Category: Student Stories

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Student Spotlight: Mechanical Engineering and Girl Power

230 (2)Junior Paige Foley might not fit the mold of your stereotypical engineer, but that’s ok. She can engineer her own.

As one of 13 girls out of 65 total Mechanical Engineers in her class, Paige has experienced first-hand the interesting challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated field. I was fortunate enough to be able to sit down with her to discuss her experiences so far as a Mechanical Engineer major at Grove City College.

What is your major?

Mechanical Engineering with a Robotics minor. Robotics is a new minor that the college just added, and I’m really excited to be able to take those classes!

Did you have any experience or education about engineering before coming to college?

I took two engineering classes during my last two years of high school. One was a co-ed, basic engineering class with very few girls, and the other was called Women in Engineering. The school felt the need to offer a separate course for girls interested in engineering because of the different learning and project styles seen in girls in comparison to boys. They found that women tended to ask questions before starting a project, while boys asked questions after something went wrong. I always thought this was an interesting comparison.

What have been your favorite engineering classes at Grove City College?

I’ve taken a lot of great classes that I’ve enjoyed at GCC, but Design Manufacturing (MECE 208) and 3D Modeling (MECE 210) have been my favorite classes by far. Last summer, I had an internship where I was able to directly apply what I had learned from these two classes, which was very exciting. They taught me how to use the industry software for modeling and design.

Have there been any other classes that have greatly influenced you?

One of the classes that stuck with me that related to my major was a required class called Science, Faith and Technology (SSFT 212). It was taught by one of my engineering professors, and we discussed how faith and science can coexist. It was really beneficial to talk about the ethics behind science, and how we as Christian are called to learn to be good stewards of the Earth, which involves understanding and learning about how it works. It helped me in terms of my major to understand that my future profession is important to Christian and worldly society because I am utilizing my skill set for the glory of God.

What do people say/think when you tell them that you are a Mechanical Engineering major?

Sometimes when I say I’m an engineer, people usually seem surprised because they think that it doesn’t seem to fit me, and question whether I’m qualified. I think that people react this way because engineering in general has a reputation for being very difficult, and there aren’t a lot of girls that decide to pursue it as their career. I’m proud of my major and the hard work that I’ve put into it, so I don’t mind talking about it to other people who have questions. I’m putting in the work now so that I can prove to everyone later that I have what it takes.

Given the minority of women to men in engineering, how would you describe your experiences with equality within your major?

Grove City had done a really great job at keeping the academics equal among genders. All the professors are great, and they are fair, helpful and qualified. Unfortunately, there is some social barriers that get in the way at times, but it never interferes with my education. And because girls are such a minority in the Engineering Department, we all have really bonded. We all have similar schedules and spend a lot of time together, studying and working on homework. Some of the girls have even created sorority-like letters that they wear to represent our small group of engineering women.

Have you had an internship? How has that enhanced your education?

This past summer, I was fortunate to have had an amazing internship experience at a railroad company called A. Stucki. As a mechanical engineering intern, I used 3D modeling software to make shafts, fit pieces, and model things like cast iron skillet. I was even able to reverse engineer using scanning arms and other tools and instruments in order to create certain pieces. I loved learning and applying what I’ve been learning in classes in a real world setting. What was really cool and encouraging was that I learned that the company that I interned for had just hired two GCC grads, and that the Vice President of Engineering was a GCC grad as well. It was great to see people outside of the college who knew that GCC comes with a great education. Even as a sophomore, I was prepared to apply what I learned in a real-world setting.

What advice would you like to share to someone interested in pursuing Engineering at Grove City College?

My advice to anyone looking to pursue Engineering at Grove City is to not be deterred from pursuing it because of the challenging classes and schedule, and the stereotype of the lack of a social life. People may feel like you may not be able to have a social life, but I can assure you it is possible. It all depends on how diligent you are with your time. You can be involved and have a social life. Also I would love for people to know that just because I’m an engineer, that doesn’t mean that I want to build a car. Engineering is so much more broad and diverse than designing and building motors and vehicles. I have had a great experience with the Grove City College Engineering Department and encourage those interested to look into it, talk to professors and students, and even sit in on a class if possible.

