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

What a crazy journey it's been

Toward the end of my senior year of high school when I was thinking about college, I told myself this was an opportunity to reinvent myself in a way. Not that I wanted to change who I was entirely, but I saw it as an opportunity to improve some things I maybe didn’t like as much. In high school I didn’t like how closed off I was. I often wouldn’t give people the benefit of the doubt and that would lead to me not making friends easily.

This is something I was determined to turn around. Every new chapter in your life brings changes and I was determined for this change to be a positive one. The main thing I wanted to do differently was be more outgoing and make new friends. I left high school with only two friends, and I always regretted I didn’t make more of an effort to make more friends. I saw college as a start of a new chapter and an opportunity to put myself out there, but COVID had a different idea.

My freshman year in 2020, I moved into Columbia Hall and was trying my hardest to make connections with the other girls in my hall or people I had met through the Facebook page. All of this was going well until our in-person classes had to be moved online because the COVID cases in our area got too high. Because the classes got moved online, Bloomsburg was offering refunds on our room and board, which meant most people moved back home. I tried to stick it out as long as I could. I stayed for about a month and wanted to stay longer, but once I realized lots of people were leaving, I also went home. This really put a damper on my plans to reinvent myself and try better to make friends in college.

Although this sort of derailed my plans, I didn’t let it stop me from accomplishing my goal. I spent my sophomore year really trying to continue any relationships I formed in that short time I was on campus my freshman year and trying to form new friendships. I decided to move back to Bloom and get an apartment with my boyfriend Dylan. I didn’t have anyone I could get a dorm room with plus I thought it would be fun to live with my boyfriend. Moving back to Bloom after being home for most of my freshman year was kind of like I was moving to Bloom for the first time again. This was in a way my freshman year because I hadn’t fully experienced what it was like to be at college. Through this whole experience I really taught myself perseverance and to trust the process. Although the beginning of my college journey didn’t go the way I planned it still all ended up working out the way it was meant to.

In the past, I would have let these challenges stop me from trying again. This is why I struggled so much with building friendships in high school. I also felt since you go to school with the same people since elementary school, most friendships were already established. I found it hard for me to put myself out there because of my fear of rejection. If I had faced one issue or one roadblock, I would have completely jumped ship. 

But this experience was so important to me, and I really didn’t want to look back on college and think I should have done things differently. I forced myself to face my fears because I knew it would benefit me in the long run. I have seen myself mature and learn so many useful lessons through my four years. I understand the importance of good loyal friends who are always in your corner. If it weren't for my friends and my boyfriend I wouldn’t have been as successful through college as I was.

I also learned the importance of trusting your instincts. Not just in school, but also in life. Since I took a risk of putting myself out there and being vulnerable with strangers and it actually worked, it showed me I need to believe in myself. I would have never found my best friend Morgan if it weren’t for me going into college with this mindset. The college journey truly prepares you for your transition to adulthood. I felt like I was so underprepared when I entered college, but now I am a much more mature and prepared person who’s ready to enter the workforce. With that comes many decisions. I feel so confident in the degree I will be graduating with, the friends I have gained along the way, and the experiences I have. I will be graduating in May with a degree in communication studies, a focus in organizational communication, and a minor in psychology. 

The professors in the communication department are truly the best. They know their stuff and they are so encouraging and will help their students success in any way possible. I know because of them I truly am prepared to graduate. With all these tools I’m trusting I will be able to have a successful career. Although my path from here on out might be a little unknown I now have the skills to handle that better. 

If I face a bump in the road, I'm better equipped to handle it and trust everything happens for a reason. The support system I've built through this crazy journey will carry me through any hardships I might face. For now, I must embrace the scarries and see what the world has to offer me post-grad.

— Monica Wilt, 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 spring. She is a native of New Cumberland, who loves Taylor Swift, the Philadelphia 76ers, and the show Survivor.

#BloomOnward #HuskyLife

Trust yourself and embrace your intuition

Having a high school sweetheart is a controversial topic. Some people think it’s so sweet that we’ve been together so long while others think we’re crazy for getting together at such a young age. Everyone seems to have an opinion on whether you will stay together or break up. I get unsolicited relationship advice from almost anyone I talk to. 

So, you could imagine the type of responses I would get when I would tell people we were going to the same college. And then when I would say we were planning on living together. I had not only close friends and family tell me it was a bad idea, but teachers in my school would tell me we would never last. I’m not sure what it is about having a serious relationship in high school that freaks people out so much. Maybe it’s different for me because my grandparents are high school sweethearts and are still married today.

Dylan and I started dating in 2017 which was our freshman year of high school. Starting our relationship at such a young age allowed us to grow together as a couple. I think this was a big reason we felt confident enough to go to the same college together.

