Alumni Feature: Presidential Management Fellows, Lindsay Robbins ’18 and Lily McFeeters ’16

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Honors alumni Lindsay Robbins ’18 (left) and Lily McFeeters ’16 (right).

 

By: Sheariah Yousefi, Honors College Alumni, ’13 

For decades, the Presidential Management Fellows Program (PMF), operated by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, has been the Federal government’s premier leadership development program specifically for advanced degree candidates or graduates. Designed to develop the next leaders in government, those selected for admittance into the prestigious PMF program are given the title PMF Finalists and are eligible to apply for positions within participating agencies. Upon receiving an appointment with an agency, PMF Finalists transition in title to “fellows” and thus begin their 2-year career with the federal government.

For this month’s feature, the Honors College (HC) is proud to highlight not one but two PMF program fellows from our alumni base. Providing insight and guidance, both fellows describe in detail the journey they took through the program and how it has impacted their life.

Lindsay Robbins — Presidential Management Fellow, Current

Majoring in International Studies and minoring in Economics and Spanish, Lindsay graduated from Towson University (TU) in 2018 and from the University of Maryland (UMD) with a graduate degree in Public Policy in 2021. During her final UMD year, Lindsay applied to the PMF program and upon acceptance, received her initial placement with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Although currently working with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services supporting the implementation of the No Surprises Act, her passion for immigration, especially as it relates to youth development and issues faced by refugees, is the focus field which she hopes to pursue.

In fact, this passion grew and manifested in the work she completed with the TU organization Students Helping Honduras. For each of her 4 years at TU, Lindsay traveled to Honduras, where she learned firsthand how extreme poverty and violence impacts the population. Many of the Hondurans she had the privilege of working with were children, whose vulnerability left an impact on her that deepened her desire to serve. It, therefore, comes as no surprise that when she was awarded another opportunity serve, she jumped at the chance; after graduating from TU, she worked as an AmeriCorps VISTA at the Esperanza Center in Baltimore, which is a comprehensive resource center for immigrants. While at the center, she helped coordinate the Youth ESOL program, which provides immigrant children with the opportunity to learn English in after-school or summer programs. She loved her time there and fondly recalls the importance it played in her life.

Although currently not working on immigration policy, Lindsay shared how a passion to serve, especially those most vulnerable, resides at the core of what she does, from assisting the implementation of policy to leading a life of civic service. In every facet, she leans in, takes advantage of opportunities, and works to make a difference, and this is an approach she strongly encourages HC students pursue. Whether it takes the form of independent studies and internships or study abroad and volunteer opportunities, Lindsay encourages HC students to dig deep, put in the work, “do your part and do as much as you can.”

If you would like to contact Lindsay, you may do so at lmrobbins11@gmail.com.

Lily McFeeters – Presidential Management Fellow, Alumnus

Graduating from TU in 2016, Lily double majored in International Studies and Asian Studies and minored in Political Science and Spanish. Before attending TU, Lily participated in the High School Model United Nations that Dr. Alison McCartney currently organizes, hosts, and leads at TU. The experience was incredible, and it was from this and her connection with Dr. McCartney that she decided upon TU.

After getting her master’s degree in Asian Studies at Georgetown University, Lily began work with the PMF program. Throughout the 2-year period with PMF, she conducted three rotations all within the International Trade Administration at the Department of Commerce. The experience was invaluable as it offered a variety of viewpoints and increased her adaptability. Throughout the rotations, one common theme was the exposure to technology policy. Due to the combination of her experiences in the PMF rotations, Lily grew to appreciate the importance of technology policy throughout every aspect of international relations. In fact, after she completed the PMF program, she began pursuing a job in this field and recently accepted a position with the Office of Multilateral Affairs at the U.S. Department of State (State). In her position, Lily develops and implements U.S. policy positions related to the digital economy and emerging digital technologies, with a focus on artificial intelligence (AI) in multilateral forums such as the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (the Quad), the Group of 7 (G7), the Group of 20 (G20), and the International Telecommunications Union at the United Nations.

Regarding her time at the HC, Lily shared that one class and assigned course book stood out to her the most. The class in question, “Reforming Urban Schools,” was taught by Dr. Jessica Shiller and the book was Brown in Baltimore by Howell Baum. For Lily, not only did the academic association of the class offer vital content and cultural awareness, but the book proved to be a guide that engaged students in intensive, comprehensive understanding of life in Baltimore. Working with Baltimore City students at a charter school was particularly impactful for her.