 

Listed below are some Grove City College resources to help you learn more about the Mechanical Engineering Department:

http://www.gcc.edu/academics/SEM/mechanicalengineering/Pages/B.S.-in-Mechanical-Engineering-.aspx

http://www.gcc.edu/academics/SEM/Pages/Hopeman%20School%20of%20Science,%20Engineering%20and%20Mathematics.aspx

http://www.gcc.edu/academics/SEM/mechanicalengineering/Pages/Department%20of%20Mechanical%20Engineering.aspx

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The Power of Theatre: The Process of Performing

Theatre is a wonderful medium that allows the actors to engage directly with the audience, to feed off of the energy in the room, and put on a show that will amaze.

This spring Grove City College put on Oliver Goldsmith’s She Stoops to Conquer, a comedy about mistaken identity and true love. I had the honor of playing the role of Diggory, a half-wit butler who causes more trouble than he can fix. This was my last full-length show at Grove City, and I enjoyed the cast immensely. I had the opportunity to work alongside some of my best friends and even make a few new ones along the way.

Above all, we strived to put together an entertaining, meaningful production for the audience. Goldsmith’s intent was not to just put on a comedy for the sake of laughter, but also for purpose of thought and engagement. Beneath the surface jokes lie a wellspring of meaningful commentaries on classicism and empowerment of women. While laughter plays a large role in the show, there is so much more to be gleaned from the text, and it’s the actors’ jobs to make that come to light.

For being a liberal arts college of 2,500 students, Grove City always amazes me at its quality of performances, and that goes beyond the acting. While the acting is impressive not only for a school without a Theatre major, but also for students in majors from Computer Science to Mechanical Engineering and from History to Communications, the technical work at Grove City exceeds expectations. Lighting, sound, sets, and props come together in a way that exudes skill and dedication.

Just like it does in its various other departments, Grove City’s theatre impresses and excites those who experience it.

Here is a video made by Daniel Peiffer highlighting She Stoops to Conquer and the creative process called Inside the Actor’s Mind.

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Student Spotlight: Ryan Brothers, Computer Science and the Humanities

As of May 2015, Ryan Brothers joined the same housing group as 14212074_10210027004769686_237257880145741396_nI did. We had talked maybe twice from when he joined to May 2016. On a whim, we decided to be roommates for our senior year. Now, I can call him one of my best friends.

“I applied to bigger schools, but at the same time, they couldn’t offer me what Grove City does. The humanities core offered here has made me far more well-rounded than any other school I applied to could have.”

Ryan is an Electrical Engineer with a concentration in Computer Science, one of five in the senior class. Ryan’s passion for Computer Science brought him to Grove City, but he wanted to major in something different with the hope of giving himself a challenge.

“Computer Science was something I always got. Once I learned about the EE with CompSci, I knew it was the program for me. Get it? Program?”

Currently, Ryan is working with a professor on an independent study that end goal is to convert images into vectors. The program will be used at a local forge in imprinting steel.

“It sounds a little confusing, but it’s applications are incredibly practical. It’s been a lot of fun.”

Grove City offers these type of opportunities in a variety of its departments. It’s been neat to see how Ryan’s been taking advantage of it.

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Spring Dance Company

poodle girls

Over my four years here, Grove City has been what I like to call “a land of opportunity.” Countless positions to fill and committees to serve on has really made my time here at Grove City worthwhile. Spring Dance Company was another incredible opportunity that fell into my lap in quite a unique way; it’s an experience I’ll never forget and one that will always be close to my heart.

Spring Dance Company is a student-run dance concert that takes place during the spring semester (hence the name) on Family Weekend, which usually falls on the first weekend in May. Spring Dance Company is one of the largest attended events during Family Weekend and has gained much success over the years. I have had the privilege and honor of being able to serve this group as the Junior and Senior Head Choreographer for the past three years and have really enjoyed watching this group grow into what it is today.

It all started at midnight on a Friday – our first show was down, and the current leadership was taking applications for Junior Head Choreographer. This year in particular, I did not choreograph, so naturally I did not think that this would affect me in any way. Usually, the rules are that any rising sophomore that choreographed for the show that year is able to apply for the Junior Head position. However, when no sophomores applied, they extended the offer to freshmen. Thinking that I was not qualified or able to apply, I once again let it go…until I received an email telling me that they have now opened it up to freshman who didn’t choreograph for the show. I thought to myself long and hard about this, and it wasn’t until I went to brush my teeth and run into a close friend that I would consider this opportunity.

