Do you ever have that moment when you wonder if it’s all a dream?
Flashback to September of last year when I woke up groggy and delirious after staying up until the wee hours of the morning trying to finish homework. I checked my email, secretly hoping I wouldn’t have to get out of bed for class, and saw the subject line “Scholarship.” Wondering what it could possibly be about, I read on. It had to be a mistake. There is no possible way what I was reading was true.
You see, I came to Marquette different from everybody else. Different in the sense that my email didn’t follow the regular setup. I had my first name, middle initial and last name. Apparently, I was one of two Caitlin Miller’s and the other one was fortunate enough to get the regular address. I’m sure you can see where this would lead to confusion. I would receive her emails and she would receive mine. It was a hassle, but eventually became a normal routine of forwarding and explaining.
When I read that I was awarded a $5,000 scholarship from TEMPO Milwaukee my immediate thought was that they sent it to the wrong Caitlin Miller. I mean, I didn’t apply for it nor did I do anything to deserve it.
After class I went to the Bursar Office to inquire about the scholarship. I had explained to them the email and my hesitation behind it. A few clicks here and there on the computer and they confirmed that it was legitimate. My jaw literally dropped. I’m pretty sure the lady knew what was going through my mind, too, because she turned her monitor around to show me that there was in fact no mix-up.
Mark Sabljak, publisher of the Milwaukee Business Journal, won a Mentor award from TEMPO in 2014. In addition to being recognized for his achievements, Sabljak – as all recipients do – chose an organization that would award a junior or senior woman with a $5,000 scholarship. On his behalf, the Diederich College of Communication at Marquette University was able to provide a qualifying candidate with the scholarship.
I was their recipient. I was chosen out of all the junior and senior women to receive the scholarship.
I am surrounded by driven and motivated classmates. We all strive to achieve our best, often pushing ourselves through school and work to attain our goals. I know people who qualify for the scholarship that work harder than I do and have achieved far more. It still awes me that I was chosen over them.
At the annual luncheon hosted today, the four scholarship recipients for this year were briefly introduced, one-by-one, during the reception. As my name was called – picture flashed on the screen for all 600 some professionals in attendance to see – I stood for a round of applause. Let me tell you, as someone who does everything to keep the attention off herself, I was shaking in my boots. Talk about the longest 30 seconds of my life.
As I sat down, it hit me. I was holding back tears. I was the only person from Marquette University represented at this event. I was chosen, among an array of other candidates, for this recognition.
To have others recognize the work I have done is truly humbling. I am not sure if I will ever come to terms with the fact that I received such an amazing gift. Don’t get me wrong; I am beyond grateful for it – more so in the sense that it helps my family. I am one of three children and the last to attend college. I just so happened to have picked the most expensive one, too. The fact that receiving this scholarship was able to take some financial pressures off my parents – the two people that have shaped me into the person that I am today – has been one of the most gratifying parts.
These last four years at Marquette have been unforgettable. The experiences I've had at this University and throughout Milwaukee have helped me grow in ways I never thought possible. This scholarship? Icing on the cake. It has validated everything I've worked hard for over the last four years. Although I don’t always see the potential I have in myself, someone out there recognized my hard work and accomplishments. And let me tell you, there really is nothing more humbling or motivating than that.
Flashback to September of last year when I woke up groggy and delirious after staying up until the wee hours of the morning trying to finish homework. I checked my email, secretly hoping I wouldn’t have to get out of bed for class, and saw the subject line “Scholarship.” Wondering what it could possibly be about, I read on. It had to be a mistake. There is no possible way what I was reading was true.
You see, I came to Marquette different from everybody else. Different in the sense that my email didn’t follow the regular setup. I had my first name, middle initial and last name. Apparently, I was one of two Caitlin Miller’s and the other one was fortunate enough to get the regular address. I’m sure you can see where this would lead to confusion. I would receive her emails and she would receive mine. It was a hassle, but eventually became a normal routine of forwarding and explaining.
When I read that I was awarded a $5,000 scholarship from TEMPO Milwaukee my immediate thought was that they sent it to the wrong Caitlin Miller. I mean, I didn’t apply for it nor did I do anything to deserve it.
After class I went to the Bursar Office to inquire about the scholarship. I had explained to them the email and my hesitation behind it. A few clicks here and there on the computer and they confirmed that it was legitimate. My jaw literally dropped. I’m pretty sure the lady knew what was going through my mind, too, because she turned her monitor around to show me that there was in fact no mix-up.
Mark Sabljak, publisher of the Milwaukee Business Journal, won a Mentor award from TEMPO in 2014. In addition to being recognized for his achievements, Sabljak – as all recipients do – chose an organization that would award a junior or senior woman with a $5,000 scholarship. On his behalf, the Diederich College of Communication at Marquette University was able to provide a qualifying candidate with the scholarship.
I was their recipient. I was chosen out of all the junior and senior women to receive the scholarship.
I am surrounded by driven and motivated classmates. We all strive to achieve our best, often pushing ourselves through school and work to attain our goals. I know people who qualify for the scholarship that work harder than I do and have achieved far more. It still awes me that I was chosen over them.
At the annual luncheon hosted today, the four scholarship recipients for this year were briefly introduced, one-by-one, during the reception. As my name was called – picture flashed on the screen for all 600 some professionals in attendance to see – I stood for a round of applause. Let me tell you, as someone who does everything to keep the attention off herself, I was shaking in my boots. Talk about the longest 30 seconds of my life.
As I sat down, it hit me. I was holding back tears. I was the only person from Marquette University represented at this event. I was chosen, among an array of other candidates, for this recognition.
To have others recognize the work I have done is truly humbling. I am not sure if I will ever come to terms with the fact that I received such an amazing gift. Don’t get me wrong; I am beyond grateful for it – more so in the sense that it helps my family. I am one of three children and the last to attend college. I just so happened to have picked the most expensive one, too. The fact that receiving this scholarship was able to take some financial pressures off my parents – the two people that have shaped me into the person that I am today – has been one of the most gratifying parts.
These last four years at Marquette have been unforgettable. The experiences I've had at this University and throughout Milwaukee have helped me grow in ways I never thought possible. This scholarship? Icing on the cake. It has validated everything I've worked hard for over the last four years. Although I don’t always see the potential I have in myself, someone out there recognized my hard work and accomplishments. And let me tell you, there really is nothing more humbling or motivating than that.