In addition to the class serving as a lasting impact, Lily also notes that in her current position with State, she puts into practice what she learned from Dr. McCartney regarding multilateral negotiations, particularly what was taught during the ICONS course. As Lily shared, “I am incredibly grateful for all the support I received from Dr. McCartney throughout my journey going from the 2010 High School Model UN at Towson to now serving as a Multilateral Engagement Officer at State.” For Lily, her life has been impacted greatly by the HC and the invested faculty members who daily serve students in the program. She’s thankful the HC offered her the opportunity to pursue passions and grow in her field of study.

If you would like to contact Lily, you may do so at LilyMcFeeters@gmail.com.

Thank you Lindsay and Lily for sharing your experiences with us!

About the author: Sheariah is a founding member of the Honors Alumni Council and creator of the Alumni Feature. She began writing the features while she and her husband lived in South Korea but more recently, she completes the interviews and stories from her home here in Maryland. Sheariah currently serves as the Chief of Staff for State Delegate Mike Griffith and is the Vice-Chair of the Harford County Young Republicans.

Honors Faculty Director, Student Present Research on National Stage

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From left to right: TU-BCPS Model UN Program Manager Michele Calderon, Honors Faculty Director Dr. Alison McCartney, APSA President-elect John Ishiyama, TU Honors student Madeleine Meyer, and TU alumnus Connor Cameron at the organization’s annual meeting in Seattle, Washington.

 

Honors College Faculty Director and professor of political science, Dr. Alison Rios Millett McCartney, and Honors College senior, Madeleine Meyer, presented their work at the American Political Science Association annual meeting and exhibition in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 1903, the American Political Science Association (APSA) is the leading professional organization for the study of political science and serves more than 11,000 members in more than 100 countries. This year’s theme was “Promoting Pluralism,” and the TU pair presented their work titled “Converting a Large Service-Learning Event to an Online Format During Covid: Surviving and Thriving” Their research looked at the TU-Baltimore County Public School Model UN program and how the initiative was transitioned to an online format this past year due to the pandemic. Madeleine’s side of the project was also selected for a TU Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry Summer Research Grant award which included a $5000 research stipend. The team also recently presented their work at the European Consortium on Political Research annual conference virtually in early September.

Dr. McCartney and Madeleine shared their experience with the project and at ASPA with us below.

1. Tell us a bit more about the project. What did you look at and what were some of the key findings?

AM: Whereas the Model UN type of event is decades old, the TU-BCPS Model UN was founded in 2002 as a partnership of equity and opportunity wherein no BCPS or TU student would be excluded from participation because of their personal or economic circumstances. Other types of Model UN conferences cost participants thousands of dollars, but our version is free thanks to support from TU and BCPS. Each year, it includes about 300 high school students from 21 schools across 3 counties and dozens of TU students and alumni who work together to expand their global learning, civic engagement, key skills for their futures, and, for the high schoolers, college readiness. Our 2020 conference was held the weekend before the shutdown, and we had had such success — especially with students from underserved populations–that we didn’t want to pause.  So, we adapted every part of the conference and the November Training Day to an accessible and engaging online format. This process was challenging in many ways, particularly when one considers that Zoom was not as versatile as it is now when we started the planning. But we were strongly committed to continuing to provide this important learning and development resource for students, as those who needed it the most had no other opportunities during the pandemic. Indeed, the participants really enjoyed the experience, and the success of the conference has emboldened us to continue, whether we are in person or online, as we hit our 20th year. One great story was a team representing Vanuatu from Western High who won several awards and showed that you don’t have to be one of the big, powerful countries to have a huge impact on the development of international policies and programs.  Another story was a student from Milford Mill High who had repeated trouble with his internet connection due to his location; yet, he persisted and won an award for public speaking.

2. Was there anything that surprised you in the findings?

AM: One of the things that surprised me was how many high school participants reported high levels of learning and development of leadership skills from the conference. More than 87% of students reported that Model UN helped them develop research skills and 81% indicated that they developed leadership skills. These are great percentages, especially considering that students gained these skills while participating fully online!

3. Now that you have this data, do you plan to adapt parts of the program to continue in an online fashion in the future? 