As I readied myself for bed that evening, a fellow freshman girl on my hall, Emily Owen (who, mind you, did choreograph for Spring Dance Company), happened to be doing the same at the time. I decided to go out on a limb and ask her if she was thinking of applying for the Junior Head Choreographer position. She had said that she was interested, but also concerned about the time commitment. I happened to find myself in the same boat. As we stood there exhausted from the day’s events, our tired minds came up with the most brilliant idea: tackle the task together. The applications were due in the morning, so we hastily filled out the forms and submitted them. By next morning’s meeting, Emily and I both found out that we would be serving as co-junior heads of Spring Dance Company. However, with us being freshman at the time, that means that we would be serving as Senior head choreographers for two years, which is a unique circumstance in itself. We were both elated and ecstatic to work with each other, and it has been quite a fulfilling three years serving this group. Sometimes, life’s best decisions can be made when *slightly* sleep deprived.

The group has made extensive improvements over the years and is in the process of undergoing many changes this year. We now for the past two years have had live emcees (instead of a slide show) and now are working to establish a social media presence. We have added a dance for beginners to our line up (anyone who may have never taken dance and wants to learn/be featured in the show) as well as weekly drop-in classes with some of our choreographers. The changes that we have implemented so far have really put the perception of Spring Dance Company in a positive direction.

This year will be my last year serving Spring Dance Company, and I am so excited to see this year’s show come together! Although I will be sad moving on from this organization, I will never forget the impact that it has left on me and all that it has taught me.

For more information about Spring Dance Company, check out our social media:

Instagram: @springdancecompany

Facebook: Spring Dance Company

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An Inside Look at Red Box Missions

Each fall, the Religious Activities Committee selects up to eight Grove City College students to participate in a summer-long foreign missions trip. Each student that has applied for the trip is provided with funds through the Red Box Missions program, a program supported entirely through donations from alumni and friends. This past year there were various students that participated in the Grove City College Red Box Missions trip. One of those students was senior accounting major Lauren Bimber.

Lauren learned about Red Box Missions her freshman year while sitting in chapel and her interest only grew and prompted her to take action. She is passionate about the Muslim lifestyle and understanding the Islam culture in the United Kingdom. Lauren was inspired by the chance to see how  Christian churches that are developed in the Western context can be evangelizing and reaching out to the Muslim neighborhoods in the simplest forms of service. Lauren used that inspiration to connect with an organization that focuses on sharing the gospel with Muslims and also looks to building bridges between Christians and Muslims.

Prior to her nine-week trip, Lauren had expectations that she was going to be investing her time in academics and studying the historical background of the Islamic culture, their religious beliefs, and rooted traditions. She thought she would be more behind the scenes at the churches and the events the organization hosted rather than participating in them. However, that was not the case once she arrived in the UK. Lauren did get to study Islam, but not as she had expected to. She was more hands-on during her trip and was going out to different cultures, helping with their outreaches, and being an active participant in their prayer groups, rather than just reading books. This allowed her to immerse herself within the community and meet a lot of people that are living in the neighborhood.

Certain roles that Lauren found herself helping with was simply being an extra pair of hands during the outreaches that she would go to during the weekdays. Each day was a different task for her such as teaching English, attending prayer groups, helping at a women’s center, and helping with a coloring club for girls. The coloring club impacted Lauren’s time there just as she impacted the girls that attended the club.

“It was created by a woman who noticed that young girls on her street were hanging outside on Saturday afternoons without much to do. Every week she read a Bible story and the girls color pictures relating to the story…Spending my Saturdays with them was one of my favorite things.”

Adapting to the culture challenges required Lauren to have patience during the first couple of weeks into her trip. She learned very quickly that in the UK the climate change was much hotter than it is back in the U.S. and required her to stay hydrated and dress accordingly while she participated in the outreaches. Another culture difference that caught her off-guard was their physical touch and personal space proximity. It was a bit unusual when women would hug and kiss her when they came in to say hello or when they were leaving an event. Through her time in the UK she adjusted to the differences and became accustomed to them.

