannot believe it is almost already over. 

My Time and Highlights At SMU

Throughout my time and highlights at SMU I have been able to do some pretty cool things that have given me memories I will never forget.

Tri Delta

First off, I had the opportunity to join a sorority. My mom still talks about her college days as a Zeta. That was an opportunity I was hoping to gain out of my college experience. Through Tri Delt I was about to meet my best friends. These girls are my go-to people will without a doubt be in my wedding one day. They have been there through the good, bad, and amazing times that college has brought. Tri Delt also enriched me through community service and giving back. I was able to help sick kids at St. Jude and ensure that we are on the path to finding a cure for childhood cancer. I was also able to become a mentor for younger girls and help them navigate the challenges that college can bring. I will forever be grateful for what Tri Delt has given me. 

Study Abroad

Secondly, SMU gave me the opportunity to study abroad. This will forever be one of the best experiences of my life and in my time at SMU. I lived in Barcelona, right in the heart of the city, and I was able to travel almost every weekend. The people I met and the cultures I experienced will stay with me forever. After visiting 12 different countries I can confidently say that this world is one amazing place. I am so thankful that SMU gave me the chance to study abroad and for my parents for allowing me to have this opportunity. 

I am not ready. That is the best way I can put it. I am not ready to graduate, grow up, and have to move on from this amazing experience. I am so sad to leave SMU but the memories I have made will stay with me forever. 

I never imagined the second half of my junior year would be spent at home. When I thought of spring semester, I envisioned helpful class sessions, time with friends, and weekends to remember. Remote learning has been an adjustment for us all, but for me, it has been a lesson in gratitude.

Remote Learning Realizations

I am guilty, like most college students, of dreading an early morning class or a long meeting. Many days, I wanted to fast-forward and just “get to the end.” I was dragging at the start of spring semester. I wanted easier classes. I did not appreciate my walks to class, and I took days for granted.

Then, everything was pulled from underneath us.

Now I was lucky to get to see teachers and friends in tiny virtual boxes on zoom. Class time became lackluster. Consequently, my learning took a hit.

I missed grind sessions in the library. I missed the gratifying feeling after finishing night class. Longing for my wonderful teachers, I started to realize how good I had it.

A New Outlook

Since Coronavirus and the onset of remote learning, I have a new perspective. I know it is cliche to say that every day is a gift, but it is. I cannot wait to walk back on to SMU’s campus next year and savor every day. Savor conversations with teachers. Savor our beautiful surroundings. And yes, even savor taking tests.

I am grateful for the lessons remote learning has taught me. Not necessarily the ones having to do with coursework, but the life lessons. I want to make my last year count. Going forward, I cannot wait to appreciate every in-person class.

We do not know how good we have it until it’s gone. Let your Coronavirus experience be a reminder of what we are grateful for.

I am a member of the graduating class of 2020. Some might call us, the class of COVID-19. As my experience at SMU comes to an end, I cherish my 3.5 years on campus and last half virtually. When my journey began, I was a California girl. My identity was made from beaches, flip flops and In and Out Burger. The thought of home meant a drive down Pacific Coast Highway with the radio blasting and the windows rolled down. When I moved to Texas, I questioned my decision and happiness. However, my unhappiness could have been provoked by the size of my dorm room. All I knew was that this California girl wasn’t ready to become a Southern Belle. Boy, was I wrong!

Finding My Voice

Growing up, I was known as Jim Irwin’s granddaughter. To Green Bay Packer fans, Jim Irwin was the voice screaming the play by play during Sunday night football. What I learned by sitting in the broadcast booth beside him is that passionate communication moves people. During my experience at SMU, I knew I wanted my voice to have the same effect. Luckily, I found it in my majors, Corporate Communication and Public Relations. Professors turned into mentors as they challenged me to take leadership roles. With each semester, my confidence grew as did my success. My voice has been strengthened and will continue to represent SMU CCPA with pride. And if you ever are lucky enough to cross paths with Steve and Gwen, cherish it!

Looking Ahead

Although graduation has been postponed and several last senior moments have been taken, I am choosing to move forward while honoring my experience at SMU. 4 years have shaped me into a prepared young woman and most importantly, a professional elated to join the real world. I have accepted a job in Dallas working as an Executive Associate in Communications. A classmate within CCPA has turned into a best friend and now future roommate as we both tackle our next chapters together. SMU has truly given me everything which is hard to put in words as I type my final assignment of my senior year. When I press submit, college will be over but the relationships I formed and confidence I gained won’t ever leave my side.

Forever a Mustang

When I reference home now, it’s on the hilltop. My identity has transformed and consists of BBQ, tex-mex and line dancing. My late night snack is a honey butter chicken biscuit. SMU converted another Southern Belle and for that, I am forever thankful. My experience at SMU has come to an end, but my time in Dallas is only just beginning. Pony Up forever!

Looking back on my time at SMU, I can vividly remember my first moments as a Mustang. On the first day of classes freshman year, I walked across campus knowing only one thing to be certain: I didn’t know anybody. I bravely entered SMU with one friend, my roommate who I had met on my admitted students tour in the spring. Who should I sit with in class? Should I eat peanut butter pretzels for lunch again? Do I wear Vans or Nikes? Who is Professor Sloan? What’s the difference between the Fondren Science and Dedman Life Sciences buildings anyway? These are the types of questions that ran through my head.

