What I really mean is, have you ever asked yourself, “What’s my purpose?”

Recently, I was on Forbes.com and saw an article titled – Do You Know Your “Why?” 4 Questions To Find Your Purpose. In the article, I was immediately drawn to a tweet posted that stated – a clear sense of purpose enables you to focus your efforts on what matters most, compelling you to take risk and push forward regardless of the odds or obstacles. Why am I sharing this? Because this tweet defines a Juniata College lived experience.

After reading both the tweet and the article, I found myself reflecting back on my past eight months at Juniata College serving as Vice President of Enrollment; my move to Huntingdon, PA to join the Juniata community; and my many interactions with Juniata College students, faculty, staff, and alumni.  Why did I find myself reflecting?  Because I instantly made the connection between the article and Juniata College where students, faculty, staff, alumni, and yours truly land to find purpose… or their WHY.

After numerous interactions with Juniata College community members, what I have found to be most meaningful about Juniata is that the College helps students, faculty, staff, and alumni find their purpose. The college lives up to its reputation of being one of the few Colleges that Change Lives network of only 45 colleges out of 4,000+ colleges and universities in the United States.  I recall my first day on campus, June 3, 2018, walking across the quad seeing banners that stated  “Think About Who You Are”, a Juniata charge to Begin Your Journey of Self Discovery. While this inspirational message is geared to college students, it’s truly a call-to-action to all who read it.  For me, I have never really found myself stopping to think about who I am and why I do what I do until I made my way to Juniata College. As Mark Twain once said – “The two most important days in your life are the day you were born and the day you find out WHY.” I believe that students, faculty, staff, and alumni live one of their two most important days in their lives at Juniata College, they day they find their WHY. 

So what’s my why? More specifically, why do I work in college admissions at Juniata College?

I strive every day to apply my values, talents, passions, skills, and knowledge to the mission of promoting a Juniata education because as I’m observing and living, Juniata College truly changes lives. 

• Do I do things perfectly? No.
• Do I make mistakes? Yes.
•  Will I ever be an expert? No.
• Am I always learning? Yes, and Juniata College pushes me to make my best even better!

I am living the life I want to live because of my college education, and I believe that anyone who wants to work hard to design the life they want to live and love deserves the same opportunity.  And for those who face barriers getting in the way of getting to Juniata College, then my purpose is to try and remove those them because I know full well that I would not have my career and most importantly, my wife and two beautiful children, if I had not pursued college.

So, what’s your why? Do you know your purpose?  It’s ok if you don’t, because you will find it at Juniata College and along the way, you will become immersed in a life-changing experience that will shape your identify and help you to live out your best life.

Do you want to design the life you want to live and find your WHY along the way? Then Juniata College is for you!  After you live the Juniata experience, you will find your why and you will be among the many Juniatians in the world whose – “…talents have been doubled and sharpened,…have been better equipped to cope, to adapt, and to take risks…” – Colleges That Change Lives