Lindsey Schwemmin never planned to bring 200 of her Florida Polytechnic University classmates together in a weeklong tag battle between the living and the dead, but as a member of the inaugural graduating class at Florida Poly, she learned that sometimes the best moments are unexpected.
It was the game of Humans vs. Zombies, a highly imaginative version of tag played by groups across the globe, and the Clearwater, Florida, native is one of those responsible for bringing it to Florida Poly’s campus.
Schwemmin also embraced the unexpected when she found her passion for logistics and switched her major from engineering to business analytics.
“I struggled a little because I thought I should be an engineer,” said Schwemmin. “I found science and technology management to be much more versatile, interesting, and well-rounded. I know that I can use the things I’m learning in so many real-world settings.”
On May 4, Schwemmin is graduating from Florida Poly as part of the university’s first four-year class. After graduation, she’ll join the management training program at Sherwin Williams. The exclusive program will provide Schwemmin with production supervisor training for up to 18 months before she selects her job.
This amazing work opportunity is another benefit of Schwemmin taking a chance on the unknown. When she started looking for colleges, Florida Poly didn’t exist. It officially opened during her last year of high school, and Schwemmin recognized it was the perfect fit.
As a student at the newest of Florida’s state universities, Schwemmin expected she would be a part of an intimate educational setting, have small class sizes and close relationships with her professors. What wasn’t expected was the opportunity to bond with fellow students while creating experiences like Zombie tag games, to begin campus traditions.
Schwemmin’s faculty mentor, Dr. James Mennie, assistant professor of science management, has given her and her classmates the opportunity to explore many real-world work settings through organized tours and site visits, including trips to Lakeland Linder Regional Airport, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, and even her future employer, Sherwin Williams.
“Dr. Mennie didn’t just plan trips for us. He opened every class with a discussion of what was really happening in our field,” said Schwemmin. “We weren’t just reading out of a textbook. He always made sure we were staying up to date on industry trends and information that would matter when it was our turn to get a job.”
There are bound to be many more unexpected and wonderful moments as Schwemmin leaves campus to begin her career. Her Florida Poly experiences have helped her be ready to handle whatever life may bring – even the zombies.
Editor’s Note: This story is one of a series of stories featuring several of Florida Poly’s Class of 2018 graduates.