Lauren gained a lot of insight and knowledge on Islam during her stay in the UK that allowed her to form her own opinion that had been skewed by the media influence. How the Muslims are portrayed on the news or in articles that you read in the newspaper leads you to believe that you know the person before even meeting them. Lauren realized after her trip that this certainly was not true and it is by asking the people group and listening to them and their personal life stories that you learn who they are. Serving them by actions such as speaking English, offering to assist them, or just being a listening ear can open the door to many opportunities to get involved with their lives – it just takes the willingness to go a step forward.

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Campus Competition: All-College Sing

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The Independent Women’s group, “Miss Independents,” strikes a pose for the camera during one of their practices.

Grove City College is an institution that values its history and traditions that have made it into such a noteworthy school. Certain events continue to prove to be campus-wide favorites that bring the students together to celebrate the amazing and talented people on campus. One of these favorite events is All-College Sing. This event takes place late in the spring semester during the annual Family Weekend, when families of current students are invited to join in on the campus life and activities to celebrate the end of the school year.

Theta active Claire Lucas expressed her enthusiasm well when she said, “All-College Sing is one of my favorite campus events of the year. It is an opportunity to try something new, it is basically the musical career I never had, as well as come together to support other students on campus.”

One of these celebrated and beloved events is All-College Sing, where Greek, Housing and Independent groups from all over campus come together to compete in a musical showdown. Beginning in 1972, there are 45 years of alumni who have participated, making it a lasting tradition that draws large crowds. Each group competing picks a song and works all semester practicing choreography, vocals and group personality. All arrangements, instrumentals, choreography, costumes and conducting are student directed. The bar is set high for these performances, as this is usually one of the most well-attended events of the weekend. The competition level between groups is also high, making for an exciting atmosphere and big performances. It’s a great time to participate in Grove City College activity, whether on stage or in the audience cheering on your friends and peers.

Junior and Housing Group AEX member Tom Miller mirrored these sentiments and shared his personal positive experiences with this exciting event. “All-College Sing has been a unifying experience during my time in my housing group. The hours spent practicing with my brothers and performing for our community have yielded a tight unity between us that makes me proud to be a part of something great and humbled to have this opportunity.”

An even rarer occurrence is the participation of an Independent group taking the stage to compete against the more established groups on campus. This year, junior Ellen Upton has taken the initiative to bring together a great group of unassociated, talented women to perform for the title. “All-College Sing, especially for the independent women, is a great opportunity to get to know new people, come together to reach a goal, and to have a lot of fun putting on a show. I would never have met some of these girls if it wasn’t for this group and I love that they are all as excited about it as I am. I think for both the independent women and all of the Greek groups it’s an awesome experience and builds a sense of community and accomplishment that otherwise might not exist.”

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Team Up India Part 2

Last summer GCC senior Lindsey Reichert traveled to India on a Red Box Missions scholarship. During her time overseas, Lindsey worked with the missions organization Harvest Bridge doing photojournalism and blogging. She had the opportunity to work in schools, serve local churches, and assist at medical clinics. To learn more about Lindsey’s time in India read the blog titled “Team Up India Part 1.”

Lindsey’s experience with India didn’t end when she stepped foot back on American soil. She allowed her time overseas and the lessons learned to drastically shape her senior year at Grove City in a unique way. Here’s how:

What impacted you most during your trip to India?

When people ask me what I loved most about India, it’s the people. A lot of my time was spent with the kids. My heart was broken for them when I saw that a lot of what was holding them back had to do with education.

When did you realize that this was a problem you could potentially fix?

Last fall I was taking a Social Entrepreneurship class and for one of our projects we had to participate in the elevator pitch competition on campus. This is when I realized I could integrate my experience over the summer with what I was learning in class. I knew I wanted to do something with India that addressed an aspect of their education.

What was your idea for the elevator pitch?

The pitch was basically for a sports program that would teach kids about good nutrition in India.

Why sports?

My very first idea was that I wanted to start a school. But there are already a lot of schools and successful Christian schools. So then I started to think about what the schools don’t have and what I can add to them. I was passionate about the education over there. I saw it as a great model for missions because the kids are there for 10 years and are hearing about the gospel. I was super passionate about the education system.

So then the question was, what can I add to the schools?