Even with all the negative comments Dylan and I still saw no problem with us coming to Bloomsburg together, and I am so glad we made that decision. From the day I moved in freshman year to the day I graduate, he will always be there for me. It always comforted me to know I had at least one person in Bloom I could go to. Especially when I struggled to find really close friends in the beginning.

Once Dylan and I started dating in high school I would myself become more comfortable being with just him which caused me to not find new friends. By the time we graduated high school, I realized that I only had Dylan plus one or two friends. When I went to college, I was determined to not let this be the case again. Although I still loved spending time with Dylan, I had to be sure I tried to meet new friends.

When we returned for our sophomore year neither one of us knew who to room with. We figured we could do random housing if we lived on campus, but that was nerve-racking. Finally, we had the idea we could get an off-campus apartment together. It was definitely a risky decision that everyone also had an opinion on, but we felt confident. So many people would say “What happens if you break up”, but why would I plan on us breaking up? It just seemed silly to me to not do what I wanted because we may or may not break up.

I feel like this decision really shaped my college experience. Not only did it bring us closer together, but it helped us form a very tight-knit friend group. My friends became his friends and vice versa. We all became one big friend group instead of two divided. Embrace the opportunity to make new connections whether that be from your significant other’s friends or open to introducing two different friend groups. It is something I will struggle with not having after I graduate. When we leave Bloomsburg, we already know we will have to live with our parents for a little while to save up money. Who knows how soon out of college we will get a job or if we will be making enough to get an apartment together. We want to wait to move out till when we feel financially comfortable enough to. It is going to be so hard not being together as much. But I still have a few more months of us living in the same apartment and having the same schedule.

I’m going to make sure I prioritize spending time with him and our friends. We have the best time making dinner together whether that be with my best friend Morgan or by ourselves. We love having movie nights, game nights, going on road trips to Sixers games, and just doing the small things together like grocery shopping or getting lunch at Chick-fil-A. But the one thing I will truly miss the most after college is the amount of free time we have to spend together. When we have a 9-5, we might be able to make dinner together or do things on the weekend, but it won’t be the same as the college schedule. Now we only have to be in class for about 3 hours every day then we can do whatever we want. It just makes me want to savor all the time we have now and not take anything for granted. Especially soaking in our trip to Jamaica for spring break. This will be our first big trip together as a couple so I am excited to see the way it will strengthen our relationship.

I love Dylan so much and I am forever grateful I didn’t listen to everyone’s negative comments in high school. Going to college together was the best decision we could have made. When I think back on Bloomsburg or my college experience the first thing I will remember is how he was there for me every step of the way.

The biggest lesson I have learned through this is to trust myself. I chose to embrace my intuition when it came to deciding if Dylan and I would go to the same school together or live together in college. Seeing that these decisions actually worked out and made my college experience better proved to me that I can make good decisions and that I can trust myself. I knew going to the same school and living together was the best choice for us, but everyone I talked to had me questioning my own feelings. Learning to trust myself and stop second-guessing my intuition is the best takeaway I could have gotten from college.

— Monica Wilt, 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 spring. She is a native of New Cumberland, who loves Taylor Swift, the Philadelphia 76ers, and the show Survivor.

#BloomOnward #HuskyLife

We did it together!

Coming into my last semester, I was beyond excited to finally live with my four best friends. I think to myself now, with little left of my time here at Bloomsburg, where did the time go?

It’s times like these I wish I had a time machine and could hit replay. All my roommates live at least two hours away from me, and I’m going from seeing them every second of my days to parting ways to go back home. It’s a bittersweet moment, sitting down and taking everything in.

This entire year brought me so much closer to my best friends, which I did not think was possible. It made me realize that yes it is sad, but finishing college with my girls is a beautiful accomplishment ... and now, we'll smile and say “We did it together!”

I feel so proud of myself for pushing through the hard times and continuing college after taking my semester off. Looking back, I wouldn't have developed and grown these bonds with these girls if it were not for coming back. I could never imagine a life where I did not pick up these last two years of memories, laughter, love, and tears. If you have the chance to live with your favorite people, don’t pass it up.

To any incoming freshman, I promise you're going to meet your best friends here. Living in Elwell my first year, I was terrified it was never going to happen for me ... but now I’m blessed that Bloomsburg brought me girls I'll talk to for the rest of my life, way past graduation.

— Sarah O'Leary, a senior communication studies major with an emphasis on interpersonal communication, is interning with the Office of Marketing and Communications this spring. She is a native of Scranton and is an avid Harry Styles fan.

#BloomOnward #HuskyLife

It’s right here, don’t waste it

It didn’t happen right away for me in college, but it eventually did. Meeting those forever friends is one of those precious college checklist items. It can be frustrating and depressing when it doesn’t happen early or even at all your freshman year. Rest assured it will — especially in a place like Bloomsburg.

