Laura Locher, Author at

Posted on October 23, 2020October 14, 2020 by Laura Locher — Leave a comment

Transitions: Part 1

College is one of the biggest transitions a person will make, aside from getting a full-time job post-graduation. These four years are full of newness and change and excitement and anxiety all wrapped in one. Transitions can be difficult, but I want to ease your mind about a few of them.

Transition to dorm life.

Going from having your own space at home to living with approximately 20-30 people on the same hall can be daunting. It can also be slightly annoying to have this newfound recognition that you now have to be careful with your stuff and make sure people know it is yours. Let me tell you though, dorm life is kind of scary at first, but turns into the coolest thing ever fairly soon after move-in. Once you realize that you are living with your closest friends and do not have to drive anywhere to hang out with them, you will quickly learn to love it. Also, the dorms provide ample opportunity to share things with your friends (i.e. clothes, shoes, video games, hats, etc.). You basically shop for free in your friends’ closets and rooms, with their permission of course.

Transition to college classes.

I talked about this in a previous blog, but the transition to college classes can be really scary. It is easy to come into college thinking that college classes will be significantly harder than the ones you took in high school. I am here to tell you that you will be just fine. Yes, Grove City is academically rigorous. That is definite. However, you learned how to study and work hard in high school and that is no different here. You will be fine. The Grove is well-known for being difficult but take it from me, you work hard, study hard, and learn so much from your classes here. And, if you need any help with your classes, the College has a free tutoring service offered to each student who attends Grove City College. Please take advantage of that, many students tutor other students, so it is a great way to not only learn but also meet new people!

College is one of the biggest transitions you will ever make in your life–moving away from family into a dorm, new classes, new experiences, etc. It can all be terrifying from an outside perspective, but when you break it down day by day, moment by moment, you will soon learn to thrive at Grove City College.

Posted on October 22, 2020October 14, 2020 by Laura Locher — Leave a comment

Working Part-Time and Being a Full-Time Student

Coming to college as a freshman, most would never think of getting a job while being a full-time student. I realized, however, that it is indeed possible to be a full-time student as well as a part-time employee to make extra money as well as gain experience.

I interned with a company called FCB Health, NY this last summer as the editorial intern. After a summer working remotely for the healthcare network, I accepted a freelance editor position with FCB beginning September 1^st, 2020. While school is super important, it is also important to be proactive about finding a job for post-graduation. I kept in contact with my supervisor from the network and landed a job for the next year prior to graduation. The primary point is, even if you are a freshman, it could be beneficial to get a part-time job during the semester career related or not. It could be beneficial for a couple of different reasons. One, you will make some money to help with the cost of books or whatever else you would like. Two, you can learn the value of hard work before starting your career.

The most valuable thing I learned from working part-time while being a full-time student is first, the importance of prioritizing finding a career while at Grove City. Your academics are equally as important during your four years at the College, but that does not mean you should not also focus on getting a jump start on finding an internship or part-time job. It does not matter if you’re a freshman or a senior, it is never to early to make connections and gain experience while also being a student. Secondly, I learned that everything would work out how it is supposed to. If you get a job during school, you will be okay and able to make it work. But if you don’t, you will also be okay. All in all, during your time at the Grove, if you can start building connections with people in the work industry, do it. It will only be beneficial to you in the long run and there is time. Do not let anyone tell you that you are only a freshman, and this does not apply to you. It is never too early to start networking and getting yourself out there.

Posted on October 21, 2020October 14, 2020 by Laura Locher — Leave a comment

The Importance of Faith

Faith is something that most assume when coming to Grove City College is all around you in everything you see and do. Now, faith is a deeply integrated part of the Grove City community. But with that said, it is easy to let your personal faith slip because you assume with chapel and Bible studies that you are covered. As a senior, I can personally attest to the fact that your faith and relationship with Christ can easily fall to the back burner if you are not actively and daily pursuing The Lord. There have been times when I got to the end of a semester and realized I had not spent a single day with Jesus in quiet time or prayer. This affected the health of my spiritual, emotional, and physical life in ways you cannot imagine.

I have found that the only thing that brings me peace when I am stressed, overwhelmed, or anxious is spending time with Jesus every single day. As a senior this year, I took a look back on the last three years of my college career and how I felt when I was spending consistent time in the word versus when I was not. I do not mean to say this in a condemning way–as if you are a bad person if you do not spend time with Jesus every day. NO. Not at all. I am saying that, in my opinion, if you want a beautiful, healthy, life-fulfilling experience during your time at Grove City College, fix your mind on Jesus and His word as much as possible.

