My name is Michelle Flanagan, and I am a third year communications student at the University of Cincinnati, set to graduate Spring 2018. In addition to my communications major, I'm pursuing a minor in marketing and a certificate in journalism.
In my third year, I have only fallen more in love with Cincinnati, both the university and the city. The transition to a big city from a small town called Van Buren in Northwest Ohio, where I graduated with a class of 71, was a struggle for me. Now, I am able to love both places, and see the benefits to each. Having two homes can get complicated, but for now I am loving it! Exploring Cincinnati in the past few years has been a true adventure for me - and I love adventure, no matter how small. Here at UC, I am involved with the University Honors Program, Cats for Cause, CHAARG, and the honorary society Phi Beta Kappa. I've held several internships with UC's College of Law and with Cincinnati Magazine. This portfolio is a facet of the honors program, which focuses on experiences both within and outside of a declared major, and emphasizes reflection. Here, I will publish my different experiences and the effect they've had on me.
I'm incredibly interested in traveling, both within the US and all over the world. My first time abroad was a one-week mission trip to Haiti. This experience revealed my passion for both travel and for service, and I would love to go on a similar trip again. Since 2012, I have traveled to Paris on a study tour my freshman year, and Havana, Cuba, on a study tour this past April, 2017. I've also gone on road trips since starting college; one to tiny Southern towns with my best friend, and one to some of the National Parks out West with my dad. Every time I've traveled I think of it as one of the best times of my life, and I'm excited to continue pursuing this passion throughout the rest of college and my life.
In my free time I love to run because of the feeling of freedom it gives me. I have run the Flying Pig half marathon two years in a row, and even though they were the hardest thing I've ever done, I was smiling at the end! In the next few years I'm looking to tackle a full marathon, and with two halves under my belt I feel confident that it's possible.
I'm not sure what my future holds, but I am looking to help people, get involved in the community, and make a real difference. I hope that I can use some of my writing skills to do this, and I'm excited to continue searching for my true passion.