Dear Seniors

As the semester comes to an end, we would like to encourage our graduating seniors as they prepare for graduation with advice and words of support from one of our own Communications Professors. 

Enid Bozic is an Associate Professor of Communications.  Professor Bozic shows enormous love and care towards her students at Vanguard University. As one of her students, i appreciate her attention, prayers before every class, and the time she takes to lift up any concerns we may have to the Lord.

Professor Bozic has been a Professor at Vanguard University for three years. She emphasizes that she “started and three months into it, COVID happened.” She goes on to highlight, “Good news was that I taught a hybrid course so I was prepared more than most of my peers.” 

When asked about the classes she has taught at Vanguard, she listed a quite extensive variety of courses. “I teach Social Media, Digital Advocacy, New Media Production, Knowledge Management and Data Interpretation, Organizational Communication, Prep for Post-Grad, Computer-Mediated Communication, and Principles of Marketing. In addition, I co-manage the MediaHub along with Professor Andrew Matusik.”   

 

During an interview with Professor Bozic, she has shared some advice and insight for graduating seniors.

What would you like your seniors to know before graduation?

“Seniors, as you look towards landing your first job or taking your career to the next level, always know your worth and value. God created you for a specific purpose and has appointed specific times and seasons for your life. Whatever challenges you may face, He will always be with you. Seek Him in all things, pray and ask for the impossible. He knows exactly what you need and when you need it. Let Him be your Provider, fully trusting in Him, in every season. Remember, you are ultimately working for Him and not mere humans, so be sure your conduct and character reflects His Spirit. As His ambassadors, watch as your godly witness wins souls in both secular and non-secular circles. Above all, guard your heart and don’t ever let anything steal your joy. Learn to laugh and not take life so seriously. Cherish the hard times as these are meant to sharpen your character and resiliency. Love always, believe for the best in yourself and others. Read the Bible daily for wisdom, conviction, and knowing the heart of God. Lastly, learn to take calculated risks and embrace your failures as opportunities to succeed the next time.”

 What are a couple things you wish you knew fresh out of college?

“One thing I wish I knew right out of college was to do all I could to remain connected to my friends and classmates. These are your peers who are also going after the promises of God both professionally and personally. You never know when they might be a resource for landing your next job or supporting you when you start a business venture, buying your first home, and even meeting your future spouse. Networking is key in life and is another means to building your community outside of your church and family circles. Another thing I wish I knew was to keep cultivating my passions even if my initial job didn’t allow me to do that. Part of life is figuring out who you want to be and what you want to do as you live it. We all have dreams and desires but when we realistically begin to live these out, we find out what we really want out of life. So be content with not knowing all the answers at first or having an unclear vision, these will come as you gain more life experiences. Trust the process of living life fully.”

What is something fundamental you learned in your time as a Professor (advisor) in regards to communication?

“Regarding communication, I have fundamentally learned as a professor that students have many options to pursue in this field and it can feel overwhelming at times to know which direction to go, especially when students have so many interests and passions. I advise students to do internships or informational interviews to help narrow down where they might like to start. They can either work with Career Services to find those internships or the communication department has a few leads from alumni. They can also ask for informational interviews through their LinkedIn contacts and if they don’t have an account yet, that’s the first thing I recommend students do. It is up to students to take advantage of the many networking opportunities available on campus to pursue their career interests. So, students should be intentional with their time by investing in their professional pursuits in addition to their academics and other extracurricular activities.”

 Who was your greatest inspiration growing up and how have they shaped your life?

“My teachers were my greatest inspiration growing up. These were the people who poured into me and pushed me beyond my own conceived limitations. They challenged me to pursue skills and talents that I didn’t even recognize I had at the time. They saw my potential and helped me to cultivate that potential. They utterly believed in my future success even when I couldn’t. They were the ones who saw when I was struggling and took the time to reach out to let me know that I wasn’t alone and had someone to talk to if I needed them. I think that is largely one of the reasons why I care so deeply for all our students at VU. It was the tender care, concern and push towards excellence that I experienced from some of the most extraordinary teachers that shaped me to become the professor I am today.” 

 What is your favorite quote?

“The Apostle Paul has some of the best quotes found in his epistles which largely make up the New Testament. One of my favorites is found In Galatians 6:4, where he says: ‘Let everyone be devoted to fulfill the work God has given them to do with excellence, and their joy will be in doing what’s right and being themselves, and not in being affirmed by others.’ I think it’s important to remember throughout our lives that everything we do should be done with excellence. Aside from encountering Jesus, getting married to the love of my life and giving birth to my son, I believe doing what’s right as an extension of who I am gives me immense joy. It fills my heart and mind with a kind of peaceful elation. So, the joy that comes from pursuing excellence in His eyes should be our primary motivation in life because it’s His affirmation that matters more than any living person. It also helps us to live in total freedom to be our true selves.”