I have found that starting my day by reading one or two chapters of the Bible and writing out a prayer for my day has been the best way to start said day. With that being said, you ultimately have to do what is right for you. And your time with Jesus can look different every day, it does not have to be the same thing over and over again. Spending time with Jesus is spending time with Jesus.

As I write this post, I pray that your time at the College is full of joy, beauty, community, and faith. Faith in the unseen. Faith in the God who created you and has walked the path before you. The God who has won all of your battles, so you do not have to. When you come to college, keep your faith for He is with you.

Posted on October 19, 2020October 14, 2020 by Laura Locher — Leave a comment

Things I Wish I Knew as a Freshman: Part 2

Welcome to part 2 of the “Things I Wish I Knew as a Freshman” series! If you have not read the first post, be sure to check it out for more tips. Here, I will be focusing on two more pieces of information I wish I knew as a freshman.

Take time in your day, each day, to do something for you. Do not be worried about what anyone else thinks. If it is relaxing to you, do it.

I came into college worried about what others would think of me. I was also stressed out of my mind freshman year, so I truly cherished the moments I took for myself to relax. Even if it is just once a week if you feel too busy, take a break. Over the years, I have found that the things that relax me are going home on the weekends to visit my family, napping, watching New Girl on Netflix, or listening to music. Now, many people gave me a hard time about going home so often to see my family and for a while that really bothered me. But as I continued my time at the College, I learned that going home on the weekends brings me extreme peace, so I am going to continue to do so regardless of what people think. And I did that because I needed to recoup and be ready for the week to come. I wanted to share this tip with you, prospective student, because I want you to feel the freedom to do whatever you need to do to relax as you begin your college career.

Be present. You never know when your time at the College will come to an end.

As a senior at the College, I have a newfound appreciation for being present during your time at Grove City. I know you will hear this from a ton of different people, but you will blink and be a senior before you know it. Or, you could be sent home from school due to a global pandemic and lose an entire semester. But that is a different story. That being said, please take it from me, a person who was not fully present the first couple years of my college career, wishing to go home sometimes, being so excited for Christmas break, etc. Be present. You only have four years to live with your closest friends and make beautiful and fun memories. Do not miss it.

Posted on October 18, 2020October 14, 2020 by Laura Locher — Leave a comment

Things I Wish I Knew as a Freshman: Part 1

Are you or have you ever been nervous about going to college? Me too. And so has pretty much every other person to ever attend college. With that being said, here are some pieces of advice to hopefully ease some of your nerves.

You WILL succeed in your classes if you put in the effort. They are not as impossible as they seem. You learned how to study and work in high school, you will be fine.

One of the things I was most nervous about when coming to college was the workload and the classes. I always heard that college was significantly more difficult than high school and that I would get a rude awakening. While Grove City has rigorous academics, the classes and workload are doable. I was so scared coming to college thinking that I would not have a social life or that I would not do well academically. Let me reassure you as a senior at the College, if you put in the work you will figure out how to best study for you and get the work done without working yourself crazy. You CAN do it!

The professors are here to help you, not to scare you or fail you.

In high school, I remember my teachers telling me that my college professors would not be lenient with me (i.e. no late homework, schedule was hard set, no extra credit, no conversations when extenuating circumstances arose, etc.). This terrified me for college. But I can assure you that I have not had a single professor at Grove City who has not worked with me when conflicts arose for either class or an assignment. Every professor I have had at the College has always been the most understanding when I have reasonable excuses or a difficult situation that requires an extension or simply the professor to work with me individually.

It is okay not to find your lifelong best friends your freshman year. You will find close friends.

When I first moved into my freshman dorm, there was this weird underlying pressure to find your best friends the moment you got to school. It was like if you did not find your best friends within the first month of school you were somehow never going to find them. I am proof that this notion is simply not true. Yes, for some, freshman friends or roommates do become the best of friends. And that is awesome! However, I did not find my closest friends or friend circle freshman year. I found it sophomore year with my roommate who I have now lived with for three out of the four years I have been at Grove City. Also, I found my group of close friends sophomore year when I joined a sorority on campus. My point is, it is okay if you do not end up being best friends with your freshman year roommate. You will find your group and you will find your close friends.