AM: Yes! Another surprising aspect was the high amount of high school participants, TU students, and TU alumni who found the new online pre-conference training nights, created and run by Maddie and alumni Connor Cameron, as so useful. That’s an innovation that we are keeping!

4. What was it like to present your project on a national stage?

MM: I was initially nervous about presenting on a national stage and to an audience of academics and scholars who have completed significant research on service-learning programs and clubs for years. Given that I’m only an undergraduate student, I wasn’t sure that my research and its application wouldn’t be advanced enough to generate interest among our panel’s attendees. However, everyone who I encountered was extremely kind and supportive of the work I’ve done alongside Dr. McCartney and I received many congratulations for completing undergraduate research and attending APSA. I really enjoyed my experience not only presenting my work, but also seeing other academics present their research and having the ability to network and discuss their findings!

5. What advice do you have for other TU Honors students looking to get started with a research project?

AM: Come to the Undergraduate Research Club meetings to learn how to get involved and develop a project, and be open to opportunity!

MM: Be open to opportunity! You never know where your passions may lie, so take advantage of learning opportunities the Honors College and your professors may offer to you. Also, don’t be afraid to network and express your interests with professors and other students. They may be able to open doors for you that you wouldn’t have otherwise been able to open.

6. Final thoughts from Dr. McCartney.

AM: I am so very proud of Maddie’s ability to work in a high-level professional context. Not only did she excel in her own part of our presentation, she also engaged in presentations by faculty from around the world and showed the depth of intellectual development of TU Honors College students. I couldn’t have made it through last year without her creative and innovative contributions, and I am so pleased to work with again her this year.

Congratulations to Dr. McCartney, Madeleine Meyer, Michele Calderon, and TU alumnus Connor Cameron on your research and presentation!

Welcome!

Welcome to the Honors College Blog!

This webpage is designed as a supplementary experience for you to get a sense of the Honors College and TU. Here, we share our student stories in addition to other exciting Honors events.

 

Be sure to subscribe at the bottom of this webpage to be notified when we post new content.

We look forward to helping you explore TU and Honors!

Melissa Flint: Reflection from an Alumni

One of the best experiences that I had at TU was through my time in the Honors College. Starting off college with Honors Orientation was just the perfect beginning to 4 years of great opportunities. The Honors College truly provides so many resources and experiences for students that have academic, professional and personal impacts that are long-lasting.

There are so many fun events and programs set up to help students connect, have fun and learn something new. One of my favorites has always been Caffeine, Cookies and Confidence which gives students a great space to destress before finals at the end of the semester. It’s events like these that really show how much the staff cares about the well-being and engagement of the students. Starting in Douglass as a first year student who did not really get involved, and ending my time as a Student Director of the Honors College really gave me an impression just how much you can get out of this experience if you go looking for it.

I urge Honors students to take advantage of all of the events and discussions that you can be a part of as a member of the Honors College, from movie nights to internship information nights to leadership opportunities like being an OM, RO or SD if you can. Even my Honors seminar classes led to important discussions that I will hold onto for as long as I can. This is your time, and you have a great group of students and staff to offer you support and engagement. Make the most of it, and I hope you Honors experience will be as positive as mine was.

Melissa Flint ’20 graduated from Towson University and the Honors College with majors in French and Psychology with a Minor in Women’s Studies. This Fall, she begins the Graduate program for French Education at Towson University. 

Samantha Morris: My Favorite Campus Spots

Hi everyone! My name is Samantha Morris, I’m a Sophomore Pre-Nursing Major in the Towson University Honors College, and I’m from Manchester, MD! I wanted to share with you some of my favorite spots on TU’s campus.

First, Douglass House, the Honors College residence hall, is one of my favorite spots on campus. Living in Douglass House allowed me to hang out with my fellow honors peers, make close-knit friends, and attend fun events each month hosted by the Douglass RA’s and honors staff. My favorite event I attended in Douglass House was “Caffeine, Cookies, and Confidence”, a night with movies, crafts, coffee, and cookies for the students to relax and unwind during finals week.

Another one of my favorite spots on campus is Burdick Hall, the gym on campus. I love going to Burdick with all of my friends to work out during the week, especially after a long day of classes. Another aspect I love about Burdick is that they offer free group fitness classes for students each week that you are able to sign up for online. My favorite group fitness classes are the yoga classes offered, and I’ve been to many with my friends on Friday afternoons. The equipment in Burdick is very new, the staff is super friendly, and it’s a fun place to be with friends if you enjoy getting a good work out in.

