This was originally posted as an “Introduce Yourself” discussion forum post (which we all love, look forward to, and feel 100% comfortable with – ha) for the first class I took after going back to college. Posted to Canvas for Delgado Community College on December 15, 2019.

My name is Jana and I am returning back to school after taking 3 years off to work and travel. I completed 4 years of school at LSU in the Communication Studies program and am considered a Junior at that university. 

I have been working in digital marketing since 2013, with my most recent position being marketing director for a small personal injury law firm in the CBD. However, to transition back to school I am in the process of becoming a substitute teacher in New Orleans. I am located in New Orleans, which is why I chose Delgado as my “transition school” before I go back to LSU for my final 30 hours. 

I enrolled in this course partially because I was excited about going back in the Spring so I wanted to get started now and also because I’d dropped the related course at LSU and knew I needed to take it. I’ve been a longterm advocate of mental health, particularly how stress affects us, so I am very interested in learning more about all of the factors that play into my own (and others) behavior. 

During my 3 year “gap year” experience since leaving LSU, I made two promises to myself: that I would take any and all travel opportunities that came my away (which lead me to Scotland, Ireland and South Korea, as well as all over the contiguous US) and that I would try to do or make one thing that was creatively fulfilling each day. I probably scored about an 80% on both of those promises. 

My favorite website is Instagram. I’ve done a LOT of social media management work in my 6 years working in digital marketing, and I’ve found it to be the only social media site that I like personally even though I “have to use it” for work. I love sharing what I’m doing, finding inspiration for travel plans or creative projects. I also use it to keep in touch with friends I’ve made while traveling. 

In the photo I’ve included, you can see me in Dublin, Ireland. I found an old shoe factory that was renovated to be a restaurant/pub.  They had the best beef stew I’d ever eaten, and on top of mashed potatoes at that.