Where Are They Now? Featuring: Daniel Cruz
We’re interviewing alumni who graduated from York College of Pennsylvania to see “where they are now.” Today’s interview is with Daniel Cruz, a past junior editor and beat writer for Patriot News at Penn Live. Daniel is currently a Freight Sales Account Manager for UPS in the Harrisburg area.
Tell us about who you are…
My name is Daniel Cruz; I was born and raised in Bergen County, NJ. I went to York College in 2010, and have remained in the Central PA area since! I have been living in downtown Harrisburg for the past three plus years. I now work for UPS Freight in the Harrisburg terminal — I am the Freight Sales Account Manager for the Harrisburg and greater State College area. I am very passionate about competitive sports play.
What was your major and year of graduation?
I was a professional writing major with a focus in journalism; I graduated in the spring of 2014.
What was your ideal dream job as an aspiring graduate?
As stated previously, my life revolves around sports — since I was a young boy, I always wanted to be a journalist. However, I did not want to simply “report”
scores and stories. I wanted to have my own section in the paper that allowed
me to voice my opinion, so essentially a sports columnist.
Where did you intern? Why did you do it and how did you end up with that role?
I was a junior editor and beat writer for “The Patriot News at Penn Live,” in
Mechanicsburg, PA. My digital writing professor, Dr. Madeline Yonker, played an essential role in getting me the position. From my own perspective, I initially thought there were far more qualified candidates than myself. In my eyes, I initially thought there were far more candidates that were more qualified than I was. It was a wonderful experience and I am very grateful that Penn Live selected me. They were the periodical that first reported the Jerry Sandusky story.
Tell us about your career journey thus far…
I have been in sales since I received my diploma in 2014. I worked for the
Unifirst Corporation for just under two years, as a sales consultant in the uniform business. Since August of 2016, I have been an Account Manager for UPS Freight. By no means, have I ruled out becoming a journalist in the future.
How has your education helped you as a professional in your field?
My education has helped me tremendously, as a professional in my field. Writing, reading, social interactions, time management — you name it. In addition, I have learned how to rebound from my mistakes, work with team members, meet deadlines, and follow up in a timely manner.
What did you wish you knew as a student that you know now?
The number one thing I stress to any college student, and it’s something I wish I had in my repertoire when I was at York, is time management. I understand most students are going to school full time, holding a job, playing a sport, or in some cases, both. I also understand that students may be involved in a club, or multiple, and still want to maintain a social life. Nevertheless, if you sit and plan your time accordingly, you will have the luxury of completing all of the tasks on your plate.
Tell us a fun fact about your life beyond college.
The coolest thing I have seen since I graduated from York College was the
Hoover Dam. It is located in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River, on the
boarder of Nevada and Arizona. It was one of the most exhilarating milestones in my brief life thus far, and I would recommend anyone who hasn’t had the experience, to immediately put it on their bucket list.