Year: Fourth
Major: Communications
Involvement: Member, Black Student Union; member, Council for Latino and African American Student Success (CLAASS); member, Networking Club; student-worker, mail room
Brandywine: What was your deciding factor in attending Penn State Brandywine?
McGill: My deciding factor coming to Brandywine was how close it is to home. I also already had a family member who went here, too. I wanted a mix of being close to my family while still being able to be independent and on my own, in a sense.
Brandywine: How did you choose your major?
McGill: When I started here, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. I knew I wanted to do something in the communications field, but I wasn’t sure what to specialize in. At first, I wanted to study film and video production, but after taking those classes, I knew it wasn’t for me. Then, I took a broadcast journalism class, and I realized that wasn’t for me either. It wasn’t until I took a public relations class with Karen Theveny (assistant teaching professor of communications) that I realized what I wanted to do.
Brandywine: What challenges have you faced at Brandywine, if any?
McGill: Being a student through the pandemic was very hard. It was something no one has ever gone through, not even our professors. None of us knew how online school really worked. I feel like with Brandywine, the campus is very community-based, and everyone is here if you need help. Someone is always going to be here to support you. I always felt so supported during that time by my adviser, my peers and my professors. Also, I’m a first-generation college student, so being the first out of my siblings to go to college is a challenge.
Brandywine: What has been your greatest accomplishment at Brandywine so far?
McGill: I’d say my greatest accomplishment is still being enrolled in college. ... I’m still here pushing through, and I’m almost at the finish line to graduate.
Brandywine: What made you interested in joining CLAASS? What do you enjoy most about it?
McGill: At the beginning of my college journey, I would find myself being the only person of color in class sometimes, and I felt that it could be a little intimidating. When I heard an organization was created on campus where I could be seen and heard and be around people like me, I wanted to join. I really enjoy being able to hear different people’s perspectives and listen to their stories because there are so many more factors about someone than meets the eye.
Brandywine: With your involvement at Brandywine, how has your time on campus been impacted?
McGill: My job in the mail room is very flexible, so in between classes, I’m able to go to work, do homework and attend campus events. Now that I’m a fourth-year student, I find myself having a lot more free time to get work done, go to club meetings and hang out with friends.