Experiencing Freshman Moments

Each person I met became a contender for my future best friend. As I marched past the Cox Business School, I was confident that I would one day be a Marketing major. I took my semester day by day. I was thriving off of the opportunity to make new friends, but secretly relished the moments I could spend escaping the Texas heat and decompressing in my air conditioned dorm room. My first semester was certainly unsettling and uncomfortable, but I just smiled and enjoyed the chaos of my college campus. “I’m a freshman at SMU,” I proudly told everyone I met.

As it turns out, I have made meaningful friendships in my classes. I don’t like peanut butter pretzels very much. Nikes became my preferred shoes to wear to class. I ended up avoiding both Fondren Science and Dedman Life Sciences as much as possible. Professor Sloan, my DISC professor, is still one of my favorite professors and made me the confident writer that I am today. I ran away from the Marketing program in pursuit of my true passion: CCPA. I am two weeks away from completing three majors.

Achieving Comfort and Confidence

I can’t quite articulate the moment when it happened, but one day I stopped having to make an effort to find familiar faces as I walked to my classes. Older girls took me under their wings. I progressed through the UC curriculum and began to focus on my major. I participated in on-campus activities such as my dorm’s intramural soccer team. Finally, I started to collect a unique set of friends who each enriched my life in different ways.

As I look back on my time as an undergraduate at SMU, I laugh remembering the things that used to stress me out. I smile thinking about the big moments that people assume define a college experience. The first days of classes, game days, freshman year convocation, a formal, Bid Day, a fall break trip, themed fraternity parties, Homecoming weekend, an award ceremony, a final presentation, or move-in day are examples of those shiny moments of college. Although the big events hold a special place in my memory, they are not the defining moments of my SMU experience.

Looking Back on My Time at SMU

For me, the little moments carry even more weight. Ordering Chick-Fil-A milkshakes on a whim and the goofy moments my roommate and I shared in our dorm were highlights of my freshman and sophomore years. The meaningful connections I made with my CCPA professors have shaped my academic experience and life. Sitting on the Dallas Hall lawn with friends as a much-needed break from Fondren is an experience I will most definitely miss. Walking up the boulevard and petting every dog in sight defines many game days for me. The excitement I felt each August upon the start of a new school year is unparalleled. Overlapping with my sister for a year on campus made every day feel like family weekend.

As a senior, I stroll across the very same Dallas Hall lawn with the sense of ease and confidence I saw seniors exude throughout the years, but never thought I would achieve myself. Even though the campus itself has not changed, I have seen tremendous personal and intellectual growth during my time at SMU. SMU encourages its students to be world changers. I truly hope that I can make an impact on society one day. For now, I’m just proud of the lives and people I’ve influenced here on the hilltop. I will always say that I am an SMU alumna with the greatest amount of pride. The gusto with which I told people I was an SMU freshman will never fade. Thank you for everything, SMU.  

“So, how’d you end up at SMU?” In reflecting on my four years—well, about four years—in Dallas, I can’t help but think back to my first time stepping foot on campus. The Georgian architecture immediately made me think of my hometown in Columbus, Ohio. My parents glommed onto the tour as I begrudgingly tagged along. But, I was not sold on committing to what would turn into my home away from home.

The Beginning

August 16, 2016, I packed up all my bags shipped all of my things to Dallas, TX to start my college career. I had been planning this day since I got accepted early decision to Southern Methodist University. I was finally moving to the south to the warm weather and all the country music I could ever want to hear.

As my time at SMU comes to an end, I reflect on my college years and the enormous growth I have experienced. I started my journey at Texas A&M University in College Station in 2016. How fitting that I end it back in my hometown of Dallas. It hurts to say goodbye- but only for now.

Starting Out

My freshmen year at A&M was a confusing transition as I tried to navigate college and adjust to life in a small town. Realizing it was not the place for me, I took the first semester of my sophomore year off. In January, I went straight into SMU spring sorority recruitment.

My time at SMU began with my recruitment into Delta Delta Delta and a whirlwind of activities. I was so nervous about making friends and doing well in classes, but I didn’t need to be. Everything eventually fell into place (as things often do).

Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

I remember two and a half years worth of laughs, long nights, and walks to class. In that time, we were all just figuring out who we were. My favorite classes were of course in my major’s department at Umphrey Lee, and I have had the best, most encouraging professors. I am going to miss so much.

I’ll miss seeing the dogs run around Dallas Hall Lawn (Bear included). I’ll miss complaining about the giant line at Starbucks. But most of all, from my time at SMU, I’ll miss the people I’ve met.

Reflecting: My Time at SMU

Not only have I made lifelong friends, but I know if I ever need anything, I have SMU to fall back on. I know that my professors only want success for myself and my classmates. What can I say at the end of my wonderful time at SMU? THANK YOU. Thank you to the friends I’ve made, the professors I’ve had, and the school that has shaped me into a person I am proud of.