The Bittersweet Ending of the OA Era

Owl Access is a project that turned into something more. What started as an idea that was meant to check a list of requirements for our Advanced Digital Content Marketing class turned into leaving a bit of an impact and influence among students on the Kennesaw State campus. As the end of Owl Access nears, we thought we would use our last blog post as a way to do a bit of reflection on how OA shaped our last moments and memories.

From Sasha:

"The thought of how to conclude the era of Owl Access with a perfect little bow has been on my mind for a few weeks now. While the goal was to get students to relate and connect, it was a different sense of accomplishment to see it happen organically in real time. Seeing the comments and questions under our content was eye-opening and showed that there truly was a need for an entity like OA. Students wanted to see other students do the “unknown” or answer the who, what, where, when, and why questions before trying it for themselves. We knew that idea would stick because we are/were those students at one point too. It became a way to conquer our own little KSU bucket list while also serving the students. We made content for ourselves, but in turn, it gave me a greater sense of purpose to know that this had transcended past just being for a grade and was making a difference by encouraging students to get more involved. 

It reiterated the power of digital content in this era. It served as a memory book. It gave me new friends. While I don’t think there is a perfect way to end Owl Access, I believe that there is always room to keep this concept flourishing in the future on the KSU campus. There are plenty of things we did not get to cover in our short period of time this semester, which leaves an opportunity for something similar to take over and finish what we started. With that, thank you for receiving Owl Access positively and allowing us to entertain and inform you."

From Ellie:

"Initially, my only expectation going into college was to earn my degree. However, through meeting so many sweet people, learning from amazing professors, loving my PR and marketing classes, and forming so many fun memories on campus, I’ve come to love KSU so much more than I originally planned to. Owl Access has been the perfect outlet for me to not only gain experience in content creation but also showcase my appreciation for this campus and its community. I’ve loved passing on knowledge about on-campus resources and opportunities to students who may not have known about them before. It’s also pushed me out of my comfort zone in such exciting ways, like going rock climbing for the first time at The Rec Center or finally asking the LARPers if we could join them one afternoon. The time and effort we’ve all put into Owl Access has been such a bittersweet and rewarding way to say goodbye to KSU. I really hope that Owl Access has encouraged other students to take full advantage of their time spent in college and to continue unlocking the best of The Nest."

From Jaden:

"Boy, has owl access been a journey!! I am truly grateful to be able to experience and make the most of my last semester here at KSU. Working with Owl Access, I have been able to step outside of my comfort zone and really make very meaningful connections and experiences along the way. This semester has also shown me the importance of taking advantage of all of your resources as a college student; I know that it could be tough to put yourself out there but the hardest part is just getting started. As someone newly navigating through college, it is important to use the resources that the school has provided because they provide many tools to help students gain success. These resources that we’ve highlighted throughout the semester are all resources that I wish I had known about earlier in my college career. Overall, this being my last semester in college has been very bittersweet. I am looking forward to getting into the world, but not to leaving old memories and a place where I grew so much. When I reflect on my time here, I am truly thankful for every moment I made at this institution and grateful for Owl Access for bringing me to live my last semester to the fullest."                                                    

From Imari:

"Owl Access has allowed me to jump into creativity and teamwork. From being involved on campus as a student for most of my college years and now being given the opportunity to collaborate with my fellow classmates centered around campus involvement and resources, my fall semester has been eventful. Coming in as a shy girl, I now see myself as outgoing simply because I took that leap to get involved on campus to meet new people, make friends, and stay connected on campus all four years. Through my time here, I've experienced the resources Owl Access shared, which is Owl Essentials. I’ve been to the CARE pantry to collect food items and necessities, especially during freshman year. At some point, I was always in the writing center for help with an essay or in the SMART center for math tutoring. The free headshot was definitely a hidden gem because it’s free, and once you leave college, you’ll have to pay for a professional headshot. Putting it all together, sharing, and promoting unity through Owl Access has been a wonderful experience. I hope students use this as a resource to find resources here on campus, because it is led by students for students, and that they take advantage of the opportunities they already pay for. Once an owl, always an owl."