Brendan Fee ’24 | Monticello, Minnesota
Major/Minor: Communication Studies; Business Management

Coming into college, I thought I had my life figured out and I felt relieved. Several family members attended Concordia and I had planned on coming here to play soccer, pursue a degree in business, and own funeral homes postgrad, but that started to change after my first year.

Late in my freshman year, I decided to leave the  and really focus on myself personally. I began working at a local funeral home and it was a great fit. Having family in the funeral service industry, I have been around it my entire life. It was even my first job. I continued to work at that funeral home for a while but as I continued to grow as an individual, it felt like a job more than before. At the same time that all of this was going on, I didn’t feel passionate about pursuing a business management degree either, so I changed my major to communication studies.

Funeral service is a passion of mine and it had never felt like this before. Normally, it didn’t feel like work. It was enjoyable and effortless. But working at least four days a week and being on call 24 hours a day the same amount of days got to be too much. The added stress of going to class, completing homework, and attempting to maintain a social life became overwhelming. At this point, I used this period of change to truly bloom into the person I am today. I quit the funeral home and started to work at a local hot spot, especially for Cobbers. It was a local bar and grill that is a Fargo-Moorhead staple. Shortly after I started there, I became their social media manager, which had become a new passion of mine. While I continued to work at the bar and doing the social media, I also started as a Communications and Marketing intern for Concordia.

Each one of them makes connections with students and they create a safe learning space.

The COM Department

The communication studies department is the reason I have had such a great Cobber experience. The classes are easily applicable and encourage you to dive far below surface-level thinking. I also may be biased in saying this, but the professors are one of a kind. Each one of them makes connections with students and they create a safe learning space. My advisor, Dr. Kirsten Theye, took me in as if I was one of her own children. She listened to me when I needed it, gave me fantastic advice, taught me countless lessons, and even gave me some tough love when I needed it, too! She is one in a million and I owe much of my happiness at Concordia to her, her guidance, and her classes.

^{Student Appreciation Day in the Offutt School of Business}

Parting Advice

No matter what your path is currently, be open and accept change. It’s an extremely hard thing to do and it can be horrifying, but I say this with so much confidence. I have never been happier in my life. Letting life’s events pan out and shape who you are now seems so natural.

Editor’s note: Brendan is currently working for YETI and coaching high school soccer.

^{Published November 2024}