When Emily Barrett '25 enrolled at Alvernia University, it was the school’s nursing program that caught her attention. As a caretaker for her grandfather while growing up, nursing seemed like a natural fit. She was also touched by the personal, handwritten letter she received from Alvernia along with her acceptance letter – that really sealed the deal.
But like many young adults entering college, the Wernersville resident was still finding herself. After finishing her first year, she felt that she was being called by another one of her passions – her creative side – so much so that she made the switch in majors to digital media marketing.
“It was rough," she explained. "You know, trying to figure out college is tough for a lot of people, and in your early 20s you still often really don’t know who you are and you really have no idea what you want to do. I was having a lot of conversations with family and friends and faculty as well, trying to guide me. I think I always enjoyed social media and I could always find the positives in it. In its beginning, social media was just very relaxed. People were close and posting pictures of their food and whatnot. Now, it’s turned into something way different. It’s a powerhouse for businesses. It’s an outlet for people who want to share their story. I was inspired by some of the content I was seeing on the Internet and thinking, ‘I could put my own spin on that or try to find ways to.’”
Her deep interest in social media and her senior capstone internship course, as well as a love for sports, eventually led to a position with the Reading Royals hockey team and a viral TikTok video racking up nearly half-a-million views on TikTok. It involved a fan-favorite player returning to the ice after some time away, the two goals he scored in a 20-second span, and a unique backdrop of green ice, dyed for St. Patrick’s Day.
@readingroyals Throwback to when Mongo came back from being out most of the season, scored 2 goals in 21 seconds, and then got his highlight shown on @BarDown 😎 #echl #hockey #hockeytok #fyp #readingroyals #hockeyplayer #philadelphiaflyers #lehighvalleyphantoms #nhl #ahl ♬ original sound - ava
Barrett’s role with the Royals has consumed her life, she admits, and she wouldn’t have it any other way.
“In the best way possible, that is,” she concedes, explaining that when she started, “I had barely any time to see my friends; I rarely got to eat dinner and was always on my feet, but I think I’m one of the few who would say I love it. Those really aren’t cons for me. I just thrive in this environment. It’s pretty much become like a second home.”
If you ask her, she has Alvernia’s professors and the campus environment to thank.
“I have ADHD,” Barrett admitted, “so I really struggled for a bit. But in terms of college, I knew I always wanted to go. Whatever it took, I was determined to go. At Alvernia, every single one of my professors was fantastic at what they do. I wanted to be at a place where I would be heard and I would learn … a place that gave me confidence to raise my hand in a room. Alvernia curated that environment."