For me it was the start of my sophomore year. I met four girls who I didn’t know at the time would change my life forever. They would go on to become my best friends. We’ve lived together for the next two years. We’ve laughed together. We’ve fought. We’ve made up, and we’ve cried. But best of all we’ve been together for it all, and soon we’ll graduate college together.

It feels so surreal to have met these four coming in to college feeling so lost to now having such a strong connection to these girls who were once strangers. Morgan, Leah, Kelly, Olivia … thank you for giving me a great college friendship experience.

Leah comes from Williamsport, a city famously known for the Little League World Series, which is a little over a two-hour drive from me. I remember first meeting her and instantly connecting with her bubbly personality and ability to make anyone laugh.

At the time she lived at Glenside apartments downtown, which was a far walk from where I lived in Soltz Hall on campus. That did not stop us from hanging out almost every day. Leah was always ready to pick me up, listen to our favorite song “Better Not” by Louis The Child and drive to Panera for lunch.

I could also relate to Leah in a lot of aspects just from the first few months of knowing her. She understood me and my struggles and was always there to lift me up when I was in a funk. She would reassure me that balancing life issues and college at the same time is not always easy.

Leah is two years older than me, so I’ve always looked up to her in a big sister aspect. She’s a social work major, so her compassion for wanting to help people in need showed every day, having one of the biggest hearts out of anyone I’ve ever met.

A specific memory that sticks out when I think of Leah was when we went to the beach together over summer of 2020. We booked an Airbnb for a few days in New Jersey and spent those days soaking up the sun. When I think of my happy place, the beach immediately comes to mind. What better way to spend it with one of your favorite people?

I felt like we picked up from where we left off, as if we never were apart from one another. In high school you think you have your group of friends who’ll always be in your life — but the truth is — it’s okay to outgrow them. You lose touch with them in your first year of college, and maybe you go home and see them over break. Meeting your college friends is like a breath of fresh air though.

I was scared to open up to new girls such as Leah, but her unconditional support and my trust in her just keeps growing every day. This semester, Leah decided to move out on her own. She thought we would be upset or that it meant we would see less of her. Just the opposite. Her decision was best for her and her mental health, and if anything, it only made us happier for her. I still take time to reach out and call her to see how she’s doing, and I know when it comes time for graduation, she’ll be right by my side telling me that, “We did it!” Leah has been there for me through thick and thin, and it’s the same for me with her.

A lesson I learned as I’ve grown throughout my college years is that you have to prioritize yourself. Setting boundaries and knowing your limit is important in college, because things take a huge shift and are not always easy. You have to know when you’re balancing too much — school, friendships, work, and just in general life, and everyday problems we might have.

That’s why when Leah decided it was time to part ways with Bloomsburg, she was prioritizing mental health, even though it was a decision that involved us too in the roommate perspective. Despite the fact we had to find someone new for our lease, our friendship and support for Leah came first. Mental health is something that should always be taken seriously, no matter the circumstances.

— Sarah O'Leary, a senior communication studies major with an emphasis on interpersonal communication, is interning with the Office of Marketing and Communications this spring. She is a native of Scranton and is an avid Harry Styles fan.

#BloomOnward #HuskyLife

Whatever the path, make it yours

I’m not gonna lie, my first semester of college was rough. Within days of starting of school I was living by myself in Elwell Hall with constant thoughts I was never going to be able to form a friendship. Everyone else on my floor had a roommate and someone close to connect with.

 
Adding to that stress I realized after nearly failing my first college biology class, maybe I should reconsider my major. I thought I wanted to go into radiology. I thought making friends in college would be super easy.

 
I thought I had this college thing figured out.

 
From visiting Bloomsburg in the summer to moving in and then to the first week of classes, I had this overwhelming fear about adjusting to such a big change from high school. And before the fall was over it was becoming true.

 
One clear thing hits you when you reach college. You’re on your own. It can be thrilling and quite rejuvenating. It can be motivating. It can also be down-right frightening. So, I took it upon myself to really figure it out — to find my path. They say college is a journey. It’s where you follow your career dreams and find yourself. Actually, that’s what I did at Bloomsburg.

Up first was my major. I didn’t wait it out and immediately went to my advisor to discuss the other options I had. As a freshman you want to do well right from the start and make your family proud — make yourself proud. I always heard of people coming into college being undecided without a major, which was something I never considered. I thought going into college I already had to have everything figured out, which is the furthest thing from the truth.

 
It's okay to be undecided, and it’s okay to change.

 
So, I then changed my major to communication studies, focusing on the track of interpersonal communication. I had already taken an interpersonal communication class and enjoyed it. The professor was great and very supportive. My sister had been a communication studies major at another school, so I knew a little about what I was getting into.