I thought back to Jaigaon (an area of India I spent time in) and the school we were in. When I was there, we asked the children what they love to do and all of the kids talked about sports. The original idea was to do a sports program for the school since they don’t have organized sports.

Why nutrition?

It goes back to the school. While we were at the schools in India, we were teaching about American culture, leading songs, and sometimes we would give a Bible message. One day we were asked to teach a health class. We gathered the girls in 7th to 10th grade and taught them a class on basic health and nutrition. A lot of these girls came from poor families and they didn’t  know anything about health and nutrition. The class was about an hour long. Our time teaching was eye opening. The girls were asking questions about things that we take for granted, such as how many fruits and vegetable to eat in a day.

Their diets are high in carbs. They eat a lot of chicken, everything has curry and there are a lot of vegetables. But what I observed first hand and what I have been finding in my own research is that the kids have poor eating habits. They are eating a lot of rice and noodles and their snacks in school consist of chips, cookies and juices. Even when their teachers would encourage them to bring in fruit and water, the kids would decide to do otherwise.

Aren’t many of their eating habits cultural?

We are focused not just on changing the food they eat but on teaching them the “why” behind it. Yes, it is a cultural thing, but the kids need to know why they should change their habits. This is where the sports come in. A sports program will show the kids  how what they eat affects their bodies. We’ll help them to see what they can add to their diet so they can get the nutrients that they are lacking.

How exactly will sports play into teaching them good nutrition?

We needed to find something that would get kids excited about eating healthy and motivate them to change. When it comes to sports, you have to eat better to perform better. That’s how I got interested in nutrition. For me, it started with sports. I wanted to perform better so I started eating healthy.

This program will give them the head knowledge and help them to see physical effects as well.

What did it look like getting into Venture Lab?

I competed in the elevator pitch competition and made it to the top 10.  I couldn’t go to the top 10 round because of a scheduling conflict but I kept wondering what would have happened if I had done it.

I emailed Dr. English and gave her my idea asking her where to go from there. She told me about the Venture Lab info meeting. I went to the meeting and talked to her about it afterward. She was excited.

The next step was the application for Venture Lab. I went to Dr. Mech and he suggested looking for other team members. Kelsey Patton knew about the project because we had talked about it as friends. She told me she was interested so we collaborated and sent in the application.

Over Christmas break we found out that we were accepted into Venture Lab.

What is Venture Lab and how will it help you make this a reality?

Venture Lab is an idea incubator that is run through the Center for Entrepreneurship. Teams come together and propose an idea for a business. The idea goes to a board of professors. They review the idea and decide who they will fund and invest money into. They pretty much tell you if this is a viable idea or not. If you’re accepted, it’s a semester long project that you can take for credit. At the beginning, you get assigned a professor who acts as your advisor for the project. You work with the advisor during the semester to see if this is a viable business option. You are basically testing assumptions and working toward a “green light.”

Venture Lab provides you with a variety of resources to help with your endeavor. This semester they are bringing in speakers every few weeks to talk about specific topics within the business plan process. One week it was about branding.

We are also in partnership with a design class. We are working with a student who will help us with branding, logo design, social media, etc.

Lastly, you are paired with an advisor (our advisor is Dr. Mech) who is able to connect you with other entrepreneurs, some of which are alumni.

What’s the name of your project?

Team Up India.

Where are you right now? What have you completed?

Right now we are fundraising.

We are working on an extensive grant proposal to a pharmaceutical company. Dr. Howley works very closely with them. They have locations in India and they sell healthcare products. Although we won’t be selling their products, we believe our mission can align with and support their mission. In addition, we have been approaching rotaries with grant proposal and seeking support from local churches.

We have also established support for our program in India. We are in contact with the principal of a school in West Bengal. He wants us to start the program in his school. There are four teachers there who want to see this project happen.

We are in the process of developing the program. We have been working with expert coaches and sports program professionals to develop a sports program. In addition, we have been working with a graduate student who is pursuing nutrition to develop a health class curriculum.

Our online presence has also been coming along. We recently started working with social media as well as a blog and website.

What is your timeline moving forward?

