We all experience change in a variety of ways. Since change is inevitable; we must learn how to deal with it and take control of our anxious feelings rather than resisting it. This may be simple to achieve for some and nearly impossible for others. The ultimate question is: What is the best approach to take when dealing with an inevitable concept as big as change? Unfortunately, I do not have an answer, but I can tell you about my strong feelings with regards to change.
I have been attending Neumann University since the fall of 2007 as a part-time student. On May 16, 2015, I graduated with a major in Liberal Arts and a minor in Psychology. Four years ago, I was jealous of my friends who were graduating; they seemed very excited about starting their journey into the real world, so it was normal that I felt this way as well. However, four years later, my reaction is the complete opposite; I am terrified, I feel lost, and I feel confused.
Four years ago was when I became a true college student because I started to get extremely involved in extracurricular activities along with academics. What prevented me from not being involved and reaching out to Neumann early in my college career? The main factor was that I was not encouraged to expand my comfort zone while in high school. I also feared that the immaturity of students as well as the bullying that I experienced in middle school and high school would transfer to the college level. As a result, I hid in my protective shell for my first four years at Neumann, just going to and from classes, the academic resource center, and home without interacting with anyone.
Looking back upon my years as an undergraduate student, I should have made an attempt to reach out to people on my own instead of relying on one instrumental teacher to break my shell open. Once I began working with this teacher, I discovered the “campus life.” I gradually formed incredible relationships with the students, faculty members, staff, and administration at Neumann. The biggest way that I contributed to the Neumann community was by speaking to classes and sports teams about my disability. I was also actively involved in the Athletic Department, the honorary member of the women’s lacrosse team, and a Presidential Ambassador.
Being the honorary member of the women’s lacrosse team for three consecutive years was one of the numerous reasons why I believed that Neumann has been the perfect place for me. I was not physically able to play on the team, but I played a significant role on the team nonetheless; I sat on the sidelines for most of the home games, cheering on the team no matter the score. I also participated in the pre-game locker room talks, joined the huddles on the field, and attended the post-game tailgates. The women’s lacrosse team could have just labeled me as their honorary member and then just shoved me to the side. However, they treated me as one of their own players and never once saw me in a wheelchair; the team always considered me to be their “biggest fan.” I have been playing on a power wheelchair hockey team for eleven years, but being the honorary member of the women’s lacrosse team for three years was much more fulfilling to me because it was one of the few times in my life where I could forget about my physical limitations.
Neumann has grown into so much more than a place where I have received a solid education; it has transformed my life and has become a huge part of me. The confidence that I have gained during my time at Neumann has been nothing short of monumental. I wheeled through Neumann’s doors for the first time in the fall of 2007 as a very hesitant and introverted student. As my involvement grew around campus, so did the amount of close friendships I developed. The student population no longer sees me as someone in a wheelchair; instead, they feel like I am someone who can relate to their daily struggles as a college student as well as someone who is friendly and approachable. In this sense, I believe that not only I have been tremendously impacted by Neumann, but Neumann has been tremendously impacted by what I have taught them about embracing and accepting diversity.
The thought of leaving such a welcoming, warm, and friendly place that I have grown to love is unthinkable to me. I honestly believe that no other place is as committed to helping others and more uniquely personal than Neumann University. No other place has encouraged and supported me nearly as much in my entire academic life than Neumann has and continues to do. Neumann University is no longer just a place where I have received an outstanding education, but now it is my safe haven, my second family.
Graduation day was very emotional for me, especially when I heard the crowd roar in excitement as I walked across the stage to receive my diploma. I was excited and proud of everything that I have accomplished over the past eight years, but the thought of having to say goodbye to the Neumann community was heartbreaking and loomed over me for several months prior to graduation. I have found myself at Neumann University and it has become my identity.
In order to relieve some of my anxiety about graduating, I started to volunteer in the Alumni Relations Office as an Engagement Coordinator, which will last for a good portion of the summer. I also plan to volunteer in other departments around campus and pursue a graduate degree at Neumann starting in the fall. For students that graduated in May and who have a strong passion to stay connected with Neumann, there are plenty of opportunities to make that happen. The key is to network with people around campus, volunteer in various departments, attend sporting events, and attend social gatherings that they have alumni. There are always ways to keep Neumann close to our hearts as graduates, but it is our job to utilize the resources that we gained through Neumann to do so.
As graduates, we can compare our time involved in the academic realm to that of a student-athlete who has played on a sports team. Although most of us have left Neumann to seek out jobs or continue our education elsewhere, the knowledge that we have gained at Neumann will stay with us for our lifetime. Regarding the sports world, we may have devoted our college years to playing on a team; our status of being a student-athlete will surely change because we graduated from Neumann, but the compassion we had for our team and the lessons we learned from being part of a team will always leave a valuable mark with us and with the Neumann community as well.
For incoming freshmen, do not let four years of college pass by you without taking in and experiencing all that the college life has to offer. Most freshmen enter college thinking that four years is a very long time; students think that they have all this time to join clubs, sports teams, and other social activities around campus. The reality is that four years will zoom by and, before you know it, you will be walking across stage to receive your diplomas. I regret my lack of involvement during my first four years at Neumann and I really wish that I could travel back in time. So, as you walk through Neumann’s doors for the first time, think about how you are able to get fully involved with the activities around campus and seek advice from upperclassmen and faculty, staff, and administration. It is a balancing act to juggle classes and extracurricular activities, but you only experience the college life once, so make the most out of those four years as possible.
I plan to stay fully committed, devoted, and connected to Neumann University in any way possible after I graduate. My dream would be to get a job at Neumann. This Neumann Knight is here to stay!