Posted on October 17, 2020October 14, 2020 by Laura Locher — Leave a comment

English Major Internship Spotlight: Laura Locher

Internships are a stressful topic for some and a reminiscent memory for others. I completely understand both sides of this coin. My name is Laura Locher and I completed two internships over the course of my time at Grove City College. Both internships were in New York City. The first was with an independent publishing company called Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group and the second was with a healthcare marketing ad agency company called FCB Health. Today, I want to focus on my most recent experience with FCB Health.

FCB Health Experience (remote from June 2020-August 2020):

My most recent internship was with FCB Health, NY. I was the single editorial intern for the network’s NYC office. I spent the summer learning the lingo, various editing software systems, the history of the company, and the editorial process FCB uses. Let me describe the editorial process FCB Health enacted. With what I am legally allowed to share, being that the network is a healthcare company, the editorial process is a multi-level system that includes factors like cold reads, fact checks, proofreads, etc. The editorial process is much more in-depth than that and I would love to talk to anyone who is interested in a similar field!

I loved my internship experience with FCB so much. If I could some it up in a sentence I would say this, it’s simple: the people, the culture and atmosphere, and the work. I cannot begin to explain how much I loved everyone I worked with last summer. Whether they were people from various departments or my fellow interns, everyone was phenomenal. The company culture is exactly what I am looking for – accepting, encouraging, team-oriented, driven. And finally, the work I did this summer piqued my interest in something I never pictured myself working in – healthcare. Overall, my experience with FCB Health was incredible and I have recently accepted a freelance editor position with the company beginning September 1, 2020.

One final highlight from my internship was winning the intern pitch project challenge! All 53 summer interns at FCB were split into five teams and tasked with creating a pitch for a brand the company works with. My team ended up winning the pitch and the group’s ideas are actually going to be used in an upcoming campaign! My advice to students seeking similar internships is this, apply everywhere and anywhere even if you think you don’t have a chance of landing the internship. You have no idea what door God will open for you. Look at me, I applied to FCB Health on a whim randomly on LinkedIn, got the email saying they want to start the interview process, got the internship, and now have a job with the company. You never know.

Posted on May 21, 2019May 21, 2019 by Laura Locher — Leave a comment

The Collegian: What it is Like to Edit a Newspaper at Grove City College

Grove City College offers students who enjoy writing and editing many opportunities to utilize their skills, such as working for The Collegian, Grove City’s campus newspaper.

Sophomore Britney Lukasiewicz is a copy editor for The Collegian at Grove City College. Britney has had experience in copy editing prior to attending Grove City, thus, when coming to campus she knew that copy editing was something she wanted to continue pursuing.

When asked how The Collegian has affected Britney since arriving on campus, she responded, “Being a part of the newspaper has given me a chance to meet new people and learn more about journalism.” Additionally, Britney describes the responsibilities of a copy editor for the school newspaper along with the time commitment in joining The Collegian in this specific position. She says, “Copy editors get an assignment sent to them each week of what type of articles they will edit (sports, entertainment, etc.) and then they get a day or two to correct them…Joining The Collegian is an easy way to get more involved with the campus, and it does not require a lot of time out of the week to complete.”

From Britney’s perspective, working for The Collegian as a copy editor is not all together a time-consuming task, however, it is incredible experience in the field of work she wants to pursue after graduating from Grove City. Britney explains how working for the Collegian, in any capacity, is a great way to dip your toes into the world of editing and/or publishing. She describes how working for the campus paper is not an overbearing time commitment, but the job does teach you valuable lessons in the world of writing, editing, and publishing.

All in all, working for The Collegian at Grove City College, provides students with the opportunity to gain experience in their field, while not being overwhelmed with an overbearing time commitment alongside of being a full-time student.

Posted on April 14, 2019April 4, 2019 by Laura Locher — Leave a comment

The Truth Behind Sororities on Campus: Sigma Theta Chi

Sigma Theta Chi sorority sisters of Grove City College

Sigma Theta Chi, also referred to as the Sig Thets, is one of eight sororities on Grove City’s campus. Junior Sig Thet Samantha Funderlich only has wonderful things to say about her experience joining this sorority.

When asked to describe her sorority in three words, Samantha said, “The sisters of Sigma Theta Chi are loyal, sincere, and fun.” I could not think of a more accurate description for the Sig Thets. Sig Thet members are striving to uphold the ideals in their constitution as well as create a space for disciple making in the sorority. Samantha expressed how her group on campus has affected her walk with Christ when she said, “…I have become a better person and a strong Christian, specifically through the women in my family line. I would not have asked for a better experience at Grove City College.”

