Finding My Place in the Herd

Class of 2027  

When I graduated from Mingo Central High School, Marshall University was always part of my plan.

Like so many people who grow up in southern West Virginia, I was raised knowing the story of the 75. Marshall wasn’t just a university I knew about. It was a place with traditions, history and a community that meant something to people back home.

But my path to Marshall wasn’t direct and it didn’t happen right away.

I spent my first two years at a smaller school, where I played Division II football and earned more than 60 credit hours. I originally chose it because I wanted the opportunity to continue to play football, but over time, the physical demands of the sport became difficult on my body, and I nearly decided not to return for my junior year.

My coach encouraged me to give it one more chance, so I did. But when I arrived back on campus that fall, I learned I had missed a deadline and lost my main academic scholarship, which was worth significantly more than my athletic scholarship.

The transfer process was much easier than I expected. One phone call to the admissions office, and I had someone walking me through every step. The most difficult part was simply tracking down documents from my previous school and high school.

The transition itself came with some challenges. Because I transferred at the last minute as an incoming junior, I wasn’t able to secure on-campus housing. Fortunately, my friends from back home stepped up and let me stay on their couch until I found my own place.

Those same friends, many of whom were members of Kappa Sigma, helped me find my place at Marshall. Today, I’m proud to call them my brothers.

My advisor also played a huge role in making my transition successful. Knowing that I was commuting from Mingo County, they worked with me to schedule all my classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays, making the drive manageable while allowing me to stay on track toward my accounting degree.

There are enough people and opportunities here that every day can bring a new experience, but it’s still small enough that you recognize familiar faces and build meaningful relationships.

What I love most about Marshall is the feeling that I’m part of something bigger than myself.

That feeling shows up everywhere — it’s being a brother of Kappa Sigma, it’s standing in the Cam Henderson Center as our women’s basketball team won the WNIT championship, it’s gathering at the Memorial Fountain to honor the 75.

Marshall’s traditions are powerful and, in my opinion, underrated. There’s a sense that every moment here carries meaning.

One of the experiences I’ve valued most is simply getting to live in Huntington. To me, it’s the best melting pot of people in West Virginia. You meet people from every background, every hometown and every walk of life. It’s a place that has expanded my perspective and introduced me to people I never would have met otherwise.

When people ask me what my favorite Marshall moment is, I struggle to choose just one. My entire experience has been shaped by the people around me. The friendships, the traditions, the moments in the stands cheering for the Herd and the everyday experiences with people who have become family are what have made Marshall special.

My advice to anyone coming to college is simple: get involved and put yourself out there. Your people are here, but you have to be willing to find them.