Nora Long ’12

Nora Long ’12 was 15 years old when she enrolled at Milton Hershey School from Reading, Pennsylvania. Although she was unsure of where her life was headed in that moment, she quickly took advantage of all the opportunities to grow at MHS.

“When I came to MHS as a tenth-grader, I was a little lost and unsure of myself,” Nora said. “The person that I [became] was more confident and in touch with my talents, and more focused on where I wanted to go after graduation. The faculty, staff, and students I grew up with at MHS all contributed to [my growth].”

One of the experiences that helped Nora discover her talents and create future goals was the Electronic Media and Journalism career pathway within the school’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) program. She was exposed to photography, film, and television and learned how to work with various forms of equipment.

“I don’t think I would have pursued film, video, or photography if I hadn’t had those classes at MHS,” she said. “My eyes just wouldn’t have been open to it. I’m really grateful for that.”

After graduating in 2012, Nora took her passion for film and enrolled at Stevenson University in Maryland to study film and video. Throughout her academics and study abroad experiences, Nora continued to develop her craft and express herself through art.

“I think photography is something that lets you transport yourself and the viewer in a way that other mediums can’t,” she explained. “You can capture a moment or a memory and document it forever. You can show the world what it felt like to be in a moment that only you experienced.”

Nora continues to build memories and capture moments at Stevenson University, but not as a student—she now works in the Office of Marketing and Digital Communications as a full-time videographer, photographer, and editor.

Although she’s busy capturing the educational journey of the university, Nora still makes time to visit MHS and reflect on the place she calls home.

“I think home is a place that you can be yourself,” Nora said. “You can grow, learn, and make mistakes. For me, this was definitely that place.”