Perspectives: Advice from the Class of 2022
Emma Groff: International and Globalization Studies
(Photo provided)
My time at Gettysburg has definitely not been what I was expecting when I came in as a first-year student. When I arrived, I knew I wanted to go abroad once, but my advisor encouraged me to go twice, which I eventually worked up the courage to do. Now, as I finish my final semester at Gettysburg, I have spent almost an equal number of semesters away from school as I have spent at school. It makes the goodbye more bittersweet, but I am endlessly grateful for my time abroad and the profound impact it has had on my life. The most
meaningful experiences I’ve had at Gettysburg have been trying new things and creating relationships with new people. I used to be nervous to step outside of my comfort zone, but now I use that discomfort as a sign that I am doing something valuable for my personal growth. My advice is to explore every opportunity that you have during your short time at Gettysburg and to create a meaningful and challenging experience for yourself because your four years are really what you make of them.
Julia Sharapi: Environmental Studies
Make sure to engage with the town! There are a lot of little gems off-campus that I have grown to appreciate during my time at Gettysburg. Food 101 and Thai Elephant Walk are great when you’re tired of Servo or Bullet. Studying off campus (whether at Waldo’s, Ragged
Edge or the Adams County Library) minimizes distractions and helps you be productive. Some of my favorite memories are of sunset battlefield walks with my friends, trips to Mr. G’s for ice cream or thrifting at 229, Wild Root and the Wellspan shop. While I do love campus, going into town has been integral to my experience at Gettysburg College.
Teddy Davis: Economics
I encourage undergraduates to take advantage of every opportunity that presents itself. You can’t always wait for those opportunities; sometimes you need to be the spark that creates them. For example, in my freshman year here at Gettysburg my friend group would always love to kick a soccer ball around campus. It didn’t matter where we were, we just needed a ball and each other. And other students we had never met before would slowly start to join in on our shenanigans as the weeks went on. This is the epitome of the Gettysburg College community.
Despite there only being some 2,000 students here at Gettysburg College, you meet new people in the classroom, at social gatherings, in clubs, in Bullet and many other classic Gettysburg spots every day. There will be plenty of times when you feel drained from work and social life, and that’s something you just have to accept as a student attending a competitive liberal arts college. I will leave you with this: don’t put too much pressure on yourself as a student or as a human being; be the best you that you can be; love yourself and your friends; go to that social event or club meeting that you are hesitant about attending; invite people over to hang out. Just have fun and don’t take anything too seriously!
This article originally appeared on page 22 of the April 25, 2022 edition of The Gettysburgian’s magazine.
