For senior Daniel Ballagh, college has been a time of growth. “My experience at OC has played a huge part in me becoming who I am today. When I arrived on campus, I was nervous, reserved, and not extremely confident in who I was. After being here for three full years, I can tell anyone now that I feel completely different,” he said.
Daniel is originally from Munith, a small town just outside of Jackson. With Olivet College only 50 minutes away from home, our award-winning Insurance and Risk Management program and the opportunity to play baseball made Olivet the perfect fit for him.
“My parents have been instrumental in my ability to attend college. My dad is an alumnus and spoke highly of OC, and both of my parents have been extremely supportive of me as I have navigated my college experience,” Daniel said. “Another huge reason I could attend was the plethora of scholarships available to OC students, which has made attending a lot easier.”
Daniel knew that he wanted to enter the insurance industry well before college. He has several family members in the insurance field and had an opportunity in high school to enroll in insurance classes for two years. He said, “I had decided to major in insurance and risk management, and Olivet was a clear choice.”
Daniel’s goal is to find a role in the insurance industry where he can help others. “I am drawn to insurance because I want to be the one to help those who need it. Insurance is a huge customer-based industry, and helping people is something that genuinely brings me joy, and I can do this in all facets of this industry,” he said.
Daniel’s drive to help others is what it means at Olivet College when we say, Be More and Do Good. “When I feel that I am doing good for those around me, it helps me to be more,” Daniel said.
Daniel credits the relationships he’s formed on campus for help and support when he needs it. He said, “My mentors have been instrumental in me finding my way through college without hitting so many bumps in the roads and have helped me avoid a lot of major setbacks. My professors have been great all three years I have been here; they communicate really well, and whenever I have struggled with anything course related, they have always been willing to sit down with me until I had a grasp on what I was doing.” Outside of academics, his coaches have been impactful mentors. “My coaches pushed me to find limits both physically and mentally that I did not know I even had,” Daniel said.
Daniel has been a part of the Olivet baseball team since his first year. “I have always played baseball growing up and jumped at the opportunity to play at the college level,” Daniel said. “The bonds and the friendships I have made with my teammates have been some of the best I have ever had.”
He is also involved with Gamma Iota Sigma, the national insurance fraternity. Through Gamma Iota Sigma, Daniel has had the opportunity to go on trips, receive scholarships and meet professionals in the insurance industry he might otherwise not have had. Last Spring, he and 12 other insurance students took a trip to London and Ireland to meet with distinguished insurance companies. While there, they also got to explore and learn about the history of both countries. “This trip opened my eyes to an entirely different world I had never experienced. I got to see the culture, the people, and the history up close. I can’t wait to build on my travel experiences and continue to travel,” he said.
“Olivet College has allowed me to do so many things during my college career. From going on international trips, opening the door for me to get internships, organizing job fairs to meet professionals in my field, and putting together events for us to enjoy on campus. College has allowed me to grow as an individual and create relationships that will last much longer than my time at Olivet,” Daniel said.
By seizing opportunities when presented and putting himself out there, Daniel has gained the confidence to be more than he ever imagined. He’s now ready to do good in his career, community and the world around him. Daniel said, “I am more outgoing in social settings – casual and professional, leaps and bounds more confident in myself as a person, and much less anxious about what the future holds. I realize that through my studies and experiences at Olivet, I am setting myself up for my future.”
Learn more about Olivet College by contacting the Office of Admission at 800-456-7189 or admissions@olivetcollege.edu.