First-person: Hands-on experience at Baker boosts career even before graduation

Editor’s note: This first-person student commentary — part of a two-part series by Halle Morrell of The Baker Orange — is sponsored and produced by Baker University. Located in Baldwin City, Kansas, Baker is building the next generations of leaders, achievers and innovators with a robust liberal arts education. The opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone.

In a world where many newly-graduated college students are struggling to find suitable careers, an education from Baker University has provided me with the tools I need to find success.

Halle Morrell, Baker University

In May 2021, I will be graduating from Baker University with a major in Mass Media, emphasis in Public Relations, and minors in both Business and English. I will have completed three different internships and accepted a job offer for a full-time position. 

While hard work and a drive to succeed are a part of this journey, it would not have been possible without the tools I have been equipped with throughout my academic career. Baker University has a student to faculty ratio of 11:1, which means that I have been able to have hands-on experience in a variety of areas from the moment I enrolled. 

Click here to learn more about Baker University, which offers online classes, as well as an Overland Park campus.

As a freshman with one semester of classes under my belt, I was able to take part in the newspaper workshop class and write stories to be published for The Baker Orange newspaper. This opportunity gave me my first look into a newsroom and how the journalism industry works. Now, I’m the Editor-in-Chief that manages the entire writing staff and video crew. 

As a sophomore, I gained experience through Baker University’s public relations workshop. This experience allowed me to work with two local businesses, creating and implementing entire public relations campaigns. Because of this experience, I was able to build my resume and acquire internships related to my desired career. 

Not many college graduates can say that they have acted as a journalist, public relations manager, and staff supervisor — and they especially can’t say that they did it for academic credit. That’s the power of a small liberal arts college like Baker University. Students are not just numbers, they’re people. People who deserve to be prepared for the workforce that they intend to join. Small class sizes give opportunities for individual growth that most four-year universities simply can’t accommodate. 

I walk into class every day knowing that my professors can call me by name and recognize my strengths. I am able to navigate through my undergraduate journey with a plan tailored to what success means to me. Every student is different, emphasizing the importance of an academic plan that fits the needs of an individual, not the university. 

Baker University graduates enter the workforce with real-world experience because their classes can adapt to fit their needs. With a course-load designed to prepare students for realistic situations, Baker University sets its students apart.

Thanks to Baker, I have found success and you can too. 

Click here to explore education programs available through Baker University, offering associate through doctoral degrees.

Baker University has been empowering students to take on the challenges of the modern world with a robust liberal arts education in Baldwin City, Kansas, since 1858.