We are looking to be fully funded by the end of the semester. Our hope is to pilot the project for five weeks in India this summer. The results will allow us to create a turnkey system or a packaged product that we can turn over to other schools in the future. At this point, our hope is go over to India June 10 to July 15. We will be there at the start of their school year.

Our program would take place five days a week. It would be an hour of in-class learning. During this time we would teach about health and nutrition using presentations, power points, handouts and quizzes.

Then we would move outside, for a one-hour training session. The training session would start with a warm up and transition game, then the main focus for the day and end with a discussion about what the kids learned and how this connects with what they learned in the classroom.

linds and kels

Any last words?

We’re very excited about it. This journey has definitely been about us following God. He keeps making it evident that he is opening doors that have allowed for opportunities. It’s about trusting Him. His hand is clearly on the project as we take it one step at a time.

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Student Spotlight: Studying Abroad with Sarah Kuhn

“Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Emerson, with this quote, thoroughly explains the intrigue, adventure and excitement that accompanies most students that decide to pursue a study abroad program. One such student is junior Accounting and Finance major and Spanish minor Sarah Kuhn. She currently studying abroad in Granada, Spain through the opportunities offered to each student and major through the Grove City College Office of International Education (OIE). I was fortunate enough to have a conversation with her in between her international adventures to ask her a few questions about her experiences so far, her international insights, as well as her advice to those looking to pursue a study abroad program.

How was the planning process of choosing and applying for a program? Do you have any advice after your successful planning experience?

“Planning to study abroad is not a difficult experience. As long as you have the required packets and paperwork and some organizational skills, you will be able to figure it out. If studying abroad is important to you, then that is enough motivation to be able to make it happen. Also, the OIE is more than willing to help you with any problems or questions. I would advise that those wanting to study abroad do some research about classes and credits both at Grove City and in their desired program to make sure that they will transfer. It also helps to take Humanities courses earlier rather than later, because those classes will not transfer from abroad. It may help to plan out your courses ahead of time so that you are prepared.”

How has studying abroad changed your perspective on things like life, education, etc.?

Junior Sarah Kuhn and I discussing her study abroad experience to Grenada, Spain over a lovely video call.
Junior Sarah Kuhn and I discussing her study abroad experience to Grenada, Spain over a lovely video call.

“It had really shown be how big the world is. It has been such an eye-opening experience to be surrounded by so many students who are not Christian and to observe how they approach the world, art, travel, education, and the beauty of Creation. It makes me think of my understanding and learning through classes like Speculative Mind and Civ Arts.”

What has been the best part about studying abroad so far?

“The best part overall has been the opportunity to see things in person that I never imagined really existed. It’s been so amazing to see vague and intangible things that I’ve only learned about becoming real, like Europe itself and works of art. I recently traveled to the beach and was able to experience the Mediterranean Sea for the first time, which was pretty special.”

What is your favorite thing about living in Spain?

“I’ve really enjoyed the opportunities to practice and learn more Spanish. That was really important to me, and a big part of why I decided to study abroad. I’ve loved being in Spanish classes, conversing with professors and asking questions that I was able to apply to my life directly outside of the classroom in a real-life setting. I’ve loved learning about the culture and the different dialects within Spain. The culture is so diverse and there’s so much I still don’t know, and I think that is really cool.”

What are the biggest differences that you have seen between Europe and America?

“Mostly, I have noticed how much more secular Europe is in comparison to the United States. Many times over the months I’ve been here, I have been able to share and explain the gospel with people who really didn’t have any idea what Christianity is all about. I’ve noticed that Americans tend to have such a small scope of perspective, and that studying abroad highlights the range of that scope in different ways. People in Europe are much more culturally aware than Americans, and speak more language and have a better understanding of more cultures outside their own.”

Anything else you’d like to share?

“I am surprised how few people studied abroad from Grove City this semester, only 13! If you choose the right program and plan it right, studying abroad (flights included) can cost less than a semester at the College. Also, studying abroad has made me so thankful for Grove City College’s community, their strong Christian education, and formative classes. I am so lucky to have a Grove City College education as a base so that I can succeed wherever I am in the world, and to be able to use what I learn as well.”

Sarah Kuhn is forging her own path abroad, and surely Emerson would be proud. Her experiences and insights will add so much diversity and culture to Grove City College, as does every student that studies abroad. Choosing the path abroad can lead to a discovery of culture, faith, self and so much more, and the OIE helps make those dreams a reality for Grove City College students. So it has been said, and can be applied to those seeking an abroad adventure, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.”

