Why Mount Union?
I learned about Mount Union through my high school. A lot of upper classman went to college here before me, so I decided to look into it. I’m glad that I did because I couldn’t picture myself anywhere else. I came to Mount Union because I fell in love with the campus and it was the perfect size for me. I come from a small town, so it was an easy transition from high school to college.
Mount Union Community
My favorite thing about Mount Union is the community. I’ve met so many people and created many close relationships during my time here. Whether that be with other students, faculty and even professors. Mount Union feels like my second home because every time I walk across campus, I’m greeted by familiar faces. It’s almost impossible not to see someone you know when walking to class but it’s a good feeling to know you’re surrounded by people that want to see you succeed. I believe that the connections I’ve made will allow me to be successful in the future.
Liberal Arts Education
Although there are many things that make Mount Union unique, I’m by far the most thankful for the liberal arts education. Coming into college, I wasn’t sure what path I wanted to take. Through the unique setup of the education, I was able to experience a little bit of everything which eventually led me to my current major, human development and family science. I think the Integrative Core has prepared me take on challenges that I wouldn’t normally face. I’ve had extended amounts of practice presenting in front of people, practice writing formal research papers and I have explored new fields that I wouldn’t have if it wasn’t for the Integrative Core.
Outside the Classroom
I’ve had a lot of experiential learning opportunities since being here at Mount Union. My two favorite experiences were my internship and studying abroad. During my junior year, I was able to work at the Alliance Community Hospital in the Geriatric Unit. This experience led me to discover that I’m very passionate about the elderly population and it also helped me solidify my love for the major that I’m in. The following summer, I studied abroad in South Africa. Although it was out of my comfort zone, I would recommend the experience to everyone because you not only learn a lot about yourself, but you grow immensely as a person in a short amount of time.
Exploring New Interests
One field of interest that I didn’t realize I was passionate about until coming to college was gender studies. I have always been very opinionated and empathetic but I began to become interested in advocating for human rights after taking these types of courses. I think it will help me succeed within my major because when working with people, you have to be very understanding and open-minded.
Minoring In Peacebuilding
I’ve had a lot of amazing classes during my time at Mount Union. My favorite classes have all been discussion based. For example, classes like, Peacebuilding and Social Justice, International Perspectives on Gender, and Christian Social Ethics. Dr. Nicole Johnson who oversees the peacebuilding and social justice minor is not only a great professor, but a great friend and mentor. She takes the time to get to know her students on a personal level. She has influenced me to be able to form my own opinions and to advocate for what I believe in.
After College
After graduation I plan on going graduate school to get my Master’s Degree in clinical mental health counseling. I’m confident that Mount Union has prepared me enough to pursue my future goal because I’ve been challenged and pushed to my full potential throughout my time here.
Advice to Freshman
One piece of advice I would give to prospective students is to get involved on campus. There are so many amazing opportunities and doors that Mount Union is able to open for you. I regret not getting more involved, but my time spent here has still been nothing short of amazing.