Hi! My name is Hannah Prem and I am a rising Senior in the College of Business and Economics at Longwood University. I am receiving my business administration degree with a double concentration in marketing and management. As I look back to my freshman year self, I could NEVER imagine the strong, courageous, and involved person I have proudly become.
If you have ever met me, you know I love to talk!! I enjoy hearing others stories and learning from their knowledge. Could you believe growing up I was shy? Well….little baby Hannah was so shy she would cry in elementary school when she was called on to answer a question. Part of my shyness stemmed from my lisp, which I struggled with a great amount. I was involved in speech therapy programs but still my confidence and self-esteem was low and as a result I was embarrassed to express myself.
Longwood was a fresh start, a new beginning and a chance for me to let go of my insecurities, fears, and worries of my past. It was time to explore my talents and find out what was important to me. Freshman year was a good year. I became a Lancer Lunatic, initiated into Alpha Lambda Delta, and became a proud Longwood Ambassador. Best of all I found an amazing group of friends.
Sophomore year was another year of adventure and growth. I became the president of Lancer Lunatics and brought out my inner athlete by joining the Longwood Girls Club Lacrosse team. At this point I was struggling to decide on a major and the possibilities of choosing the wrong career path kept me up at night. Thankfully, I went with my gut and am graduating with a business degree.
Junior year was one for the books! I was appointed to be the first ever student with the position of Master of Ceremonies of Longwood University. This is a big deal. I was offered the position to be “Lancer Pants” and emcee at basketball games and campus wide events. Wow. Thoughts raced through my head questioning if I could do it or if I was the right student to take on this first ever role. Me? Hannah Prem? The girl with the lisp who cried in elementary school? My advisor believed in me and now I believe in me. The growth I experienced the first two years of college prepared me for this role. Now, I proudly represent Longwood University as the Master of Ceremonies and am honored to be the first ever student to hold this role. This year I was also elected to be Mortar Board president and have the privilege to work with an amazing group and provide the students of Longwood with an amazing Oktoberfest weekend. My first Oktoberfest was something I still remember. Smiling from ear to ear on Stubbs lawn listening to bands perform. That experience shaped me, and now I get to shape others.
As I approach my senior year the mixed emotions of graduation overwhelm me. I am not ready to leave this amazing place that truly has become my home. Senior year will be a great year. I was elected as Senior Class Vice President and have the privilege and honor to serve the class of 2019. Senior year….ready or not, here I come.