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Team Up India Part 1

Each year Grove City College selects up to eight students to spend their summer in another country doing missions work. At the beginning of the fall semester, students apply to the Red Box Missions program. Students selected by the program are given money to fund their summer abroad on missions. The program is funded by alumni and generous donors.

This past summer Lindsey Reichert ’17 traveled to India. Continue reading to learn more about Lindsey’s summer abroad.

What got you interested in Red Box?

It goes back two summers ago. I was living in Washington, DC doing an internship and was planning on studying abroad the following year. I was looking into study abroad options and began the planning process. However, all of the study abroad planning became stressful and I felt like this wasn’t something I was supposed to do. I wanted to go abroad but I wanted to do it with purpose and to serve the Lord.

I started considering missions organizations in Europe which is why Red Box caught my attention. When I got an email about doing Red Box and heard it announced in chapel I decided to apply.

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Why did you choose India?

When you get accepted to Red Box they provide the funding and you find the missions organization. You get to plan what you want to do for the summer. I was thinking Europe so I started looking at organizations over there that I could work for. A lot of doors were being shut on those opportunities.  I did get an offer for an opportunity in Ireland but felt that it wasn’t the right place for me. I was out of options.

At one point Dr. Keehlwetter said that Dr. Mech runs a missions organization called Harvest Bridge. I decided to look into the possibility and went to his office to talk about my Red Box opportunity. I told Dr. Mech that I wanted to use this opportunity as a chance to do photojournalism and writing. Dr. Mech said that his organization needed that in India. The opportunity with Harvest Bridge about seemed like a fit.

Initially I didn’t want to go to India. It was out of my comfort zone. I started talking to people who worked for Harvest Bridge and prayed about the opportunity.

After praying about it one day I remembered that I had to read a book about a missionary as part of my Red Box requirement. I went to the library looking for a book that I had in mind. The lady at the desk didn’t have the one I wanted but got me a book about a missionary who goes to India. I knew this wasn’t a coincidence and that the Lord wanted me in India over the summer.

What is Harvest Bridge?

Harvest Bridge is a mission’s organization that supports missionaries in East Asia. They provide financial support, pastoral training, education, and support for women. Their main focus is to provide help for native missionaries.

How did you prepare to go overseas?

I did a lot of research. We had a project for Red Box where we had to research and answer questions about the culture. I had to read books. I dove right in.

I also prepared spiritually as I prayed a lot over my trip. I was nervous about some things and prayer grew my relationship with God

More practically speaking, I had to fill out a lot of paperwork for my visa and passport.

What were your first impressions of India in the first two weeks?

My first impression of India was the heat. It is overwhelmingly hot. You feel like you just walked into a wall. A cultural wall as well.

I was homesick the first night as I was accepting the reality of being thousands of miles from home. Those first few days we saw a lot of things. It was a lot of just trying to take everything in. I took thousands of pictures in the first few days.

What exactly did you do?

I spent the summer in four main locations alongside Blake Bear ’18 and Zach Pitcher ’17.

Chennai

In Chennai I helped Blake at the medical clinic in the Gypsy camps. I assisted in unpacking supplies and helping him organize.  I also did a lot of photojournalism work and interviews in Chennai. I spent time with Prahba, a woman who does work with a women’s ministry in the Gypsy camp. I would sit with her and some of the women. These women would talk about their lives and I would record their testimonies.

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Delhi

We were in Delhi for only two days. During this time I helped some more with the medical clinic.

Patna

In Patna one day, we helped with a children’s ministry. It was kind of like a youth group. We led worship and ran games. Blake gave a bible lesson. We had a full house of kids ages three to 14 years old.

We also continued running medical camps in Patna.

At the end of one of our weeks in Patna we ran a Bible school. Throughout the week we prepared for Bible school by prepping crafts, practicing songs and preparing Bible lessons. Between 100 to 200 kids came to the Bible school.

On night in Patna we helped out with a young adult ministry for college students. We sang songs and Zach gave the Bible lesson that night.