In addition, Samantha described her experience and what that has been like since being an active member of the group, commonly referred to as “actives.” She said, “Since my first experience with the girls, I have formed deep friendships and mentor relationships with the other actives. Having all of the older actives pour advice and love into our relationships was a great experience being a junior, I have loved every part of being able to guide the younger women to becoming who God wants them to be.”

Grove City provides its students with ample opportunity to find community, discipleship, and life-lasting friendships. One way to find all three of these things is by joining Greek life on campus. Sororities at Grove City give students the chance to meet new people, specifically through the process called Rush. Not only are these groups at Grove City incredible for community within the group, but Greek Life is also amazing for community building with other groups on campus. Samantha Funderlich has experienced this first hand through joining the Sigma Theta Chi. Samantha would recommend joining a sorority because “they are great for benefiting the community through philanthropy/charity work, provide you with leadership opportunities, networking through actives and alumni, and above all else: creating fun memories and relationship.”

Posted on April 13, 2019April 4, 2019 by Laura Locher — Leave a comment

The Truth Behind Sororities on Campus: Gamma Sigma Phi

Grove City College has a multitude of sororities that students can choose from upon arrival. One of the eight sororities on campus is Gamma Sigma Phi, often referred to as Gamma Sig.

Sophomore Gamma Sig Becca Cloyd is extremely honest regarding her thoughts on sororities coming into college and more specifically her group on campus. When asked to describe how the Gamma Sigs have affected her since arriving at Grove City, Becca said, “I was very apprehensive about sororities in general at the beginning of freshman year, but on

ce I met the Gamma Sigs I started to really be interested. Since joining the Gamma Sigs, I have felt more love and certainty in friendships than I ever have before.”

Becca continued explaining the specifics of how the Gamma Sig sorority has impacted her faith journey as well as providing her with life-long skills. “I think that I have grown in my faith. It has also taught me a lot about community and living with people who don’t always share the same thoughts and opinions…and since I am a Management major and will have to work with people who have different views than me at some point.”

Sororities, specifically the Gamma Sigs, provide an ample amount of opportunities for girls to be welcomed into the group. Friendships that last are found within this group on campus. Becca describes her experience of how she struggled with friendships her entire life but joining a sorority and living on a hall with her fellow sisters has proven to provide relationships below the surface level.

Becca’s experience with the Gamma Sigma Phi sorority at Grove City, has provided her with the opportunity to become immersed into the student body, host events on campus, and experience mentor-ship within the group. When asked to describe the Gamma Sigs in three words, Becca says, “community, laughter, and joy.”

Posted on April 12, 2019April 4, 2019 by Laura Locher — Leave a comment

The Truth Behind Sororities on Campus: Alpha Beta Tau

Sororities at Grove City College are unlike sororities at public universities. These groups on campus are closely regulated by the College, provide an ample amount of ministry opportunities, and create space for students to form life-long friendships.

There are eight sororities on Grove City’s campus. This provides a chance for students to find a group that best fits one’s personality.

The largest sorority on campus is Alpha Beta Tau, also known as ABT. Junior ABT Leah Bovard has had nothing but excellent things to say about her group. When asked to describe her sorority in three words, Leah said, “Genuine, intentional, and fun-loving.” Leah then described the types of relationships that have formed since joining the ABTs and said, “I have formed so many different relationships in ABT, I have met some of my best friends. I have also become friends with people I wouldn’t have met outside of the sorority and been able to bond with people going through similar tough life events.”

Some of Leah’s best friends include her little, Alexis King. Now, a little is a new member of the sorority who is being mentored by her big, in this case Leah. The big-little relationship is set up so that the new girls in the sorority can have an upperclassman mentor them in the ways of the sorority but in life as well.

Leah was asked if she would recommend joining a sorority at Grove City to prospective students and she responded with a resounding yes. She expanded on this notion by saying, “Grove City sororities have an interesting opportunity to be a Christ-centered living community for students, something that is not seen through Greek life at most other schools.” Leah is also extremely honest about what her experience in Greek life at Grove City has been by saying, “While there will be times when you think life would be easier without it, the times where the group feels like your home away from home are exponentially greater.”

Within the Alpha Beta Tau sorority at Grove City, close-knit friendships are being born through community, fellowship, and a wide variety of girls that make up the group. The ABTs are a group of about sixty girls who are extremely welcoming, kind, and ready to lead new members in the way of Christ.