Finding My Path in the Most Unexpected Class

How planning Meeman Mocktails helped me uncover my love for events.

Meeman Mocktails 2025

When I started college, I didn’t have a clear plan. It seemed like everyone else knew exactly what they wanted, but I felt lost. Nothing seemed right for me until I noticed my cousin’s interesting career path in PR. I figured, why not try it? It worked for her, so maybe it would work for me too. Without much research, I dove headfirst into my major, not knowing what to expect.

At first, my classes felt disappointing. I still felt lost and unmotivated. I kept asking myself, Is this really what I want to do for the rest of my life? How is this even helping me?  I considered changing my major, but nothing else seemed compelling enough to make the switch.

Meeting my advisor changed everything for me. She was more than just an advisor: she became a mentor I could really talk to. She believed in me before I believed in myself and encouraged me to try new things. We spent a lot of time figuring out which class I might enjoy, and that’s when she told me about event planning. That class opened a whole new world for me, and I was excited to see where it would lead.

My event planning class changed the trajectory of everything. It was the first time I experienced a real look into the world of PR. This was my experience with the first-ever Meeman Mocktails, where I served as head of logistics. This was the first time I’d been given this amount of responsibility, and I knew from the beginning that I wanted this event to stand out. 

Campus events always seemed the same, with the usual school colors, banners, and layouts that never change. For Meeman Mocktails, I wanted students and faculty to experience something different: a space that felt professional, classy, and exclusive. Even though it was a school event, our class agreed we didn’t want it to feel like one. In the real world, professionals attend networking events to meet clients and build connections, and that’s the atmosphere we wanted to create.

Planning Meeman Mocktails took a lot of effort, but it was worth it. We looked at different venues and chose the university’s Rudi E. Scheldt School of Music, which is now the regular spot for the event. I worked with Chartwell’s, our campus catering company, to pick out hors d’oeuvres that matched the atmosphere we wanted. I was especially happy with the pass-tray service, since it’s not common at university events and added a touch of elegance. Since we already had a bar for mocktails, we didn’t want guests crowding around a food table. That way, they could spend more time networking.

Choosing the location and food was just the start. I also got to handle our budget and, one of my favorite parts, visit the décor reserve to pick out decorations. I’ll never forget my classmates and me running around campus trying to find the building; it’s still one of my best memories. The first time you go, it feels like a maze, but once you know your way, you can find some great decorations.

The night of the event felt electric as all our planning finally came to life. After a long day of setup, it was thrilling to watch guests experience what we had poured our hearts into all semester. I greeted attendees, helped make sure everything was running smoothly, and even found time to network myself. The experience was more than rewarding: it sparked a passion I never knew I had. This class gave me a sense of purpose and showed me I could make a real impact. For our team, it was more than just a project; it was a milestone for the Journalism department and a chance for each of us to discover new strengths.

Once I realized event planning was my calling, I signed up for the Meeman 901 class my senior year and dove back into organizing Meeman Mocktails. My enthusiasm hadn’t faded: in fact, it grew. This time, we raised the bar by adding a speakeasy theme, and the event was a hit. One professor even told us it outshone some professional networking events she’d attended. I had found my niche and finally felt like I was doing what I was meant to do.

Looking back, I realize that passion doesn’t always appear on day one. Sometimes, it’s quietly waiting for you to stumble upon it. I began college feeling lost, but eventually, the pieces fell into place. If you are looking for the next step into the real world of PR I highly suggest taking both the Event Planning class and the Meeman 901 course. That unexpected event planning class helped me discover what truly excites me, and I’m confident you’ll find your own spark, too.