What is your preferred name and major(s) and minor(s)?
My name is Jennifer Litzinger and I am a theatre arts major with a literature minor.
What are some of the jobs you held at McDaniel?
I co-directed Choices 2015.
What organizations were you part of at McDaniel?
I was part of McDaniel Theatre, Alpha Psi Omega, Alpha Lambda Delta, Healthy Living and Sustainability Club.
Tell us more about your story at McDaniel. How much did you enjoy your time at McDaniel? Who do you think is/was your best mentor(s)? What were some of the challenges you encountered and how did you overcome them?
I never planned to come to McDaniel, but I could not be more happy that I ended up here. I’ve grown so much thanks to the great friends I’ve made here and the wonderful professors who have pushed me to work harder and achieve things I never knew I was capable of achieving. I would not be the person I am today if it was not for mentors like Elizabeth van den Berg, Gené Fouché, and Kyle Engler. I cannot thank them enough for teaching me to believe in myself and take risks. You won’t grow if all you ever do is play it safe. I’m glad I had these wonderful mentors to kick me in the butt, force me out of my comfort zone, and tell me that they knew I’d rise to the occasion. Being in the theatre program has taught me a lot of valuable life lessons, like the importance of sticking up for yourself and wonders of ad-libbing until you figure out what you should have said in the first place. I’ve done a lot of growing up in my time at McDaniel.
What are your plans for after graduation?
I’m off to Disney World! I’ve been accepted into the Disney College Program to work in attractions in the fall. After that, I’ll be making it up as I go. I just want to find a way to be on stage and to make a difference in someone’s life.
What is your best memory at McDaniel? What is your worst memory at McDaniel?
I can’t pinpoint a “best” memory at McDaniel because I have so many great memories of sitting in the greenroom at one in the morning, talking with some of the best people I know about who even knows what. Every moment I’ve spent with the people I love on campus is a moment I cherish. I’m a sap, I know. As far as my worst memory goes, I will never forgive the professor who criticized my roommate in front of our entire class freshman year because that’s the only time I’ve ever wanted to punch a professor. I’d much rather respect my professors.
What advice can you give to those not graduating?
Make the most of the time you have here – stay up all night with friends, take the night off and go to that party, show up to class and absorb some of the information your professors are throwing at you, do your homework – but don’t forget to take care of yourself too. Your degree won’t be much use if you’re barely alive to use it.
Anything else you want to share with the world?
Don’t ever let anyone tell you that your dream is silly or not worth dreaming about. It’s your life, so don’t let anyone else live it for you. It’s okay to be selfish sometimes. More sappy advice, I know, but what can I say? I’m full of it.
