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They answered it before Sam even made it to her seat. Turns out, it’s Erin, who works at the library. I clocked the whole exchange at about twenty-five seconds.

That’s just how it is with Bobcats—we lead with common ground.

Commonalities among alumnae extend beyond the bricks of Athens and mutual acquaintances, though, and Ashley and Sam share plenty: both are young alumnae living in Cincinnati, navigating a changing media industry as well as what it means to be a black woman today.

After starting their careers in more traditional news and magazine settings, both have since transitioned into new environments and situations—Ashley recently started a content marketing management role at Standard Textile, and Sam has expanded her freelance photography services while picking up a sales support position with a health insurer.

With a few basic questions as a guide, they explored their common experiences, identity, and challenges. Excerpts from our conversation follow.

What did you discover about yourself at OHIO?
Ashley: I discovered my joy in doing what other people said I couldn't do. Being at OU and jumping into this new territory gave me an opportunity to really discover who I was, who I could become.

Sam: I was one of two black girls in my class in high school, and there were a lot of things I felt but didn't know how to verbalize. When I got to OU and got to take black media and African American studies, it made a big impact on me because it finally gave me words to explain what I had felt.

As you’ve transitioned from college to career, what challenges have you faced?
Sam: The journalism industry has changed a lot and not always in great ways. Even if I’m not working in the type of job I thought I would be, I’m learning so much about applying what I learned at OU to how I’m pursing my career at this point of my life.

Ashley: I worked at Martha Stewart Living senior year, and they said they wanted to see if I would be a good candidate for a research editor opening. I tried out, but at the end of the summer, they said they didn't have the budget. That was the thing that was supposed to happen—I was supposed to get this Martha Stewart job. Then months later, I discovered I was pregnant. That was a huge transition for me—going from feeling like I was at the top of my career, at the top of my game, to going back to Springfield, where I never wanted to live.

But ten years later, I learned how the things that didn't happen sometimes set you up for the biggest comebacks and the greatest things that will happen. Without that detour, I would have never learned how to do things on my own. I would have always thought that this is what is supposed to happen for me. Women are adaptable, and we also transition well. Sometimes we fall into that rut, but I think there is so much more power in the journey. I’m glad I had to walk a little further to get what I wanted.

What advice do you have for fellow OHIO women?
Sam: The world is not going to stand still for you, and you may have to make some U-turns. I think that some people lose themselves when they expect their life to be this way and they have to do it that way. There’s nothing wrong with having goals, but having flexibility is more important.

Ashley: Don’t lose the fire. I feel like when you’re about to graduate, you feel like you can do anything. Don't lose the fire. Don't let the world drown it out. You are more powerful than you know.

Read similar conversations with alumnae living in San Francisco, the Pittsburgh area, and Washington, D.C.