ASIA LAMPE PORTFOLIO

My time at Winston Salem State University was different than most people will ever describe their time in college. From coming during a worldwide pandemic to experiencing a Black Lives Matter movement on an HBCU campus, that would forever change my mind set on the world I currently live in. Not to mention that all of this would be happening while I attend classes, track practice, and outside drama. Here is my experience of Winston Salem State University. 

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Hello, my name is Asia Lampe. I am a 21-year-old senior, mass communication major hailing from Charlotte, North Carolina. Here is my story. 

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I was a young 17-year-old girl arriving at an unknown place on August 9th to start my adult journey at a university I was seeing for the first time. Since the pandemic started my senior year of high school, I was unable to go on an official visit to Winston Salem State University. I came in with little to no friends but would soon meet a roommate that would become one of my closest friends throughout my college career and hopefully life.  

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I spent most of my first semester at home or in my room. I was recruited for the woman’s track and field team, but due to the pandemic we were limited to practice time and a season. Without track and friends, I went home to what I knew. Once the second semester rolled around track started to pick up more. I started making friends among my teammates and getting back to the sport I loved.  

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My season would soon be cut short because COVID spread to my team and the one rule my coach had was if anyone got COVID our season would be over. After the season finished, I went back to going home weekly, but I got out the room more after getting to know my teammates. These teammates would become women I would soon call family.  

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As my sophomore year approached my head coach called a zoom meeting to let the team know she would be leaving Winston Salem and going elsewhere. Now the team was left with uncertainty of what the future would hold. The assistant coach then became our interim head coach but soon was named the head coach of the women's track and field team at WSSU. The track team finished the year as CIAA track and field outdoor champions.   

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Sophomore year was the calmest year I had. I started to meet new people and really got back on track. We were forced to get COVID tested every other morning at 6am to make sure we were safe within athletics. I finished my academic year maintaining my 4.0 GPA.  

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I spent the first year and half of college focusing on my general education courses. I didn’t know what I wanted to major in at all, so I took an introduction level classes for sports management and mass communications. Once I took introduction to mass communications with professor Smutherman, I knew exactly what I wanted to major in. 

My junior year I began taking all major classes after I had finished my general education courses. My focus for communication is multiplatform journalism.  This track gives you a mixture of digital media and journalism courses. This major is fun and full of on-hand learning experience for the future.  

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The success I have had in the department of communications is amazing. I have received nothing but A’s throughout my college career. It’s not hard to do well in something you love to be a part of. I have created lifelong relationships, memories and connections that will further me into my career.  

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Through my time here I have become part of the ram life community with Mr. Davis. I am a part of ram sports which allows me to shoot videos of sporting events, report on them and edit the clips together to make a package. I’ve learned how to run a studio in every path whether that’s being the director, producer or running camera.  

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I have learned the basics of journalism with Dr. Cobb. She has taught me how to become a better writer in all aspects of writing. News writing, critical and persuasive writing, journalism style and literacy have all had a factor in making me a better writer. My focus requires an internship course which forces students to gather an internship that will allow them to get connections and learning experience in me soon to be field.

   

My time at Ole State University will leave a lasting impact on my life. While juggling being a full-time student athlete involved in multiple other organizations on campus, I have learned time management to a completely different level. Nobody ever said college was easy, but they did say it was fun and I wouldn’t have been anywhere else these last four years. I have learned things coming to an HBCU I would have never received at a PWI. Unity, Ramily and connection has been the forefront of my time at WSSU. Enter to learn, depart to serve was the plan and will remain the plan as I leave.