Don’t be afraid of change, embrace it

I still remember how nervous I was about starting college, because it meant moving away from home. The place where I felt safe, where I could always go if I needed to see a familiar face or had a bad day. The thought of leaving Mechanicsburg was nerve-wracking. I’ve always been super close to my family, especially after COVID-19 changed everything and turned our world from being out and about to staying inside together.

In March 2021, my dad and I planned college visits to three schools: Shippensburg University, Kutztown University, and Bloomsburg University. I felt getting a sense of what the campus was like and its community was important to me to make this decision. These were my top schools because they weren’t incredibly far from home. All three were also smaller in size compared to Penn State and Pitt, which felt a little less overwhelming. The class sizes were great, and they all had great accolades to their name.

I was intrigued to see Bloomsburg the most because my aunt was attending the school at the time and my best friend, Miranda, from dance also expressed interest about going there. There were also a number of teachers from my high school who were either Bloomsburg alumni or had positive comments to say about the school. The moment I stepped onto campus, I felt this weird tingle in my stomach. It was a mix of excitement, possibility, and curiosity. After touring the other schools, I didn’t get that same.

About a month later, I realized that tingle was a sign — this was the place where I was meant to explore all those possibilities and opportunities. As scary as it was to make that decision, I just knew that Bloomsburg was where I was meant to be.

I’m not going to pretend freshman year was easy or perfect right off the bat. It was actually pretty rough. I was homesick for weeks and kept asking my mom to pick me up almost every weekend. I had a roommate, but she left most weekends, so I spent a lot of time alone. I tried joining clubs and making friends in my dorm, but nothing really clicked. I wanted to move back home and figure out a different plan for myself.

My parents noticed I was struggling, but they also knew how strong I was. They were understanding of the situation. My dad was a big proponent for me to stay at school and stick it out. I remember him saying “Change is going to happen — whether you're ready for it or not. College will bring lots of new experiences, from meeting different people to learning new things. Don’t be afraid of it.”

Growing up means there are times when you're going to be uncomfortable and scared. Staying at Bloomsburg was something I grew to love. If you don’t have a close relationship with your parents, confide in your friends, professors, counselors, or anyone else you trust. They have your best interest at heart and want to see you succeed. Just know that you are stronger than you think. It takes people a different amount of time to adjust to change. For some people they adjust quickly and for others it could even take years to find your groove and the right path for yourself.

A lot changed for me during my freshman year from the day I moved into my dorm to when I walked out of my last final nine months later. Little did I know at the time, a whole new experience — and a lot more change — was in store for me in my sophomore year.

— Mia Shrawder, a senior communication studies major at Commonwealth University-Bloomsburg with an emphasis on leadership and public advocacy, is interning with the Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications this spring. She is a native of Mechanicsburg who likes to run, dance, do pilates, cook and bake healthy recipes, read, watch Gilmore Girls, and watch soccer with her father.

#BloomOnward #HuskyLife

No sweating the missed exits

So, senior year… what a bundled mess of stress.

Nothing really goes as planned, ever. Who was going to tell me how many curve balls this world was going to throw me?

Going through heartbreak is one of the hardest things I’ve ever been through. And I've (almost) been through college. Crazy to say I only have one more semester to go. Nothing has ever been this challenging for me emotionally.

So, what did I do about it? Cry. A lot. I’m human, I can’t help it.

Thank goodness for the friendships I built throughout college. My two closest friends are now my roommates. They bring so much support, joy, and warmth into my life.

Who else brings me happiness? My lovely dad.

He has always been there for me. We are like two peas in a pod. Or we would say, “like coffee and creamer.” (we don’t actually say that – I just know he would agree with that comparison and think it represented us).

This boyfriend of mine was a major part of my life, and it was hard getting back on track after he was gone. So, I turned to my roommates, my friends, my brother, and ultimately my dad. He knew exactly what I was going through and knew just how to help.

It felt like I had so much more free time to myself! It was great. Or so it seemed up until I got bored. I turned to journaling to write down my feelings. Pencil to paper is so healing. I feel like I wrote more this week than in my communication courses.

I turned to music in my free time. Blasting Taylor Swift in the shower is a must. Turning up to Olivia Rodrigo in my car rides to work is unmatched. Don’t Blame Me, 22, Bejeweled, I Did Something Bad. Logical, vampire, favorite rime, happier, and 1 step forward, 3 steps back.

Looking back, maybe it was necessary to take time for myself. To really focus on my academics, my friendships, and my family. Suddenly, I had time to hang out with the closest people in my life! The best part of the work-life balance in my opinion.

Recently, my dad visited me to have a father-daughter day! We drove to lunch first then to Selinsgrove after. But, this was no regular trip.

Remember when I said that things don't typically go as planned? Well, that fully applies for this outing. We were on the road for longer than expected. Why? We missed an exit! We got so invested in our conversation that we lost track of the signs on the road and drove right by our exit. I’m taking this as a positive. To get so distracted by a quality conversation with your favorite person is such a blessing.

This 30-minute drive to lunch quickly turned into a 2-hour drive for lunch! And it was to a BBQ joint on top of a mountain overlooking the river called Skeeters. What a great, picturesque view, accompanied by even better food! What an experience this was. But, let me tell you, the destination was so worth it. Worth the time and distress. Because there’s something great waiting at the end.

This stage of my life is definitely the car ride on the highway with multiple missed exits. It feels like nothing is going as planned. I’m sure I’ll get to my BBQ joint soon. It will be okay.

— Kathryn Henriksen, a senior communication studies major at Commonwealth University-Bloomsburg with an emphasis on organizational communication, is interning with the Office of Marketing and Communications this fall. She is a native of Pottstown who loves Andy Grammer, Nutella, and all 10 seasons of Friends.

#BloomOnward #HuskyLife