 

People often underestimate communication studies and the opportunities it could bring after college. The courses I’ve taken over the years have been anything but easy. I had to take public speaking, which was a fear of mine I never thought I could overcome. The thought of standing in front of a classroom of strangers to make speeches about my beliefs or touchy subjects scared me to death. There were also rules of public speaking I had to learn, like constant eye contact with your audience and not always looking at flashcards. I got through the hard courses though, and fast forward to my last semester, I’ve already completed my major courses I need for graduation.

 
This was the best decision I could’ve made! I’ll forever be grateful to my younger self for deciding to make a change when it was needed — to choose a new path, right there and not later. This was something truly meant for me.

 
Me … yes, back to me. That first semester seemed to be just that … me. I was lost in my major, and I was lost in my search for friendships. So, much like my major I took it upon myself to figure it out. If it wasn’t going to be as easy as I thought to find friends, I would make it easy for them to find me. I left my (residence hall) door open. I chatted with others at hall meetings, and I made it a point to make friends in class.

 
Simply put, I made friends. Though unlike many fellow freshmen and my Elwell neighbors I had yet to find my best friends, my people — my Bloom people. I learned that’s okay. It doesn’t happen for everyone their first semester or their first year of college. But it does happen, trust me.

And it’s absolutely the best thing about college.

 
— Sarah O'Leary, a senior communication studies major with an emphasis on interpersonal communication, is interning with the Office of Marketing and Communications this spring. She is a native of Scranton and is an avid Harry Styles fan.

#BloomOnward #HuskyLife

Live every day as a Husky like it's your last

One minute I was in South Beach, Miami, with my best friends. We’d been waiting for this trip all semester counting down the days. In my head it was the start of a fun rest of my final semester. I knew warmer weather was coming to Bloomsburg, and it’s always my favorite part of the year when everyone is outside the last couple months.

I spent that week with some of my very best friends from my college career, and we spent that whole week so happy and living life to the fullest. We had no clue that our time as college seniors was over.

That all took a turn as the week progressed. We found out spring break was extended and at that point like any college student we were happy. But as we found out how serious this all is and the news that we would not be returning, it felt unreal. If someone were to ever tell us, “Hey your senior year is going to end in early March.”

We probably would have done a lot of things different. We would’ve taken advantage of the times we were together more. We would’ve said yes to dinners, drives, living room hangouts- really anything, if we had known it was over.

As awesome as the technology we’re all lucky to have is, it doesn’t make up for the lost memories. I'm happy I still get to text, Facetime, and Snapchat, my best friends in a time where we're unable to spend the time together.

As a senior there were so many things I thought I had more time to do. I wasn’t at the point where I was thinking I was doing my “lasts.” I wish we all could have known that our end was about to be cut short.

If there's anything I could say to my younger friends who are coming back to Bloomsburg in the fall; I would say don’t fail to take advantage of any time you have with your best friends in this town.

Go to commons as a group, stay up all night binge watching that show with your roommates, don’t be annoyed you have to attend that chapter meeting, walk around campus and take in the beauty of the trees and the people you’re surrounded by.

Appreciate every day you have left, and use this as a reminder that not everything is going to go as planned. They say you should live every day like your last — so make sure you live every day as a Husky like it's your last, because it might be. For many of us it is.

We will find a way to give Bloomsburg a proper goodbye, but for now all we can do is be thankful for the memories we have that make this so hard, and overall be thankful for our health.

— Drew Hess, a senior communication studies major and emergent media minor, is interning with the Office of Marketing and Communications. She is a native of Stowe, Vt., a town of 4,472 people in northern Vermont known for its trails and ski slopes.

#BloomOnward #HuskyLife

Not everything plays out like the movies

Expectations of college are high for everyone going in. More often than not the expectations versus reality are very different. That was the case for me. I pictured myself a month in with my best friends for life, plenty of things to do, a place to go after classes aside from my dorm room — a sense of belonging.

That isn’t what happened.

Although I have that now, freshman me did not. I made some close friends, but I didn’t feel I fit into a big fun friend group. There wasn’t a lot holding me to Bloomsburg. I wasn’t quite set in my major. I was eight hours away from my family. I didn’t feel I had a place in this town.

I spent the majority of my first year of college with my best friend, Amanda. Who to this day I’m ending senior year with by my side. Amanda and I met by chance that first weekend at “football palooza."

My first impression of Amanda was that she was so straight forward about everything she was talking about and I always thought it was funny because I was so shy. Because of the way Amanda was, she really brought me out of my shell to become a person who didn’t always care what everyone thought. We had very different personalities that happened to match together well.

From then on we remained close, and I have to say if I didn’t have her as a constant go-to I don’t know if I would be attending BU anymore. She was different than anyone I met because we both were in a place where we weren’t sure if BU was for us. So we leaned on each other a lot because we didn’t have a big friend group.

