Posted on Leave a comment

Undecided? It’s Okay

As a high school senior, I felt a lot of pressure to know exactly what I wanted to do with my life – it seemed like I needed to know where I wanted to go to college, my intended major, and what I would do after graduation. The only problem was that I could not figure out any of these impending questions. I had no clue where I wanted to go or my desired major. The whole process was so stressful and I wanted to give up. However, I was able to figure it out, and Grove City made it easy for me to discover my route. Below is my journey in how I discovered the right major for myself:

gcc shieldStarting out: Undecided

Once I was accepted into Grove City College, the next decision I had to choose was my major. I honestly had no clue. After getting advice from my parents and mentors that I trusted, I ended up starting my freshman year as Undecided. I appreciated that I did not feel judged but accepted for not knowing exactly what I wanted to pursue  in the future. They gave me an adviser, and came alongside me in the decision making process. One day, the chair of the liberal arts department even gave the undecided students a pep talk and some practical advice on choosing the right major.

Major 1: International Business

Once I was in some exploratory classes for a few weeks, I had a better idea of what I liked. I wanted to make a choice that would help me discover my true calling for the next four years. Luckily, it is not difficult to change your major, add a minor, or even add/drop a class. The goal of the College is to help students discover their calling, while making the process as easy as possible. So I decided to try International Business. I liked the opportunities and I interests gravitate towards international work.

The Right Major: Entrepreneurship

Undecided Major Studied Abroad
I even had the opportunity to study abroad in the Spring of my sophomore year!

Although I really enjoyed some of the classes I took in the Business Department, it did not feel right for me. Again, after some soul searching, prayer, and advice seeking I landed in the Entrepreneurship Department. I decided this in the summer right before sophomore year began. I was able to contact my new adviser and even talk with him over the phone before returning to school. He helped me handle all of the paperwork, and made the transition easy. The best news – I love my major!! It is a great fit for me.

The best common quality among the professors at Grove City is that they all want you to succeed. I am able to go visit with professors, ask them questions about a class, and leave feeling encouraged and cared about. Professors here look to make an investment in each student so they leave feeling prepared and equipped to do the work they have been called to do. So do not worry about coming to Grove City and having all those questions unanswered. It is easy to figure it out here!

Posted on Leave a comment

Visionary Speakers: Jake Loosararian

Not only does Grove City College have an Entrepreneurship major and department, but there is also a Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Entrepreneurship students are so blessed to have this Center because it connects us with great people and opportunities. One of my favorite activities sponsored by the Center is the Richard G. Staley ’62 Visionary Speakers Series. Each year, the college brings in some incredible people to share with students their wisdom and experience. This November, we got to hear from Jake Loosararian, a fellow GCC alumnus.

Jake’s Story

Jake graduated from Grove City College in 2013 with a degree in Electrical Engineering. While at the Grove, Jake along with some friends participated in VentureLab, a program funded by the Center. VentureLab provides seed grants and coaching to help launch new businesses. Ultimately, Jake and his friends post-grad co-founded Gecko Robotics, Inc. His company uses robots to scale walls and inspect power plants. Gecko’s products save money, time, and human lives.

Shortly after Gecko launched, they were accepted to Y Combinator, one of the most respected tech business incubators in the county. Jake and his team were paired up with mentors, and were named the #1 Top Startup from Y Combinator’s Winter ’16 Demo Day. His company is fast growing, and currently innovating a space that not only has a monetary impact, but also changing the landscape of safety.

Major Takeaways

I found Jake’s talk to be insightful and inspiring. It is inspiring to see someone not too many years ahead of you succeeding and following their passions and dreams. Jake spoke about courage, and his story truly is courageous. I loved hearing how his time at Grove City prepared him for this crazy adventure.

Overall, I was encouraged by Jake’s talk. I’m thankful that my school sees the value in giving students the opportunity to learn from those a few steps ahead and pass on their wisdom.

Gecko, the company Jake co-founded is saving lives and making an impact.
Gecko is saving lives and making an impact
Posted on Leave a comment

Homecoming 2016: Get Pumped!

Homecoming Football

Homecoming 2016.

September 26- October 1. Homecoming week is a celebration of all that Grove City is. There is so much more to the week than just the stereotypical football game. If sports just aren’t your thing, that is okay–there are plenty of other ways to celebrate the phenomenal school we attend.

Personally, my two favorite parts of homecoming are the parade and the homecoming court. This past year’s parade theme was “Fairytales” and the various Greek groups around campus worked hard to come up with creative ideas to dazzle the judges. And as the parade passed by students are able to cheer on some of their favorite seniors and honor the student leaders at the school. There is so much value in a close-knit community on campus– it is a much more personal campus life when you know students and faculty.

Homecoming Committee

Truly, a lot of work goes into making homecoming week great. A group of about 75 students return to campus early in August to plan for the week of Homecoming. Every aspect of the student activities–from the Powder-puff Football game to the Java Jam Coffee House–are thought through by students. This committee’s overall purpose is to plan engaging activities that are memorable for the whole student body as well as provide a way for graduates of the school to look back in remembrance of their college years.

