Hey! My name is Melissa Mentzer. Here is a glimpse into my world.
“Be where your feet are: Present, Grounded, and Thriving.”
The statement “Be where your feet are,” is a motto that represents me well. It is a simple statement, but it has become a meaningful reminder of how I want to live my life. I believe life is too short to worry about tomorrow. I am passionate about living in the moment and appreciating the people, experiences, and opportunities that are right in front of me. We are meant to maximize our time, and be authentic to ourselves in every opportunity. With that in mind, I strive to be loyal to the statement above. And all spread kindness, positivity, and honesty. Also, to be involved in what matters in each community I am present in. I believe that the people around us have a significant impact on who we become, and I want to contribute positively to the communities and teams I am fortunate enough to be a part of. You can’t do this or life alone, so that is why community and teamwork matters so much to me.
I am not perfect, so I have moments where I fall short of this, but I believe we are meant to follow our path as God lays out for us. Sometimes that path looks different than what we originally imagined, and I have learned that those unexpected moments can often teach us the most. Every day brings new opportunities to learn something, meet someone, make a difference, or simply become a better version of yourself.
I am a 20 year old student at Grand Valley State University. I am an Advertisement and Public Relations major, with a minor in Hospitality Tourism & Management. I only have 3 semesters left until I graduate with a Bachelors in Liberal Arts & Sciences. I would define myself as a hard worker and passionate about my future studies. I am very organized so I pride myself on being able to time manage properly in different opportunities. In these moments, I would describe myself as a confident individual who can communicate well with others. I am a proactive listener, so I am quick to engage with follow-up questions, which tends to produce a transactional conversation. With this, comes my strength in love for people & community. This can be a blessing and a curse, because it can be hard to find the correct boundaries with others in professional settings. Since I try to be in the present moment, this tends to blend into me being attentive with my communication daily.
Right now, I am a student who loves to write, learn, and explore. I am extremely energetic about life. I recently just completed two part-time internships over the summer. Of those, one was with the The Guidance Center, Philanthropy and Communications team. The other was the Southern Wayne County Regional Chamber, Marketing and Event Team. I am grateful for each day, and how everyday I had the ability to learn and grow from so many different experiences. These opportunities allowed me to step outside of the classroom and see how the skills I am developing through my education can be applied in real-world situations. They also helped me better understand the type of professional I want to become. I have learned that I enjoy work that allows me to communicate, collaborate, create, and make an impact.
As a person, many experiences have blended me into who I am. I come from a big family, with at least 25 cousins; which has brought out the extroverted side of me and the love for an adventure. I grew up camping and traveling often, so that has created me to be open to different ideas or cultures. I am hyper aware of how fortunate I am to be able to grow up visiting different areas around the country that grew my education. These experiences have taught me that there is always something new to discover when you are willing to step outside of what is familiar. Whether I am traveling, meeting new people, working with a team, or trying something completely new, I enjoy learning from the experience and allowing it to shape me.
My goals in life personally, are to be the best version of myself in all aspects. To grow spiritually through every chapter of life, while still exploring in the midst of the craziness. I aspire to become a dedicated and respected business woman in the Public Relations work field. I would love to be a CEO of a non-profit organization that makes a direct impact on people. I want to be known for working hard and setting an example for others to follow. More than simply having a successful career, I want my career to have purpose. I want the work I do to positively influence other people and create opportunities for those around me.
Ultimately, I hope to continue growing into someone who brings value wherever I go. I bring lots to the table with being an active listener, I am passionate about what I spend my time in, being deeply emotionally driven about making a difference philanthropically. I want to use my communication skills and creativity to build relationships, tell meaningful stories, and connect people to causes that matter. I know there will be challenges and unexpected turns throughout my career and life, but I want to approach them with the same mindset that has guided me so far: “Be where your feet are.” I want to appreciate each season of my life instead of rushing toward the next one. I want to learn from every person I meet and every opportunity I receive. Most importantly, I want to leave every community, workplace, and relationship better than I found it. If I can continue to live authentically, lead with kindness, work hard, and remain present in each moment, I believe I will be on the right path toward becoming the person I am meant to be.
