Anthony Machcinski

"It's amazing to see her growth in just a few years."

There are times when I’m reminded about the blessings I have as a Coms professional in higher education. One of them happened last weekend.

I’ve known Sofiia Ogerchuk since she volunteered for a Manor College marketing photoshoot at Manor College. She didn’t have prior training as a model - none of our students generally do. That photoshoot sparked a passion. She’s been attending Philly Shutter Club, a monthly photographer/model meetup that helps both parties grow their portfolios.

At a recent session I attended with her, I sat back talking to the organizers while Sofiia worked with other photographers. As we watched, one of the organizers marveled at how much Sofiia has grown - not just in her modeling skill, but her confidence, her networking and her voice. She's not just modeling better, but she's coming to photoshoots with ideas and ways to help other students look and feel their best.

The past few days, I’ve been thinking about that moment. As I end my fifth year at Manor, this May graduating class will be the first I’ve followed for their entire journey from freshmen to seniors. I’ve gotten to know them through stories, videos and photos at on-campus events.

It took that moment to made me realize - it’s a blessing to watch them grow. We get to see them be wide-eyed freshman, unsure of their upcoming journey, and we get to see them leave with the experience, maturity and more that comes from being a college graduate.

What we do in MarCom isn’t just about a job. What we do impacts lives. The stories we tell help show others that growth is possible, no matter your circumstances. And it’s moments like this that allow us to celebrate just how amazing our students are.

As for more growth, this is the first photo I took of Sofiia as a freshman on campus, and a photo I took of Sofiia at the meetup over the weekend.

TL;DR – Sofiia is awesome. Watching growth is a blessing. We need to be reminded of that and celebrate it whenever possible.

Putting the final touches on an awesome winter season at Manor.

Cheyann's story is truly inspiring. So much is a struggle for her, but she pushes through anyway because she sees the value in a college education.

I'm truly blessed for her trusting me to tell her story.

Manor College Student Proving Strength Wasn’t Meant to be Silent - Manor College Cheyann Velez (Philadelphia, Kensington High School for the Creative and Performing Arts) is studying Business at Manor College. Wearing a highlighter-pink Reebok shirt and stylish ripped jeans that match an ear-to-ear smile, Cheyann Velez stands in stark contrast to the grim, harsh journey she’s ...