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 aids me through these tough times are the friendships

First-year College Student Affairs cohort at CSA orientation

Yet, what aids me through these tough times are the friendships that I have built within my graduate program. Many of my peers, including myself, lean on one another for support and guidance on how they personally handle their work and as a means to handle our own stress.

Consequently, in all of our classes we have group projects which allow us to work with our peers and gain new insights on topics that we way not have known anything about. However, finding time to meet with our groups is not always the easiest thing to do, since every person has their own GA, class, homework schedule, and some students have another job, a family, or commute to campus.

While there are some days that have been completely stressful, there are more that remind me of how much I love being at Bloomsburg and in the College Student Affairs program. For example, with my assistantship, we took 100 students to New York to visit Ellis Island, and the 9/11 Museum. We frequently take them to Hazelton to volunteer with the young students there for educational services we can provide. Working with my students and supervisors has brought me such joy in a short amount of time that I cannot wait to see what is to come.

Until next time,

— Jen Cole, #ProfessionalU #SAPro

Cole is pursuing her Master's in Educational Leadership through Bloomsburg University's College Student Affairs (M.Ed.) program.

Working to find my next 'good life'

Honors mentors and mentees at Knoebels having a scream off on the Pirate Ship (Galleon)

Packing, moving and saying goodbye are three recurring themes in a college student’s life. Yet, what the world does not tell you is that some things, like packing an overnight bag, start to become second nature when traveling to friends’ houses or to and from home.

Settling in to the PA climate with some new gear

Along with, your “home away from home” becoming the place where you build your greatest memories, life, and friends. Even after years of the “good life” when college graduation rolls around, how could you possibly be ready to move on and start somewhere fresh when one still has more of the “good life” left to live? After all, college does not typically become boring or repetitive.

In the end, one must acknowledge that every journey does have a stopping point as another has a beginning. And this is mine. Hello Bloomsburg, I am Jen, a recent graduate of Radford University in Virginia, a native of Maryland, and now a new graduate student in the College Student Affairs program, working to find my next “good life.” Join me every month as I discover what it is like to be a Husky and engage in adventures of learning how to be a graduate student and graduate assistant to the newly formed Honors College.

Orientation and Welcome week flew by and I developed a plethora of fresh memories, extra friends, and memorable moments! In Honors, we participated in team building activities (with pasta and marshmallows of course), tours of campus and downtown, took a trip to Knoebels, and created a Goose Chase for our mentees to remember building locations.

This packed-full week opened my eyes to the numerous bonds, growth, and spirit that the Honors College is going to bring to the students through the staff, mentors, and me. I simply cannot wait to continue being a part of everyone’s miraculous journey here at BU.

— Jen Cole, #ProfessionalU #SAPro

Cole is pursuing her Master's in Educational Leadership through Bloomsburg University's College Student Affairs (M.Ed.) program.