Another one of my favorite spots on campus is the College of Liberal Arts. During your time at Towson, you will take many classes in this academic building. I love the College of Liberal Arts because of its beautiful aesthetic and the hanging chandeliers on the 5th floor of the building that light up with a variety of different colors at nighttime when you walk past. I also enjoy this building because the classrooms are very spacious and comfortable learning environments.

My final favorite spot on campus is the Albert S. Cook Library. Whenever I have a project due or I’m simply looking for a quiet place to study, the library is the place to go. There are tons of computers available for student use, books, librarians at the help desk to answer any research questions you may have, as well as a multitude of other helpful resources. I enjoy the peaceful atmosphere and lounge areas at the library when I’m getting my work done.

These are only a few of my favorite spots on TU’s campus, and I hope you decide to check them out when you become a Towson Tiger too!

Samantha Morris ’23 is a Pre-Nursing Major. You can read more about her on our Student Bios page. 

Taryn Painter: Unexpected Opportunities: Developing the New History & Human Rights Minor at TU

As you begin your college career, you will be presented with an array of opportunities, both personal and professional. Sometimes, you will be provided with instances that fulfill both simultaneously. That is what happened to me this past Spring semester as I worked for Dr. Kimberly Katz of the History Department as a Research Assistant.

Dr. Katz is the advisor for the newly established History & Human Rights minor. My first exposure to the minor was at the end of my Spring 2019 semester, when I wrapped up Dr. Dombrowski-Risser’s Ethical Perspectives in History course. She announced that the History Department was working on a new minor and that any of us interested in the material covered in her class could be further explored through this new program. I loved Dr. Dombrowski-Risser’s class and found the topics that we had covered interesting and relevant, (some topics included refugees and resettlement, fighting a “peaceful war,” and war crimes, among other things). Adding a minor in this particular field of study sounded like something that I would not only enjoy completing the work for, but sounded like a way for me to better understand the world that I live in and how I can improve it.

I mulled over the minor for a few months and officially enrolled at the end of my Fall 2019 semester. At the beginning of the Spring 2020 semester, History students received an email from the Department stating that Dr. Katz was searching for a Research Assistant. The Research Assistant would aid Dr. Katz in researching internship opportunities for Human Rights minors and aid in any promotional events for the History Department. Since I was now officially minoring in Human Rights, I thought that there was everything to gain with this position. To me, it would be mutually beneficial: I would be imbursed to help develop a program that I was interested in and piloting, while the minor would continue to be cultivated with student input— an important part of education!

After submitting a resume and cover letter to Ms. Shelley Cotton, the History Department’s Administrative Assistant, I was called in for an interview with Dr. Katz. A few days later, I received an email stating that I had been selected for the position and that I could meet back with Dr. Katz to begin discussion of my research. I would continuously update an Excel spreadsheet listing potential organizations that would be interested in both providing internship opportunities to TU students and hosting a “guest lecture” in HIST 200 (Introduction to Human Rights), where the speaker can reach out to students directly about their work. Throughout the course of the semester, I completed around seventy hours of research and gathered around fifty to sixty different organizations that were either providing internships in the future or were organizations that I thought could provide a guest lecture to interested students.

Though I am not completing any research for the History Department or Dr. Katz during the summer, there is a possibility that I can continue to do so in the coming fall. Dr. Katz and I have been discussing implementing further research on TU courses that could count for minor credits. We’ve also discussed researching and reaching out to TU faculty members that could contribute some of their time towards a HIST 200 lecture. Though the Human Rights minor functions out of the History Department, it is taught through a collaborative approach, meaning that certain English, Psychology, Anthropology, Political Science, Geography, and Mass Communication courses could count as units towards the minor. Having some input from professors in other departments on campus would help refine this idea of Human Rights as an interdisciplinary study. In the future, I’m hoping to integrate more courses from COFAC (College of Fine Arts and Communication) and Fisher College into the Human Rights curriculum and make the minor more appealing to students in the arts, mathematics, and science.

