Wartburg equipped me with the tools to work in any environment
NAME: Lucy Joseph
CLASS YEAR: 2007
MAJOR: Community sociology
CURRENT EMPLOYMENT: Housing and Community Development Coordinator, City of West Palm Beach
WHY WARTBURG: I decided to attend Wartburg college because of my brother, Miradieu Joseph, a 2001 graduate. He had tons of success, and I wanted to experience it as well.
WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU NEVER IMAGINED YOU COULD DO BEFORE COMING TO WARTBURG: Adapting to the cold weather and small-town Iowa. I’m a South Florida, city girl to the core and would go home every summer, but during breaks when I couldn’t make it home, I would go home with teammates and roommates who typically lived on a farm or in a small town. I enjoyed learning about how their families lived, and I learned more about my teammates. Visiting sheep and hog farms and riding on combines became the highlights of my visits.
HOW DID YOUR WARTBURG EXPERIENCE PREPARE YOU FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE: Wartburg helped equip me with the tools to work in any environment. I learned how to follow my passion and used that to reach my end goal! I was thankful I had the opportunity to do internships and visit various sectors to figure out what my interests were. As a student-athlete, I was pushed to perform at my highest level, and that is something that I tried to instill in my own cheerleading and track athletes at City High School in Iowa City.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE WARTBURG TRADITION: My favorite Wartburg tradition had to be OUTFLY! I just thought it was the best day ever. Who didn’t enjoy a day off from classes and amazing breakfast, and a day of naps?
WHY WAS YOUR WARTBURG EXPERIENCE WORTH IT: I had an opportunity to meet some amazing people and do some great things inside of the classroom and outside of the classroom. Being a member of the Wartburg track and field program, Black Student Union, KnightCallers, Homecoming Committee, and a year of Student Senate allowed me to learn a lot about myself and what impact I could have on my community and those I interact with on a day-to-day basis. I learned a lot about myself, especially being away from family and friends and having to learn how to adapt to Iowa culture and interact with a lot of people from all over the country and world, which allowed me to have a broader outlook on life.
I’ve met some amazing and beautiful people at Wartburg and they have changed my life forever. Stepping outside of my comfort zone was not always easy-but when I did, it led me to some great experiences. I’m truly thankful for my adviser, Dr. Kathy Kremer. As a community sociology major, I had the opportunity to visit the City of Minneapolis and visit various organizations and government agencies that helped the city run successfully. While visiting the planning department in Minneapolis/St. Paul, I found my passion for city government, which led me to earning a master’s degree from the University of Iowa in urban and regional planning.
HOW DO YOU LIVE OUT THE WARTBURG MISSION: My mission is to act as instrument of positive change for my family, work, and community. I have been able to use my talents and the things that I learned at Wartburg College and apply that to all aspects of my life.
WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR CURRENT STUDENTS: Take advantage of all of the amazing resources and opportunities available to you as a student. Also, don’t be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone. Change is not always bad! If it wasn’t for the opportunities and the people I met at Wartburg, I wouldn’t be where I am today! Don’t allow anyone or anything to get in the way of your dreams and goals!