Jaigaon

In Jaigaon we taught in the school every day. Pastor John (a local pastor) started the Christian school that a number of non-Christian kids attend. A lot of nationalities and religions are represented because so many countries surround the border of the town where the school is located. It was neat because no matter the child, they were all taught about Christianity.

During our time there, we would lead the morning assembly, lead worship songs and act as guest speakers in their classrooms, talking about American culture, running games, or singing songs.

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How is Christianity received in India?

The government is not very open to the Gospel in India and Christians can be persecuted in different areas but there is a small and growing presence of Christianity. Because it’s growing people are more open to it.

What was the hardest part of your summer?

Some parts of the culture were very hard to understand.

I also struggled with figuring out why the Lord sent me to India. It wasn’t revealed over the summer but I had to trust that the Lord was doing things with a greater purpose.

What was the biggest lesson learned?

In India they say “India Time,” which means that time is flexible and will happen when it happens. I think in life this happens but we need to call it “God’s time.” We live in a culture that is very time sensitive. We want things to happen at certain times. But on God’s time, he is flexible and will act when he wants and how he wants.

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What piece of advice do you have for people considering Red Box?

If you think you might want to apply, you should apply. God puts desires on your heart for a reason.

What piece of advice do you have for people who are set on applying for Red Box?

Go into it with an open mind. Be open to wherever God will place you. You have to be flexible and willing to see how the Lord will change your plans.

What impacted you the most?

When people ask me what I loved most about India, it’s the people. A lot of my time was spent with the kids. My heart was broken for them when I saw that a lot of what was holding them back in life had to do with education.

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Look for Part 2 of this post to see how Lindsey is combining her passion for Entrepreneurship and love of India to make a difference in the lives of the people she met last summer.

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Student Life: Choosing Independence

Independence is an essential part of growing up and becoming an individual. There is value in having confidence to be able to accomplish something successfully on your own. Being independent is a highly desirable quality to possess. It’s a great key skill to add to your resume. So, it should be no surprise when I say that choosing to be an Independent at college can be a great thing too.

Being an Independent means that you have chosen not to be a part of a Greek or Housing Group on campus. At Grove City College, there is a large Greek presence, with many different groups to pursue. Greek life is always a valid option for those who seek that kind of group identity and friendships. However, one’s decision is not restricted to either rushing a Greek group or becoming an bored outcast. Choosing to be an Independent is just as much of an important decision as choosing Greek, and should be a valid option for those who are unsure of their extracurricular future.

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Independent Women have fun too!

Being an Independent among many Greek groups at Grove City College has proven to be an enriching and growing experience for me. As a freshman, I was worried that I would lack something important in my college experience because I didn’t feel like I fit into the Greek life. So I chose to be an Independent, and found that there was a whole different side of a college experience that was just as fulfilling. Some of my friends made the decision to go Greek, while some chose to be Independent. Despite some division between the two choices, my friends had to choose what was best for them and what they wanted out of their college experience. For me, I fit best among independently-minded people. I was lucky enough to have great friends around me who chose the same path, and we set off on the adventure that is Independent living.

I learned that to be an Independent means you have the freedom to make choices and try new things. Just because you don’t wear Greek letters doesn’t mean that you do not have the same opportunities to have fun and experience all that Grove City College has to offer. By choosing Independence, a network of like-minded individuals is created. The environment you choose to be in becomes an empowering and exciting group to be apart of. The possibilities for each individual are endless, and each person brings their own interests and personality to the table.

Student Insight

Junior English major Bethany Wilson commented about her experiences as an Independent. “I enjoy having a variety of different kinds of friends, and the flexibility that being Independent allows. Choosing Independence has been a positive experience because I have formed a lot of close friendships without a sorority to bring us together. It has been great in forming bonds with people in many different directions instead of just in one place.”

Caitlin Washburn, a Junior Biology/Psychology major, also added to why she chose to be an Independent. “I like being able to choose with who and where I live, and I like that I don’t feel like my friends are confined to one group of people. I don’t have to meet a certain image or stereotype, and I like the freedom to be who I am instead of fitting a certain mold.”

The variety of choices and involvement only add to the diversity of people you find on campus. Whether Greek or Independent, your choice is valid and in no way impedes your abilities and experience at college. There is no right or wrong way to choose, as long as it is true to your goals and to yourself.