While I contributed a lot of work towards the development of the minor, there was much that I had gained personally, too. Because of the research that I completed for Dr. Katz, I have a better understanding of what I would like to do for my required internship. Throughout my time in undergrad, I’ve developed a deepened interest in immigration. Researching internships for the Human Rights minor has allowed me to determine refugee and immigrant oriented organizations that I could intern for in the coming semesters. I’ve also become more knowledgeable on a multitude of issues across Baltimore, the U.S., and the world at large. For instance, one of the organizations that I discovered focuses on food insecurity specifically within Baltimore’s Black community. Much of the research that this organization, (the Black Yield Institute), completed shows the disparity in access to nutritious and affordable food between Black and white communities, and how Black people’s inability to access nutritious foods stems from a lack of corporate and land ownership. While food insecurity is not a topic that I think I will pursue directly through the Human Rights minor, it is a phenomenon that I need to be cognizant of and care about. One of the most important skills that the Human Rights minor has granted me was the skill of empathy. While it’s also an emotion that people can feel, empathy is experienced across a spectrum. The more that you practice empathy, the more engaged you are with the people around you and the struggles that they face every day. Reading the various mission statements and research conducted by these organizations has made me a more empathetic person, sensitive to the wants, needs, hopes, and desires of others— the very core of the Human Rights minor.

If I did not have this research opportunity, I don’t know if I would be as aware of some topics that I am now familiar with now. It is my hope that each and every one of you will have the chance to complete a project or research within your own area(s) of interest and have an experience as rewarding as I felt mine had been. Of course, part of the challenge to obtain opportunities is finding out about open positions in the first place. As a student in the Honors College, however, you’ll have some additional help in this area. In addition to the Career Center, the Honors College sends out a weekly email with links and information to open internships, job positions, and programs that students can partake in and apply to. I highly recommend reading through the weekly Honors College email to take a peek at what on-and-off-campus opportunities are available to you!

Towson also utilizes a platform called HandShake. Similar to LinkedIn, HandShake is a website where departments on campus and organizations off campus can post job postings and internships to undergraduate students. HandShake also provides a link to each organization posting a position, so you can be assured that the information you’re receiving is legitimate. It’s a fairly easy website to navigate, and pulls up hundreds of positions that are fitting for your chosen major(s) or minor(s). If you have a free moment this summer, I would recommend setting up your HandShake profile and familiarizing yourself with the website.

There are so many opportunities like this that are or will be available to you in the coming semesters. Whenever you see a posting, especially in an area that you are interested in, seize it! Send in an application or request an interview. Though it may be intimidating to do so at first, think of all the benefits that await you on the other side: experience, knowledge, and a deepened understanding of the topic that you hold a passion for. If you’re unsure of what you’d like to study at the moment, that is okay! You have plenty of time to discover and explore your interests as an incoming first-semester student. Regardless of your major or field of study, be assured that Towson will provide a host of opportunities for you to develop yourself personally and professionally.

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The Human Rights and History minor introduces students to the origins and development of human rights. Students explore a range of topics for the purpose of investigating the role they have played in human history. These topics include: slavery, genocide, sexual assault, forced migration, environmental degradation. The Human Rights and History minor will challenge students to think about issues historically, geographically and thematically. The minor will also investigate how human rights have been implemented, abused and restricted. If you are interested in learning more about the History and Human Rights minor and how you can enroll in it, feel free to send an email to tpaint2@students.towson.edu. I’ll be more than happy to tell you about the program and my experience with Human Rights coursework.

Taryn Painter ’22 is a History and Political Science Major with a History and Human Rights Minor. You can read more about her on our Student Bios page. 

Paris Rodgers: 5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Attending College

If you are anything like me before freshman year, you’re watching college vlogs and advice videos on youtube and trying to figure out the color scheme for your dorm. The summer before your first year can be so exciting and nerve racking at the same time so I wanted to give you all five pieces of advice before you embark on this new phase in your life.

I’d like to start off with a mantra to live by: College is an exploratory time in your life. Everything that I am about to tell you all goes back to this simple mantra so if there’s one thing I want you to take away from this post, it is that.

