Community

 Recently I've been thinking a lot about this word and what it means, but also what it means at Saint Mike's. Being an English minor naturally I looked it up in the dictionary. The definition I felt that I felt captured it all is: a group of people with a common characteristic or interest living together within a larger society. I have been involved in so many different types of communities growing up and through school that they just seem to blend together and not always jump out at us. In High School my big one was the Track Team and before that it was my family. In college it becomes a combination of so many different things and people that become your second family.
     
Going to college is one of those big decisions that is scary because you have to live their and create a community from the ground up. That was always a key component in my college decision making process on whether or not I felt that I could really find a place at a school and be part of that school wide community. "These are the best four years of your lives" is what I often heard and I wanted to make some life-long friends and really for once belong somewhere. So time after time when ever I got the chance to visit my sister at Saint Mike's, I saw her close relationships with her friends and how she really loved so many things about the school and I knew I wanted a similar experience. 


When decision making time came around I kept coming back to the feelings I felt at St. Mike's. Now I'm really not making this up and I do tell my tours this; the fact that I felt at home at St. Mike's and that was one of my top reasons for coming. With several years already completed I can honestly express the community feeling of being a part of something great through shared values, beliefs, and interests. 


On a tour last week I was put to the test asked if I had experienced this feeling of community on campus. Hard question, but really good.  My answer was Yes! I can say that in this past year I have gotten to go abroad see different places, but I still always felt connected and a part of something great even if I was a few time zones away. Coming back has been an adjustment, but I can say that I have grown closer to the St. Mike's community and have experienced a campus coming together for a cause or a reason and supporting one another. This kind of community feel gave me the chills it was that powerful. I now know how my Professors, friends, classmates, and fellow students are supportive and are there for me or anyone when we need it. A fun example of this is a new club on campus that was recently created, Random Acts of Kindness. The clubs plans on doing little things for our community when were least expecting it. Community plays such a large role in our daily lives and often we don't even know it or acknowledge this words powerful ability. 


I know a lot of seniors right now are starting to make their college decisions, my advice is to choose that place where you really feel that sense of community and feel that you can make it your home for the next four years. Good Luck!








Stay tuned for a joint blog with Michaela about our Spring Break!