Amanda would bring me home with her to New York when everyone was leaving, because I wasn’t making the trek eight hours home. I bonded with her family and friends, and I got to explore NYC. We spent on spring break together visiting her family in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Amanda became my family away from home, and I’ll always be thankful for her in my life.

So, I stuck around and found myself.

I became more confident in who I was. In high school I overthought everything I did from what I wore to how I spoke. Since then I’ve grown to not second guess myself because it doesn’t matter who thinks what. That part of me grew in freshman year and since then has continued to bloom.

I realized not everything plays out like the movies or what you’ve planned in your head, and sometimes it can turn out even better. I learned it was okay for life to not be perfect. I’m thankful I didn’t give up on Bloomsburg when I hadn’t quite found the happiness here yet — because if I didn’t have everything and everyone I have now, I can’t imagine where I'd be.

— Drew Hess, a senior communication studies major and emergent media minor, is interning with the Office of Marketing and Communications. She is a native of Stowe, Vt., a town of 4,472 people in northern Vermont known for its trails and ski slopes.

#BloomOnward #HuskyLife

The long winding road between two small towns

A few weeks ago as I drove back for my eighth and final semester at Bloomsburg University, it reminded me of the days when Bloomsburg was just a possibility. Of when the buildings and pathways I know so well now were just photos to me. I wondered what my life here would turn out to be, and I never would have imagined the amount of growth I would endure and how many people would become family to me.

My story of where I’d go to college wasn’t one where the whole family had attended or where I’d known forever this is where I’d be moving to. Instead senior year rolled around, and I applied to 11 universities because that’s how much I didn’t know where I wanted to be.

Picking a college wasn’t easy. But when you know what you want, just not where it helps.

My criteria was simple:

• four-year public college
• affordable
• a well put together campus
• enough students to escape the high school feel

Bloomsburg checked all of those boxes for me.

With only one problem — it’s eight hours from my small ski town in northern Vermont. The photos of campus looked nice, but I couldn’t get a feel for the campus through that. I couldn’t possibly attend a college before seeing it and feeling it.

Which is when my best friend Ema and I decided on a February day senior year to hop in the car and take a quick weekend road trip down to Bloomsburg, Pa. We hadn’t driven this far on our own before, but it seemed like a fun opportunity for us to spend some time together before graduation.

It feels as if Ema and I grew up together, becoming best friends at 13. We split apart to different schools when ninth grade rolled around, but we never stopped being each others go-to. We spent the majority of senior year dipping out of our free blocks to drive an hour (one way) to our favorite restaurant Moe’s — in an effort to make it back to school by three for lacrosse practice. We were always ready to jump at something to do, so this trip didn’t take much thought.

So, we loaded up in her old beat up Range Rover and made our way which turned out to be just the beginning of my long trips down to Bloomsburg University — now four years ago. Being able to walk on campus and drive through town made it real for me. I knew I loved Bloomsburg after that initial trip — the picturesque campus, the cute downtown restaurants, and the small-town atmosphere that made me feel right at home.

I come from a very small town. The list of things to do with my friends is very short. I didn’t always love it, but I was comfortable with it. So even though Bloomsburg was eight hours from home, and I didn’t know a single soul coming in, it felt similar to home. And as the person I was then, comfortable was something I wanted to stick with.

So Bloomsburg University it was.

— Drew Hess, a senior communication studies major and emergent media minor, is interning with the Office of Marketing and Communications. She is a native of Stowe, Vt., a town of 4,472 people in northern Vermont known for its trails and ski slopes.

#BloomOnward #HuskyLife

Well, hello there college ... nice to meet you!

Picture this: you’re in the backseat of your parent’s car on the way to move in to college.

Your heart is beating fast.

You have butterflies in your stomach.

You can’t help but be excited, yet nervous at the same time. You’re mere hours away from officially being a college student ... away from your parents ... and living on your own for the first time ever! You think you’re 100% prepared for this new life. You've read online all of the recommended freshman in college do’s and don’ts. But alas, this was a whole new world. An entirely new script. A new lifestyle ... my new chapter.

This was me three years ago. I was that typical nervous freshman not knowing what to expect my first year at Bloomsburg. I just knew I was excited for this next chapter to begin.

I'll never forget the empty feeling of hugging my parents’ goodbye with my voice cracking and eyes filled up with tears after finishing unpacking my dorm. I've never felt anything like it before. It was a mix of sadness and excitement all at once. I had no idea what I was going to do without them. I stood in the parking lot watching them drive away just wondering what I was supposed to do next. Besides my roommate, I was all alone on a campus of almost 10,000 students. I felt like an outsider.

