Gustavus Adolphus College

I think it is safe to say that I have always been a busy person. Before Gustavus, I volunteered weekly at my church with teenagers that had cognitive disabilities, which proved to be a really eye-opening and life-changing experience for me. Spending time with these fun and active people helped me to realize I want to help people in the future, which is a big part of why I am interested in Nursing. Also through my church, I sang in a choir that practiced weekly and performed in two services each Sunday. At my high school, cheerleading for football and basketball (we went to the state tournament!) was one of the most fun groups I was involved with. I also anchored our school news program and was a member of the National Honor Society. Somehow, I still found time for relaxation and fun!

Being extremely involved with my church and their ministries growing up really shaped my faith, so Gustavus seemed perfect right away because of the Christian background. I looked at some larger schools pretty seriously, but I realized soon that I was not interested in being a number. I wanted a place that felt like a happy, peaceful home. The fact that the campus is gorgeous helped with my decision too.

On campus, I am involved with Big Partner/Little Partner, where I have been paired up with an elementary-aged St. Peter child for a mentorship experience. We have a lot of fun! I also am a Gustie Greeter which I am totally in love with. We are around to help with new student orientation in the fall and be a friend and resource to new first-year students. As I am trying to be accepted into the Nursing program, I do spend a great amount of my time studying and working on homework, but I have found a lot of my classes to be much more interesting than I expected.

The Reading in Common Book here on campus for 2008 was Chinese Lessons by John Pomfret. It is about the rise and fall of communism in China and how their society is still working to recover. I found this book to be such a good read, as I was pretty uninformed earlier of the struggles many of the people in China have faced.

I absolutely adore breakfast in the caf. It is like an all-you-can eat Perkin’s buffet. They offer great eggs, waffles, hash browns, toast, muffins, fruit, etc every day. It really never gets old.

My experience with professors here at Gustavus has been fabulous. They are very kind, flexible people that know my name. Even in larger lectures, the professors have always seemed to be available and eager to make sure we all can succeed.

Although I love my home state of Minnesota, I really want to see the world. I think my dream job would be traveling as a nurse, or some sort of professional, to different and exotic places where I could reach out to people there and help them. I really want to learn about other cultures and experience them first hand, while offering assistance and aiding others who may be in need.

To somebody who is considering Gustavus, I would definitely recommend coming down for a visit without parents, siblings, or friends. Although it is nice to have them around for an initial tour (and they are probably as curious as you), as a real student you would be on your own. I think to get a good feel a prospective student could sit in on a class, do an overnight visit, or even just wander around campus and see what you discover. I would also recommend to not be stressed! The right choice for you will come to you on time. You will just get that feeling, and that is where you want to be.

I must say that some of my best times at Gustavus were over new student orientation. As a first-year, I felt so welcomed and filled with excitement to be a Gustie. This last fall, my first round as a Greeter was really fun as well, being able to spread that spirit. I really look forward to the next to years I am able to be involved with it!