  1. Things may not go as planned and that is ok. Don’t think that you can’t do everything you planned and more because it is very possible. However, life has a way of steering you in another direction whether it is changing your major or career goal, picking up a new hobby or even meeting a close friend standing in the line at Au Bon Pain (great restaurant btw, HIGHLY recommend checking it out on campus). The best thing you can do is embrace this new unexpected life and understand that everything happens for a reason. When I came into college, I thought I’d get all A’s my first semester, become best friends with my quad mates and I’d make the TU pom squad. None of that happened and honestly, I was devastated. I felt like I had failed myself and I considered commuting because college just wasn’t going as planned. Now as a rising junior, I look back at that time and realize that I would be so different than I currently am if that vision of my freshman year was my reality. It led me to join greek life where I made some of my closest friends, work harder in my classes to achieve my goals and join a dance group with over sixty girls which was a fun and interesting experience.
  2. Use your free time wisely. Maybe in high school, you had a few AP or honors classes, sports, clubs, honors societies and work which took up all of your time. In college, you have more free time and freedom than you’ve ever had. Unless you find ways to fill up your time, your only obligation is school. This is your time to truly explore new hobbies, people, organizations and most importantly yourself. Going back to that mantra, explore what Towson has to offer. Don’t just stay in your dorm all alone, unless it is another corona situation. If you truly want to make the most of the college experience, you have to put yourself out there and seek new opportunities. At the same time, don’t forget that you have to study outside of class and you can finish homework early if you have the time. Try to make a schedule for yourself so that you get everything done and still have time to enjoy yourself. I would recommend getting a planner and a big calendar to hang up in your dorm so that you can keep track of all of your activities and school work.
  3. Time will go by so quickly, cherish every moment. In the grand scheme of things, college is a very short time in your life. Just like high school felt like it flew by, college will feel the same way. Truly savor every moment, the good, the bad and the ugly. You probably won’t have another time in your life where you can walk to all your friends’ dorms/apartments, your food is always made for you and you can have spontaneous nights and adventures. These are the memories that you will be looking back on once you graduate and maybe even tell your kids about. I still remember my first few days of freshman year like it was yesterday and it is crazy to think half of my time in college is already behind me. So as you are enjoying your freshman year, remember that you can’t get this time back. Enjoy it all while you can.
  4. Don’t forget your friends and family back home! You may have days where you are a little homesick or just tired of school in general. Calling your high school friends who may be going through a similar college experience as you or your family can be very comforting. Not to mention, they miss you too. The first semester of college can be tough so knowing that you have a support system back home can help you get through this time. You will also be around tons of new people which can be overwhelming and at first, they don’t know you. Your friends and family will be there for you to remind you of who you are and push you to do things so that you can grow into the person that you are meant to be. I called my high school best friend and my mom so much throughout the first few months and they helped me put my life into perspective. As you are exploring Towson, remember to keep those who have been there for you prior to college up to date on your experiences.
  5. YOU ARE IN COLLEGE FOR A DEGREE! This may seem very obvious now but it is so easy to let your grades drop because you are involved in other things on campus. Do not forget why you are going to college though, that degree will be worth the struggle. I remember multiple people telling me “Don’t skip classes” and I laughed because I couldn’t fathom why someone would pay so much money and not attend class. And then I actually got to college and realized that it is actually VERY easy not to go to class. Some professors don’t take attendance so you might not see the point in going. You may tell yourself “I can teach myself the material” or “I can get the notes from my friend” which may be true. But once you start skipping classes, it will become a habit. You need to keep yourself accountable and remind yourself that you are in college pursuing a career. Also take advantage of the opportunities that may help you get an internship, a job or a mentor in the career field that you are seeking to work in. TU holds a lot of job fairs that are looking for college students to intern or work for them. The Honors College has a mentor database with Towson alum in multiple professions who would be willing to help guide you in college and beyond. The bottom line is, remember why you are in college.

Hopefully, you found these tips helpful before you begin your college experience. I wish you all the best first year and feel free to contact me for more advice/comments/questions at prodge2@students.towson.edu!

Paris Rodgers ’22 is a TU Biology Major with a Concentration in Functional Biology of Animals and a Public Health Minor. You can read more about her on the Current Student Bio page. 

An Exciting Future Awaits You!

I’ll admit that the title of this blog post sounds a little bit like a video game tagline, and I know it’s cheesy, but the message still stands. In a short month and a half, you’ll embark on the first semester of your college career. It’s a huge milestone, and a massive transition. Especially considering how crazy these past few months have been for you all, another big change is exciting, but potentially scary!