Flash forward a few days and it’s my initial “first day of classes” in college. Unlike high school, I walk into a room full of strangers. It was nothing like my hometown. I pretty much knew, or have heard of, most of the people in my town. And everyone knew everyone’s business. Here I was, in a town full of people I had never met and without my parents, for the first time.

My shyness was definitely triggered. I knew I was there for my education and to pay attention to the professor, instead of being so nervous. I had no idea what to expect from college classes. The thought of not having my mom around to help me with any of my homework, like math, gave me a knot in the pit of my stomach. And just thinking about not being able to come home from a rough day and not having my dad there to make me laugh made it even worse!

My biggest fear was I was going to fail out, that I wouldn’t be able to handle and equally balance a social life and school work. I heard so many stories of people just not going to class and partying all day and night, not having a care in the world. I made sure I paid attention and went to every class and asked for help if I ever needed it. I was motivated to do well in college and to not let any hard classes get me down.

Going into college no one really ever tells you about the important little things you learn day to day. My time in college so far has taught me a lot of things. Things like communication, leadership, and time management. My first year of college taught me something that has helped me throughout these years which is how to be independent.

I had to live without my parents for the first time and learn to do things on my own. I took care of myself when I got sick, fed myself, forced myself to go to classes, and learned how to become my own person.

Those college do’s and don’ts definitely didn’t prepare me. In college, you don’t have your parents on your back telling you to get your homework done or reminding you of things going on. It's solely all on you to be in charge of your life and to make sure to get your work done.

I'm glad I was able to balance how to have fun and taking my education seriously. Surprisingly, first semester freshman year was one of the best semesters academically I've had. Learning how to be independent by being on my own for the first time and what steps I have to take to succeed is what kept me focus and still does to this day.

Looking back, I'm proud of myself on how I got throughout the “toughness” of the first year of college. Bloomsburg taught me independence my freshman year of college by allowing me to learn more about myself. I’d say that’s a pretty big achievement for a freshman.

— Samantha Bergan, senior mass communications major and English minor #BloomOnward #HuskyLife

One last drive back

I’ve pictured my final days of college my whole life, and it’s finally here. I still can’t believe it.

It hit me on the drive back to Bloomsburg from my home in West Chester. I used to hate the thought of driving two hours in a car, but in the course of my four years it was something I grew to love. It's two hours alone of reflection for me to think and listen to my favorite country songs on the loudest volume.

However, this last drive back to Bloomsburg was not one I was looking forward to.

It was the last “back to school” car ride, and I was fully aware of that. I felt as if I was doing more thinking then belting out to my music. I knew what this drive meant. It meant my last drive to this town. It meant that everything I was about to be doing the minute I entered the town was my last. I admit, it’s a bit strange to now be saying, “My last ..." It seems like yesterday I was just saying, “My first ...”

My first semester, my first class, my first college friend, etc. Thankful for all “my firsts,” because I fell in love with this school in a way I never expected to, just wishing for the summer to end so I would be able to come back.

Without all these firsts, I would have never been the person who I am today. That first week of that first semester started a new beginning of a new me. Even after four years, you're never quite sure what a semester will bring you. It’s funny how each semester has a different feeling to it. The seasons are completely different and the mood of each changes.

The obvious difference of the days being shorter in the winter, a positive vibe emerges when the sign of snow is melting and warmth is coming. Having the constant reminder this being the “season finale,” seniors want to get in as much fun as possible.

Roughly two weeks into my last — ah, there it is — "my last ... semester" I can see my senioritis kicking in. I just want to be able to savor every moment I have before I no longer can. 

How can I focus on school when trying to get a job? How can I focus when I have limited time with these people ... my Bloom people?

You never realize how much you change over four years. It’s not a drastic type of change but it’s a type of growth that hits you on your senior year. A growth that allows you to look back on your three years and think “she was so young, so naïve.”

It’s a growth that allows you to see the people who are there for you and those who are not. It’s a growth that allows you to see the skills you have when taking on the real world, and the growth you have to look back and thank this place for giving me the memories I'll have forever.

— Annie Pitts, senior communication studies major #AGreatPlaceToBeYou #HuskyLife

Chernobyl Tour

When we awakened after our first night in Kiev, it was dark. The tour begins at 8 o’clock, breakfast is served at 7, so naturally, we awakened at 6. After chowing down on some wonderful hotel-given food (and coffee… so much coffee), we boarded the bus headed toward the most damaging nuclear accident in history: Chernobyl.

Our extremely helpful tour guides, Tania and Anastasia, presented to us a brief safety talk, as well as some history of the site.

One of our first stops was to the abandoned kindergarten in the exclusion zone: Kopachi Kindergarten. The inside of the building is eerie. It was so clearly lived in, only to be totally abandoned. Dolls are left out of place, some half-buried in the dirt in the front garden; some pensively looking through the dirt-covered window. Posters teaching the Cyrillic alphabet falling off the wall; open books teaching basic grammar like a Soviet Jack and Jane.

