Commencement Spotlight: Ceci Rockwell

Ceci Rockwell
College of Health Sciences and Professions
Communications Sciences and Disorders major
Psychology minor
Gerontology Certificate
Professional Deaf Resources Liaison Certificate  
Waverly, Ohio
 
What are your next steps or plans for the future?
I will be working for this amazing college and University. I am the new assistant director of recruitment for the College of Health Sciences and Professions. 

What was your ah-ha moment at OHIO—that point where you said to yourself, “I’ve got this!”?
I think my ah-ha moment was at my orientation program in 2019. I remember feeling so welcomed and as soon as I met with my advisors, I knew I got this! The College of Health Sciences and Professions has helped me feel like “I’ve got this” during my whole experience here and I am truly grateful. 

Why did you choose OHIO?  
I chose Ohio University because of the beautiful campus, the opportunities, and the great faculty and staff members. It truly felt like home once I stepped onto campus. 

Who were your favorite professors and how did they make an impact on your life?
My favorite professors are the amazing faculty members for our Professional Deaf Resources Liaison Certificate. I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to learn about the Deaf culture and learn American Sign Language. Kim, Cheryl, Lori, Nicole, and Becky have made a huge impact on my on my life more than they will ever know. These amazing individuals have helped me flourish in my passion for advocating for others and I will be bringing all that I have learned from them with me in life.  

What was the hardest hill you had to climb (not counting Jeff Hill) at OHIO? And how did you overcome challenges or obstacles in your path?
Oh, Jeff Hill for sure! That’s funny! On a more serious note, one of the hardest hills I’ve had to climb at OHIO was being unsure of what I wanted to do with my future. It can be very scary being in the unknown of what career path I was going to take. One of the biggest things that helped me overcome that hill was reaching out to my advisors/mentors I have here at OHIO. Using the resources that I have available for me here drastically helped lead me to my end goal. 

What are your favorite OHIO memories?
My favorite memories are the ones that I have made with the people I met here as cheesy as that sounds. Being a part of organizations, many jobs on campus, and just being in Athens I have met so many amazing individuals who have helped me become the person I am today. 

What’s the one thing you would tell a new OHIO student not to miss?
Don’t miss out on the opportunities that come your way. Even if it something that you never saw yourself doing, it may become the best thing to ever happen to you.