Nikky Bloomquist made the most of her time in college by being involved in a plethora of organizations. She also worked on-campus as a Shocker Navigator, a student assistant for Study Abroad, and a tutor for Student Support Services.

Nikky now works full-time in the Office of Admissions as a Recruitment Event Specialist. Congratulations Nikky!

Hometown

Topeka, Kansas

Degree received

BA in Political Science and Modern and Classical Languages and Literature: Spanish Concentration

Why did you choose Wichita State?

I originally looked at Wichita State because my sister went here, and once I toured campus, I knew it could be a home for me too! I liked the opportunities I heard about, like the DC Internship program, Study Abroad, and Model UN. I got to meet with professors while on my campus visit and knew that at Wichita State, I would be more than just a number and faculty would care about my individual success. Wichita State was also more affordable. I knew I wanted to live on campus wherever I went to college, so it was important to me that Wichita State had numerous scholarships available so I could live on campus and not have to work too much while being a student.

Which organizations were you involved in during your time at Wichita State?

I was involved in Student Ambassador Society (SAS), Model United Nations, Shockappella, the International Buddy Program, El Cafecito Spanish Conversation Group, and the Immigration Student Advocacy Organization. I also worked as a Shocker Navigator, a student assistant for Study Abroad, and a tutor for Student Support Services. Some of these organizations or jobs I was even involved in for all four years! I adjusted my involvement based on the amount of free time I had to commit and as my interests changed. 

How did being involved with the Student Ambassador Society/Shocker Navigators/Admissions impact you?

Volunteering for Student Ambassador Society and working as a Shocker Navigator for the Office of Admissions was rewarding because I got to help students during their college search. Wichita State has given me so many opportunities and I loved sharing my Shocker story so others could learn how much they could get out of Wichita too. Plus, the staff and students who work in Admissions are amazing and I was always surrounded by positivity!

Which Wichita State faculty or staff member impacted you the most during your time here?

I can’t choose just one, so I’ll say both Professor Alexandra Middlewood and Professor Julie Henderson impacted me the most. Dr. Middlewood (or as students call her, Dr. M), was the faculty advisor for Model UN, so she traveled with the team to the conferences we went to. Dr. M always encouraged me to make my voice heard and I always felt safe in the spaces she created for students. During conferences, she encouraged me and the rest of the team to approach Model UN sessions with kindness and empathy for others.

Professor Henderson works in the Spanish Department and runs El Cafecito, a conversation group where you can go practice Spanish once a week with other students outside of class. She always had confidence in me and was patient with me and other students while we practiced speaking. She is also always available to meet with students and offer advice about Spanish study abroad programs, classes at Wichita State, or careers after college.

How do you feel about graduating?

I’m a little scared to transition to life after college! A lot of my friends and I are transitioning to their careers so I think that’ll be hard to adjust to. But I’m excited to get home at night and relax instead of having to do homework. 

Which experience at Wichita State challenged you the most and what did you take away from that challenge?

The most challenging thing was living in Washington D.C. for a semester and interning for the State Department. I didn’t see my family for four months when I normally see them at least every two weeks. On top of that, the city was huge and hard to adjust to, and I didn’t know much about the State Department when I started the internship. What I learned, though, is that I can get through difficult times now and find ways to connect to people I love even from far away. Despite the anxiety from the job and living in a big city, I got through it and had a great time. Now I know I can do that with any challenge!

What are your post-grad plans?

After graduation, I will keep working in the Office of Admissions as a full-time staff member. I also want to get the Spanish for the Professions graduate certificate at Wichita State so I can get better at translating and interpreting. And I’m excited to get more involved in the Wichita community. I also recently became a Big for Big Brothers Big Sisters.

What advice would you give to incoming Wichita State students?

My advice is to take any and every opportunity you get. Do things even if they make you nervous--whether it’s studying abroad or simply joining a new club. It’s so worth it!