How was faith incorporated in the classroom?
Faith is integrated into the academic experience in various ways, from a prayer before class to an entire class dedicated to studying Scripture. Professors find ways to incorporate Biblical principles and present the material through a Biblical worldview. During my last semester, I took a business leadership class that provided an option for a semester-long group project with the Center for Rural Ministry’s Plowshare program, where students can partner with a local church. It allowed time for fellowship where we could connect more deeply with members of the congregation, helping to strengthen both our spiritual growth and social relationships. While we served the congregation, they spiritually poured into us. It also helped me discern what type of church community I was searching for after graduation. Even though this was not a dedicated Biblical and religious studies class, it demonstrates how faith can be incorporated into disciplines across the majors.
What drew you to choose Accounting & Finance?
I was interested in a major that offered a broad array of employment options but something that still had a unique aspect to it, leading me to choose finance. Since the business curriculum includes the core business courses that every business major is required to take, adding additional majors was easy with the overlap of information. After completing the required accounting courses for the core business classes, I realized that I enjoyed accounting, and it was easy to add to my finance major since each major strengthens the other. To further learn about the business world and to round out my entire business learning as a whole, I later added the management major. The combination of these majors allowed me to not only learn more about the world of business and opened the door to more employment opportunities but also provided more opportunities to meet people and develop lasting friendships.
What is the relationship like between the students and the professors?
The professors truly care for their students’ success, both during their time on campus and post graduation. One of the benefits of a smaller school is that you are a name and not a number. Many professors will remember your name post graduation even after only having you for one class freshman year. There are times when professors will have end of year celebrations or have the entire class over for tea to discuss Augustine’s Confessions. These meaningful relationships extend beyond the classroom too. Members of the facility staff, from housekeeping to cafeteria workers, also try to connect with the students. From the sweet cleaning lady wanting to make sure “her girls” have clean bathrooms and a place to live, to the kind older cafeteria lady asking how my friends and my weekly Saturday run was, and even the gym cleaning lady saying how beautifully we (Orchesis) dance and perform. All the staff are there for the students and building those authentic connections that create the wonderful campus community.
What is your favorite aspect of Grove City College?
My favorite aspect of the campus is its welcoming atmosphere, reflected both in the campus community and in the natural beauty of the grounds. I really enjoy how each season highlights a different aspect of campus beauty, from the candlelit service in the chapel to the tulips lining the sidewalks, each offering a reminder of how the heavens declare the glory of God. The entire campus community is warm and inviting. There are so many different clubs and groups, that everyone can find a group/community that suits them. In the end, it is the people who make the campus such a memorable and wonderful place and who have contributed to some of my best memories.
What advice would you give to an incoming student?
Embrace every opportunity. Do not hesitate to explore new experiences, whether that be an elective course or an extracurricular. Some of my favorite classes I took were electives that allowed me to show my creative side since accounting doesn’t allow much room for creativity. Build relationships not only within your peers but also with upper and under classmen. These connections create a network where you can seek advice from the upper classmen and offer insight to the under classmen.
Describe your experience with dorm life at GCC, particularly freshman year.
Before attending GCC, I was unsure whether I wanted to live on campus for all four years. However, I believe that is one of the factors to having a tight-knit campus. Because students live right across the hall and have meal plans, there are more opportunities to have meals and bump into others who are not within your closer circle of friends. The spontaneous conversations in the bathroom on my freshman year hall was where I met some of my closest friends to this day. Freshman dorms have an RA who hosts hall events like dinner, movie nights, Bible study, etc which is a great chance to connect with fellow hall mates.
Can you describe some of your own personal experiences in these campus activities?
Even though GCC is a small school, it offers a wide range of opportunities for involvement. I joined the dance community and rediscovered my love for dance, since the environment was supportive and free from the dance performance and competition pressures. I also participated in intramural women’s flag football, where I found another encouraging community, with different personalities than from dance. Additionally, there are on‑campus employment opportunities, such as serving as a TA or department student assistant. Working as a student assistant helped develop my professional and communication skills and allowed me to apply what I was being taught in my business classes. Being a TA helped me build connections with the under classmen and support their academic growth. All these experiences and opportunities allowed me to connect and engage within the campus community.
How big of a role did Grove City College's affordability play in your college decision making process?
GCC is reasonably priced and affords a quality education. Although affordability played a role in my college decision, I wanted a college that provided academic rigor and fostered an environment in which I could continue to grow in my faith and be encouraged by a Christian community. I was looking for an environment that would teach me how to think critically, rather than simply what to think.