Anna Grace McLaughlin, an alumni from the class of 2018 and 2020, learned about herself while a student at Winthrop University.
“During my time at Winthrop, I learned who I am, who I want to be, and where I am going,” McLaughlin said. “There will always be bumps in the road, but overall, I would not change anything because it led me to where I am today.”
Her first year at Winthrop was one that was a learning experience.
“It began with a scared, nervous college freshman who was trying to navigate her ‘new normal,’” McLaughlin said. “Getting through the ups and downs of freshman year was an experience I am extremely grateful for as I was able to make Winthrop my home away from home.”
McLaughlin remembers that some of the memorable trends on campus from 2015 to 2020 were comfy T-shirts, oversized cardigans, leggings and Chaco’s.
“Everyone was bopping to their own music choices, but I can personally remember Arianna Grande’s “Thank U, Next” coming out and being my obsession for weeks,” McLaughlin said. “Though my music style has changed drastically, it still makes me happy to listen to that song and remember dancing around in my Walk2Campus apartment with my incredible roommates, who will now all be in my wedding party.”
While at Winthrop, McLaughlin remembers eating at El Cancun and Moe’s off campus with her friends.
“My friends and I would grab Popeye’s (no Chick-Fil-A yet!) and then head to class most days,” McLaughlin said.
Some of her favorite memories from Winthrop include late-night dance rehearsals in Johnson, study sessions with her friends and roommate and late nights hanging out with friends.
“I also enjoyed in–class discussions about social movements with my social work professors and classmates,” McLaughlin said. “I always enjoyed homecoming and the first week of classes, but especially loved any opportunity where I could share with others what I was passionate about, such as dance performances and presentations with my social work research.”McLaughlin’s advice for current Winthrop students is to “enjoy your time and do one thing each week you have been wanting to do on or off campus. The time passes so much quicker than you could expect. Your time in college as a young adult is extremely important, so use that time before you get thrown into the craziness of adulthood.”
For freshmen, she advises them to not be afraid to “branch out. Talk to someone random on the elevator, speak to a passing stranger in Digs or ask a classmate to study together! There are so many ways to make lifelong friends while in college and putting yourself out there is one of them.”
“Enjoy your time at Winthrop,” McLaughlin said. “College is the best four years of your life, but it will pass quicker than you ever expect! Study hard, party some too and enjoy making friends you will have for a lifetime.”
McLaughlin’s on–campus life was disrupted in 2020 because of the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Being a graduate student in the midst of a pandemic was a challenge,” McLaughlin said. “My graduation was taken away and I had to learn to navigate the “new normal” while being quarantined in a small apartment. The student body did the best we could, and it taught us to navigate challenges.”
“During graduate school, I participated in a graduate research position where I was able to conduct research on incarcerated individuals and their ability to reintegrate into the community after opiate addictions, as well as working to provide an opportunity to do so,” McLaughlin said.
McLaughlin graduated in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in social work with two minors in dance and gerontology. She went on to obtain her master of social work degree in 2020. Immediately after graduation she received her Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) and is now working on her Licensed Independent Social Worker – Clinical Practitioner (LISW-CP) which she should have by the end of 2023.
She now works as an outpatient counselor at Thrive Family Services, where she works mainly with children and sometimes with teenagers and adults.
“Since I have graduated from Winthrop with my masters, I have moved to Charlotte and started a life in the city,” McLaughlin said. “I will also be getting married in November of this year. I am currently working to balance work and wedding planning with my wonderful fiancé, our cat, three dogs, and a foster puppy!”
McLaughlin is currently not active as an alumnus, however, she does keep up with the on-campus news from friends who are currently at Winthrop.
“My time at Winthrop is filled with happy memories and I can confidently say Winthrop is a place where I was able to spend time figuring out who I am and who I wanted to be,” McLaughlin said.
