Darlene Melvin, ’22, is the assistant director of communication and marketing strategy for Cardinal Central.

Belonging can take time, especially when you’re building a life in a new place without family nearby. For me, Ball State became the place where I found a sense of community and discovered how meaningful it can be to help other students find it, too.

My path to Ball State began with an interest in expanding my professional skills. I had recently earned my bachelor’s degree in communication studies with a focus in digital media from a small, private college. Ball State’s communications programs caught my attention as I considered the next steps in my career.

Ball State’s online Corporate Communications Graduate Certificate program allowed me to continue my education while working full-time. After being admitted, I moved to Muncie and began working at a nonprofit downtown.

It was a big transition. I had no family in the area and was learning to navigate a new city largely on my own. I was fortunate to live with a dear friend from high school, which made the transition easier. But it wasn’t until I began working at Ball State that I truly started to feel like I belonged.

Three qualities have helped guide me along the way: initiative, resourcefulness, and empathy. Life won’t wait for you, so sometimes you have to take the first step. When you get stuck, knowing where to look for help can be just as important as finding the right answer. And putting yourself in someone else’s shoes makes it easier to work together toward a common goal.

Being on campus and building relationships with colleagues quickly made me feel part of the community. I made it a goal to build connections across campus because I learned how invaluable that mutual support can be.

Those lessons have carried into my work at Cardinal Central, where I’m surrounded by colleagues who have a genuine passion for helping students. I know we can rely on one another when students need us most.

Some of my most fulfilling experiences at Ball State have come through serving students beyond my day-to-day responsibilities. I stepped up to chair the First-Generation Student Celebration Week Committee, an experience that has become especially meaningful to me.

After one of our events, a student thanked us for creating something for students like them. Before that night, they hadn’t really understood what it meant to be a first-generation college student. Now they saw it as being “the first one brave enough to try.”

I’ve never forgotten that.

My work with the committee also led to receiving the Dr. O. Foster Faculty/Professional Staff Award from the Vivian V. Conley and Hurley C. Goodall Jr. Multicultural Center, recognizing the spirit of Dr. Foster’s dedication and service to Ball State students. Between that recognition and the feedback I’ve received from students, I’ve come to see that the work we are doing matters.

My own journey has also taught me the importance of getting involved. I wish I had known from the beginning that it can be as simple as asking. Your passions won’t always be outlined in a syllabus or written into a job description. Sometimes you have to step outside your comfort zone and try something new.

Joining an organization, attending an event, or reaching out to someone can lead to friendships and a community you never expected to find. Getting involved creates connections and opportunities to grow personally and professionally.

I’d also encourage students to slow down and take in the campus. Take the bus. Walk when you can. Look around. You’d be amazed by the details you notice and the connections you make.

And get enough sleep! Between my class schedule, extracurriculars, and working a job on campus, time management quickly became my biggest hurdle in undergrad. I had to learn to be mindful of how I spent my time and intentionally make time for self-care. It turns out the problems I have after pulling all-nighters can’t all be solved by caffeine.

For first-generation students especially, college can mean entering a world your family hasn’t navigated. My experience at Ball State has taught me that you don’t have to navigate it alone. Ask questions. Seek out people who will support you. Take the first step, even when it feels uncomfortable.

Sometimes, that first brave step is the one that leads you to where you belong.