Home Sweet USI

A suggestion from a high school guidance secretary was what brought Simran Singh to the University of Southern Indiana for her first visit—and it was love at first sight.

“She said there was this hidden gem, the University of Southern Indiana and I had never heard of it,” says Singh, Student Event Services Supervisor. “So, my mom and I booked a tour and came down from Plainfield, Indiana. I instantly fell in love with the campus.”

Not only has she earned her undergraduate degree and started her professional career here at USI, Singh is now adding a master’s degree in mass communications to her USI journey when she walks in the Commencement Ceremonies on Saturday, December 14.

Home Sweet Home

USI has always felt like home to Singh, from the first moment she visited in 2018. “The campus was gorgeous, and it was the perfect distance from my parents in Plainfield so I could be independent but still visit them,” she says. “Overall, I could see myself being here.”

During her undergraduate years studying mass communications, the love and support she felt on campus was the most memorable to her. Not just the support in her academic career, but as a student worker as well. “Being on campus and seeing so many faces I knew or recognized made me happy, made me want to come back on campus even if I didn’t have classes,” Singh added. “Knowing that I had people here supporting me made me want to stay here after my graduation. USI is somewhere I felt comfortable enough to stay and continue my education and better myself.”

The University made such a lasting impression on her, that upon her graduation in 2022, she accepted a job as an Administrative Associate in Special Events and Scheduling, where she worked during her undergraduate years. “It felt like a full circle to start working at USI after graduation,” Singh says. “I saw a different side of USI and made me fall in love with the campus even more. It felt like giving back the same kind of support and love to the students that I got when I was a student.”

Full of Opportunities

When it came to pursuing a master’s degree, it made sense to Singh to continue her educational journey at USI. As for her choice in mass communications, she attributes that decision to her professors during her undergraduate years. The faculty who taught her communications classes inspired her to learn more about the field.

“It was great having some of those same professors again in my master’s courses,” she says. “It wasn’t a strange feeling, as if I was going into something new. I already had an idea of what to expect.”

At first, she admits she wasn’t sure what a master’s in mass communications could do for her career. But as she moved through USI’s program, Singh says she realized there are vast opportunities available to her with the degree.

“Communications is something I enjoy and a master’ s degree in mass communications covers such a vast area that I can almost do anything I want to do,” she adds. “I know pursuing this degree has helped me no matter what path I choose for my career.”

One aspect of the program Singh enjoyed was connecting with her classmates, whose differing backgrounds provided other views and opinions than her own. Many of her fellow classmates were also adult learners and people she may not have crossed paths with had it not been for the courses they were enrolled in.

“We had so many different people from all over the world, and I made some really unexpected friendships. I learned a lot from their experiences as well and it was interesting to get to know them,” she says.

Studying for her master’s wasn’t without challenges though. For Singh, it was finding a work-life balance that allowed her to succeed in her courses while working a full-time job in Special Events and Scheduling and still having time for herself outside of work and school.

“Being able to have time for myself, my work, my friends and family, and other hobbies was the biggest challenge. Going from solely being a student to a student with a full-time job was hard at first,” she explained.

“I learned so much about myself,” Singh adds. “At first, going into the program, I wondered how I was going to be able to do it all, but I learned how. I learned how to manage my time better, and I feel like I’ve grown into a more professional adult.”

Screagle Pride

As Commencement draws near, Singh finds herself excited about the closing chapter of her education journey. “It’s nice to see all my accomplishments and be proud of what I’ve done; I look back and think, ‘Oh my gosh, I did this,’” she says.

There’s also a feeling of excitement for her family; Singh is a first-generation college graduate and will now become the first in her family to earn a master’s degree as her family cheers her on from the audience on Saturday. Making her parents and family proud feels like another big accomplishment for her; and she also holds a sense of pride in herself, especially as she had not imagined she would earn a master’s degree.

“I’m just proud of myself because I never would have thought I would earn a master’s degree. And here I am ready to walk again, and it’s awesome,” she says.