My name is Rachael, and I’m a rising 5th year student at Towson. You’ll probably see me around a lot, and I’ll take some time at the end to introduce myself more thoroughly, but in the meantime, I want to take some time to discuss this important change in your life. Whether you are an incoming freshman starting college for the first time, or a new transfer student transitioning to a new college, Towson is about to become a very important place and community in your life.

Personally, I was really scared for that transition. A bad experience in a summer pre-college program before I left High School left me terrified, to the point of assuming that perhaps I shouldn’t go to college at all. I spent the summer leading up to my first semester of college not celebrating or dying to head out, but dreading it. I was scared for move in, for classes, for meeting people. I had found a roommate that I liked, but I was still very afraid that something would go terribly wrong, that I wouldn’t make friends, and that I would spend four straight years hiding out in my dorm room, avoiding everybody. My future felt very bleak.

I share that because at the time, I felt very alone in those concerns. I knew that other students might be nervous, but for the most part, all I saw was excitement and enthusiasm. As for me? I felt like I had finally just found my place in High School, and now I had to leave it for a whole new place where I might not fit in. That was terrifying, and it wasn’t really the type of thing you excitedly post on social media as you count down the days to move in and classes starting.

I hope that most of you are really excited to come to Towson, but I also understand that many of you may be nervous. Maybe you’re feeling a mix of both things, and probably a bunch of other emotions complicated by recent world events that likely impacted your final semester at your previous school. Those feelings are extraordinarily complex, and extremely valid.

As for me? Well, I’m happy to say that my bleak expectations for my life at college could not have been further from what actually happened. I immediately made friends through Honors Orientation, my roommate has become one of my best friends, and I quickly established myself in my new job. Since my freshman year, I’ve picked up two more jobs (my dream jobs, I might add!), joined the Orchestra, participated in ASL Club every so often, and changed my major a bunch. It took awhile for me to find my way, but I am so grateful to have ended up here, and I am proud of what I have been able to accomplish and survive since I arrived.

I am determined to help all of you get the same positive experience that I have found here. I am committed to ensuring that you all get the same welcome to ease your transition, and that you’ll be able to quickly establish yourself as a strong, successful member of Towson and its Honors community. Those incessant nerves I felt in the months leading up to college are exactly why I do this– I know how complicated and scary this transition can be, and I want to be there for other students, giving them the same positive first impressions and welcoming atmosphere that was created for me when I got here. Whether you’re excited to come to Towson, scared, or both, I am here for you, and I cannot wait to get to know all of you.

Had you told High School Senior me that within four years, she’ll have actually survived the transition to college, made a bunch of friends, started her dream job, learned an entirely new language, and given a TED talk….I don’t think I would’ve believed you! But my favorite thing about Towson, and about college in general, is that there are just so many random, unexpected opportunities that you can come by. If you’re passionate about what you do and what you love, you’ll find those too. My advice? Go for them. Take them, and run. Worst case, you can say you tried, but best case, you’ve got a really awesome experience and a resume builder. Towson Honors students really have a knack for this, and the Honors College loves to support students with anything they may aspire to try or to be. (You can check out this page for stories of some of these Honors students).

The purpose of this website, my project, is to help ease your transition and build your excitement and enthusiasm for coming to Towson. I know that many of you were not able to visit campus before making your final decision to come here, so I have done my best to build a place that could help you get a sense for what Towson, the Honors College, and our community is like. We cannot wait to welcome you here when the time comes, but in the meantime, I hope that you’ll enjoy learning more about our campus, students, and lives from our perspectives. This isn’t from a staff perspective, this is all students– we’ve lived through it and learned a lot along the way, so this website is designed to share our knowledge and our love for our campus with all of you. Every week, we’ll post another blog post (like this one) each written by an Honors student– that way, you’ll hear from more voices than just my own! Our Honors community is vibrant and eager to share their stories and thoughts with you all.

I hope you’ll enjoy, and I really look forward to meeting you all in person soon!

 

Rachael Daudelin is a fifth-year student at Towson, studying Deaf Studies and Psychology with a minor in English. She works as an Honors College Student Director for Recruitment and a Student Academic Advisor in the Academic Advising Center on campus. After graduation, she hopes to continue working with and helping students through a full time Advising, Admissions, or other University position.  You can read more about her or contact her by reading her bio here. 

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