A student-produced monthly newsletter created and distributed by the Honors Student Association. Its purpose is to supplement the West Chester University community’s knowledge of the Honors Student Association’s activities and endeavors.
DIRECTORS CORNER - OCTOBER 2020
Dr. Kevin Dean - "I Chose To Smile"
I value my Friday afternoon book club. I’m in a group of four professionals from diverse career paths. While we do focus discussion on the common reading we select in advance, the conversations do inevitably turn to current events and let’s face it, much of 2020 is grim. Indeed last week, as we were about to depart, one of my friends said, “Well surely it can’t get any worse for a few days.” Not three minutes later my daughter texted me with the news of the passing of Supreme Court Justice RBG. I forwarded her text to my friend with the words, “Oh, yes it can!” Billy Joel’s “We Didn’t Start the Fire” ran through my mind. As most of you know, the next phrase goes, “it was always burning since the world been turning.” As we, “try and fight it,” the task can seem monumental.
This year marks our 20th Anniversary of partnering with the people of South Africa. Putting into practice the Honors College motto, “To be honorable is to serve,” a key component of our programming involves a service learning project where students and faculty conduct a forum of community needs assessment. The methodological, ethnographic interviews enable our “intellectual service” to provide our South African partners, who define the project, fresh and often untapped insights from people in the community who they serve and whose voices too often go unheard. I hold great pride in the contributions our students have made over these past two decades, but the reality always holds true: we learn about leadership more from the South Africans than they learn from us.
So, often I find myself snarling about our current conditions, how irritating it is to plan outings, learn new technology and wear a mask……just to name a few. Somewhere between MSNBC and FOX NEWS exists a level of truth, but extremists on both sides of the political spectrum strive to put every single issue into terms of competition. Such divisiveness naturally sparks the fire further and often leads to apathy from those caught in the middle of the great divide. That’s when I think of the 2004 words of a South African grandmother, “I choose to smile.” We were tasked with interviewing thirty grandmothers, women mostly over 60, who had primary custody of their grandchildren because they lost their own children to HIV-AIDS. Devastated by the loss of a child, bewildered by the unexpected task thrust upon them to now care for infants, toddlers and youth (at the time, 60%were infected with HIV-AIDS themselves)-not to mention living in the midst of poverty, which included homes lacking electricity or running water-the challenges these women faced were often beyond our comprehension. Their life challenges provided a stark reminder of our “first world problems”------I don’t like to wear a mask, it is uncomfortable----right. Deeply moved by the unanticipated optimism of one particular woman, a student asked, “How do you manage to stay so positive?” Without missing a beat the woman responded,
“I have few choices in the life God has given to me, but I do always have one. I can start each day with a frown or a smile, and I choose to smile.”
I have much to smile about when I think of all the dedication and devotion I have witnessed since the start of the semester from my interactions with the first year students in HON 352 and HON 110, through the energy happening on Thursday nights from 8:00-9:00 at Honors Student Association (H.S.A.) meetings, and through the passion exhibited by our H.S.A. Executive Board, Committee Chairs and students serving as discussion leaders in our large lecture introductory classes to build community. Under the leadership of H.S.A. President Alec Laboski, we approximate, and have surpassed, 100 attendees at our weekly meetings. Our time together has generated lists of television shows and movies to watch, music to listen to and books to read. They have provided opportunities to network, exchange ideas between members of different classes, laugh and participate in community service. Students are joining in the active work of committees which include such wide ranges as alumni outreach, environmental/sustainability projects, diversity and inclusion programming and exploration of best technologies to stay informed and engaged. Sophomore EGP major Carlyn Crisi, our community service chair, offers regular and varied opportunities for using individual gifts in the support of others and has set an ambitious goal of defying COVID by surpassing the number of clocked hours of service from last year. Sophomore history major and social chair, James Lingman and his committee are rolling out a variety of special events to provide venues for people to find space to have fun. Most recently plans are underway for a virtual painting contest and a Monday night movie group. Under the leadership of junior biology and sophomore nursing majors Carly Lare and Maddie Weaver, our signature philanthropic event, Aid for South Africa (A4SA), is now activity positing leadership postings for folks who will actively begin the foundation work needed to support this major spring event.