Personal Experience

As the past Vice President of homecoming committee, I considered it an honor to take part in planning an event that had over 100 years of history attached to it. The homecoming committee not only preserves the history, but every year has the opportunity to add in some innovation as well.

Every year it is difficult to gauge the amount of student participation in any of the events thrown by the committee during the week, but as a whole the events never disappoint. At every event, you can expect food, prizes, and fun. Every homecoming week is jammed pack with events, not only encourages student participation around campus, but also to encourage the local Grove City community to get involved. In the parade alone, there are current students, local businesses and community groups, including Sweet Jeannie’s, as well as high school marching bands, and reunion classes walking with the current students. Homecoming is a week to remember at Grove City College!

Check out a glimpse of the events below!

Video credits: Joshua Kuiper, Homecoming Publicity Committee, 2016

Posted on Leave a comment

Oh, the Humanities!

Dr. Thompson Writing

Grove City College is a liberal arts school therefore there are certain academic requirements that must be met before graduation. At this school, that means a humanities core requirements for every student in every major. However, I have come to realize the value of the whole-person education offered here.

The humanities core requirements stretches across almost every area of academia. Course requirements include natural sciences, social sciences, physical education, foreign languages, and biblical & historical studies. Each category is chosen to target a specific zone of education.

Dr. Jewell, a former College president, remarked at every graduation ceremony that he knew he was shaking hands with a “well-educated person.”

Whether a student in the Calderwood (Liberal Arts) School or Hopeman (STEM) School, every student is expected to fulfill these requirements. Some might read this and have cause for concern because of a general anxiety for anything outside of a general comfort zone, but I have found that there are a considerable number of benefits to this system:

Mix of Majors in Each Class

Sometimes, the only chance I would have as an Entrepreneurship major to have class with an Engineering major is in my humanities classes. As I continue to progress in my classes, I noticed they become focused on major-specific classes. That limits the variety of students I would get to interact with in a classroom setting. However, there is so much value to be had from collaborating with people who think in different ways. I enjoy the opportunity to work with people of all academic backgrounds in these classes. Plus, I like having an in for starting a conversation with someone–this gives everyone a common ground throughout campus.

Helpful when Studying Abroad

In the spring of my sophomore year, I studied abroad in Florence, Italy. It was a dream trip for me. The culture that I experienced blew my mind. However, what made that cultural exposure so much more valuable was the Civilization & the Arts class I had taken the semester prior. In that class, I learned how to analyze and appreciate artwork of all genres. Later on, when I was in Italy I visited some of the most prestigious museums and got to apply those concepts that I learned. It was so satisfying knowing how to interpret that art. I went abroad and felt prepared to walk into any museum and not feel like a fool.

Well-Rounded Education

Overall, the classes that I will take at this school will become a reflection of who I am after graduation. The opportunity to expose myself to so many different types of classes is an extremely valuable trait as I enter the workforce. As a current student, I can without a doubt vouch for the benefit of a humanities core.

Posted on Leave a comment

Auto Care: A New Industry Partnership

Auto Care

Grove City College has one of the best Career Services Offices in the country. They have been repeatedly ranked in the top 20 for career services by the Princeton Review. One of the newest reasons Grove City College stands out is due to its recent partnership with the Auto Care Association.

ACA is looking to make a partnership with Grove City and seeks to hire GCC grads. Photo Cred: Ari Carter
ACA is looking to make a partnership with Grove City and seeks to hire GCC grads. Photo Cred: Ari Carter

About Auto Care

The auto care industry is a 300 billion dollar industry. It is the second largest market in the United States behind healthcare. The Auto Care Association is a representation of anyone in after-market care related to anything automotive. Recently, the college has made a new partnership with the Association, and the Entrepreneurship and Business departments are very excited about the opportunity to work with industry leaders in the classroom setting. Further, the College also had the privilege of bringing in a panel of Auto Care leaders during Grove City College’s annual Career Fair to share their wisdom with students.

 

 

New Course Offering

With the Auto Care Association signed on to sponsor a new course at Grove City called Supply Chain Management, students can expect a new way to explore a new industry. This course will focus on the logistics of managing a supply chain. Making this class unique is the simulation set for use in the course called “Fundamentals of Supply Chain Management”. The Entrepreneurship department is known for utilizing simulations like this one to provide students with practical, hands-on experience. As a student, I am looking forward to gaining experience and knowledge in this field, that I can use to discuss in an interview setting.

Auto Care Panel

The Panelists were gracious to spend some time investing in students at the Auto Care Mixer. Photo Cred: Ari Carter
The Panelists were gracious to spend some time investing in students at the Auto Care Mixer. Photo Cred: Ari Carter

One of my favorite events hosted by the Career Services Office is the annual Career Fair. This year, there were over 160 companies recruiting for internships and full time positions. After the Career Fair this year, the Entrepreneurship department hosted a panel of Auto Care leaders who shared information not only about the Auto Care industry, but also about tips for hiring and breaking into the industry. Personally, I was grateful for the opportunity to make connections with some potential future employers. It is awesome to see that my school is valued enough that employers want to make connections with its students.

Overall, this new partnership with the Auto Care Association is a huge win for the College and more importantly, for its students. Connecting students with a new industry and potential careers is above and beyond what the average Career Services Office might do.