After a wonderful lunch consisting of potato soup and roasted chicken, we delved further into the exclusion zone. It is important to note that the radiation endured through the tour was only marginally above the background radiation experienced just through everyday life. There are, however, hotspots scattered throughout that our guides pointed out and led us through unscathed. The highest amount of radiation we encountered was in Pripyat, the abandoned town close by, which will be discussed a little later. The tour led us 200 meters away from the reactor, well within what 30 years ago would be deadly to stand in for as long as we did, but the cleaning crews following the meltdown has reduced the radiation in the area back to safe levels.

Below is a picture of me standing that 200 meters away, the reactor itself is covered by an absolutely massive complex that is the largest moveable structure in the world. The reason for its mobility was for the safety of the crew who constructed it; the length of time it took to build would have dosed the workers with lethal doses of radiation relatively quickly, which doesn’t look good in reports. The Soviet Union or any following governmental institutions have avoided releasing any studies on the full casualties of the accident, but estimates place the victims at well over 10,000 people that later died of cancer and other complications due to high radiation intake.

After our visit to the reactor, we made our way to the abandoned city of Pripyat.

The Soviet leaders neglected to tell the inhabitants of this worker’s town for three days following the accident, and additionally led them to believe that the city would be inhabitable in the not too distant future. Alas, thirty years on and human life is still no fully sustainable in Pripyat, its abandoned buildings slowly falling apart from decades of neglect; an eerie reminder of the lives its inhabitants left behind.

The most famous attraction within Pripyat is the abandoned amusement park in the center of the city. Ironically, the park was never officially open, it was set to be unveiled five days after the accident. It’s rusted ferris wheel and carousel now lie rusted and totally unused, containing the most radioactive areas of the exclusion zone and the tour. The background radiation within the exclusion zone was approximately 0.3 µSv/hr. A piece of debris on the bottom of one of the carriages of the wheel measured in at over 500 µSv/hr.

As a physics major, I found the tour of Chernobyl quite enlightening. It shows that even the best of intentions and discoveries can be warped by power-hungry megalomaniacs. This accident has placed a stigma upon nuclear fission power plants as being unpredictable, but as long as the safety measures are all in place (the Soviet scientists had turned them off at the time of the accident), it is by far the cleanest form of energy we currently have. Unfortunately, the horrible result of this plant’s meltdown has permanently tainted the view of this form of power.

— Andrew Clickard, a freshman mathematics and physics dual major, is studying abroad this winter for four weeks in Eastern and Central Europe, taking trips to the Schindler's Factory, the Wieliczka Salt Mine, and the UNESCO World Heritage Site Auschwitz Concentration Camp. #HuskyAbroad #ProfessionalU

Auschwitz Tour

I’m not exactly sure what I should say about Auschwitz. To read about the Holocaust is one thing; visiting a memorial is another. But standing in the place in which over a million people suffered and died… It’s difficult to put that feeling into words.

I suppose it is a sort of melancholy sonder. The realization that every single one of those 1.1 million was a life just as complex as my own, only to be snuffed out as if they were nothing. I don’t know. That is the best description I can think of right now.

I could not bring myself to take photos of the camp, it just felt wrong. And frankly, photos would not do it justice anyway. Being witness to a room filled with 40,000 pairs of shoes is incomparable to viewing an image of the same room. Seeing a literal ton of human hair, shaved off upon entry to the camp to be used in textiles, cannot be conveyed meaningfully in a photograph.

I think that this tour is the one that affected me the most of all. And that seems to be the consensus within the larger group as well. It was a very quiet bus-ride back home to Dom Profesorski, everyone felt the heaviness of the atmosphere at Auschwitz; the pain that racism from an authority figure can dole out; the result of bystanderdom and fear under oppression.

— Andrew Clickard, a freshman mathematics and physics dual major, is studying abroad this winter for four weeks in Eastern and Central Europe, taking trips to the Schindler's Factory, the Wieliczka Salt Mine, and the UNESCO World Heritage Site Auschwitz Concentration Camp. #HuskyAbroad #ProfessionalU

A perfect introduction to college life

When I received my acceptance letter to Bloomsburg University in the spring of 2014, I was completely ecstatic. This was my top choice of schools, and I couldn’t wait to start my college career.

When I read the rest of the letter and saw that I would have to attend summer session, I cried. All of my friends would be enjoying their summer together while I was in Bloomsburg taking classes.
That’s what I thought, anyway.

Little did I know that attending summer session would be one of the best experiences throughout my four years at Bloomsburg. In my time as a summer freshman, I was able to make friends with the people in my classes, as well as my dorm.

There were only a few hundred of us, so everyone knew everyone. I had the opportunity to learn where the academic buildings were without the awkwardness of having to stop someone and get directions.

I mastered the art of when and how to do my laundry without all of them being taken. I got to know the people on my floor and made friends I’m still close with as I finished my senior year.

If you’re nervous about starting summer session, don’t be. For me, it was the perfect introduction to college life without the added pressure of the 500-plus people who actually knew what they were doing.

Take this opportunity to

• learn how to navigate the academic buildings 
• learn how to use BOLT 
• and figure out what on-campus dining option will be your go-to

Do well in your classes so you go into the fall with a rocking GPA. Oh yea, and have fun!

— Danielle Backowski, senior mass communications major #HuskyLife

Be careful what you wish for

When I was a freshman, all I wanted was to be a senior. To be on my way to a big girl job, be 21 and have my life figured out. Going to the Student Services Center the other day to pick up my graduation tickets made me realize I’m now at that place … and all I want to do is go back.

Lucky for me, there are still things I can do one last time I loved doing my freshman year.

Going to the Scranton Commons with a big group of friends was something I did often, especially when everyone ran out of flex four weeks before the semester ended. There’s nothing like eating plates and plates of food and grabbing a warm cookie for the road with your friends.

Seeing movies on campus was a treat back in the day, especially since I didn’t have a car and could never get to the movie theater. Bloomsburg always has the best and most current movies, so I never felt like I was missing out on anything. Plus, who can say no to a free movie?

Even though I literally NEVER won anything, midnight bingo was always a fun way to get out of the dorms and meet new people. Plus, a little friendly competition against your roommate and friends doesn’t hurt.

Living with a roommate can be annoying and crowded, but most of the time it’s like being at a sleepover. I loved having someone there to talk to when I was bored or needed advice or to vent. The bond you have with your roommate is something you can’t replicate. Whether it’s freshman or senior year, roommates are something to be treasured.

While I have the ability to do some of these things before I graduate, it certainly won’t be the same. My advice, whatever year you are, is to enjoy where you’re at. I wish I had taken the time to really enjoy and make the most out of every year, rather than looking for the next best thing.

Senior year approaches more quickly than you think, so take your time and have fun.

— Danielle Backowski, senior mass communications major #HuskyLife

A freshmen takeover of my Husky Life

In the four years I’ve been at BU I have discovered some of my favorite restaurants, coffee drinks and places to hang out. Sometimes having all these favorites make it hard for me to decide where I want to go. So, I decided to let the incoming Class of 2022 make the decisions for me!

Monday: Chick-fil-A vs. Qdoba

These two new dining choices were all students could think about as they returned to school this past fall. While neither of them take meal plans, they’re both delicious and you can use Flex, Husky Gold or a credit card to eat there. The Class of 2022 voted for me to have Chick-fil-A, which I was definitely not mad about. My go-to meal is classic nuggets with fries, and of course, Chick-fil-A sauce. However, Qdoba is also a great option if you’re in the mood for Chipotle or something Mexican. They have bowls, tacos, quesadillas, you name it! With fresh ingredients and delicious queso, it’s hard to say no.

Tuesday: Starbucks vs. Java City

It’s safe to say I’m a coffee addict, so having multiple options on campus is like music to my ears. The great thing is that while there are two Starbucks and one Java City, they’re spread out so wherever you are on campus, coffee’s not far away.

Starbucks won the poll, so I got my usual Iced Blonde Americano with vanilla (which is SO good, trust). While I get the same drink every time I go to Starbucks, I do like to switch it up and get Java City. They have amazing iced coffee and their bagels are delicious.

Wednesday: BUnow vs. The Voice

If you’re a news lover like me, Bloomsburg is a great campus to be on because there are so many ways to find out what’s happening on campus, in town and around the country.

The Voice is BU’s student newspaper that comes out every Thursday. BUnow is the online news source, also run by students. Both are full of great information, with entertaining articles and important current events.

Thursday: Cardio vs. Pilates

Our Rec Center is one of the best that I’ve seen on a college campus, with a cardio room, weight room, rock climbing wall and so much more. Every day there are classes offered like Pilates, yoga or cardio sculpt.

Friday: Filet 18 vs. West End Ale Haus

One great thing about Bloomsburg is that if you’re sick of eating campus food, there are so many great options just a five minute walk away! If you’re too tired from your Pilates class the night before, there are also busses that leave from campus and go downtown. The bus stop is located behind McCormick, and comes every 30 minutes. It has stops by the fountain, by Old School apartments and behind Papa John’s on Iron Street.

Filet and West End are just two of the great restaurants downtown, and personally, two of my favorites. West End won the poll option, so I got to have a delicious mac and cheese grilled cheese for dinner.

— Danielle Backowski, senior mass communications major #HuskyLife