Honors students are making national impact as they engage in promoting civil discourse in the political process surrounding the 2020 national presidential elections. Sophomore political science major Matt Gearhart, who chairs our political engagement committee, has worked closely with honors professor Dr. David Levasseur to plan for a special program, that coincided with the first presidential debate on September 29th. The program, Debate Watch, a trademark of the Presidential Debate Commission, has officially recognized West Chester University and the Honors College as an official Debate Watch host since 1994. Over 100 students signed up to attend the event.
Honors students are also making international impact as was seen through the September 23 launch of the eight week Nobel Leadership Series NLS. A joint project between the Division of Student Affairs and the Honors College, the NLS is an outgrowth of the five year relationship between the Honors College and the Norwegian Nobel Institute and the Norwegian Nobel Committee. A select group of fifty first year students are devoting ninety minutes every Wednesday night in studying lessons of leadership derived from past Nobel Peace Laureates. As part of the NLS, students have a voice in recommending candidates for consideration as our official nomination for the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize. West Chester University remains the only institution in the world afforded this opportunity. Students in the WCU Honors College make my daily choice to smile quite easy. I look forward to sharing their stories of dedication and creativity with not only my Friday book group but in every venue I can. Their efforts light a fire, one of hope and optimism; what a privilege being part of this community.
Jessie Hazell; vice president
“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.”-Socrates
Service Update: September
Izzy Stuccio
Hospital workers have been working tirelessly throughout the Coronavirus pandemic, putting themselves in danger in order to serve the nation. As the Honors College motto states, “To be honorable is to serve,” thus, we must contribute on our own to return our gratitude to the heroes of 2020.
This past month, while gearing up for classes, HSA members have been sending virtual cards to patients and essential workers through a series of websites provided by the Service Committee. While this activity was part of our September service, the best part is it is ongoing and easy to do.
Here is a step by step process, so that even from home (wherever that may be!) you can still participate in serving our community:
- Visit this Google Doc to access the websites that allow you to send cards
- Choose a website from the list and start creating!
- Lastly, don’t forget to log your service hours. Each card you send counts for fifteen minutes of service, so four cards is one service hour.
Aid to South Africa: A New Approach
Carly Lare
This past calendar year, we have all been forced into creativity in one way or another. Whether it was the car birthday parades, watching netflix with those you love over Zoom, or coming up with the most random things to do outside just to see friends, we have truly done the most to keep enjoying our favorite parts of life. This year, the Honors community is also going to have to get creative in order to maintain the relationships we love so much: including the international ones we preserve through Aid to South Africa. However, this year, we want to do much more than stay in touch, we want to build excitement and we need your help.
So how can you help? We need the ideas and creativity that you can offer. Part of what makes Aid to South Africa great is the group effort it takes to get to the final product. Our ability to pull from such an outstanding pool of minds in HSA allows us to accomplish more and more every year. With the current virtual world we live in, the need for bright ideas becomes even more pressing. Your input and outside-the-box thinking will allow us to transform our standard fundraising practices into something that fits the current climate we live in. It may be easy to think the virtual environment hinders what we can do, however, it is important to see this as an experience to develop other forms of fundraising. The new techniques we discover now will make our future endeavors as an organization even stronger. You can provide these ideas through Aid to South Africa committees which will act as “focus groups” to learn more about what you want to see done in the coming months. These committees will allow you to stay engaged with your friends and get your creative juices flowing!
Any and all ideas received will be pivotal in reaching our goals this year. However, you can also contribute in many more ways, especially through our social media. One of our largest goals is to keep individuals in touch, no matter the distance between us, while working towards promoting a great cause. Social media provides a fun way to spread the word about our goals, and allows us to conveniently reach a greater audience. By following our social media (instagram, facebook, et cetera) and taking part in the activities offered on the platforms, you will not only be able to strengthen our relationships but also be able to stay up to date with ways you can help.
This year, we want to maintain the normal passion we have for both our beneficiaries in South Africa and the event that works so well to bring us all together as a community. As I mentioned prior, creativity has been a big theme of 2020. However, this does not only come in the form of our actions, but also comes in the ability to look for the positives that arise from our trials. Now more than ever, we must try to not focus on what is stopping us, but how these obstacles allow us to keep learning, and achieve bigger and better things in the process.
Dunya Markovic (Vice President)
“No matter what you do, the tides of time will wash away your sandcastles. So there’s no sense in reaching for some foolhardy notion of immortality when there is real work to be done with real people, right now.” -John Green
Announcement! -James Lingman
Dedicated to developing the Honors community, the Social Committee looks to host and facilitate social events, projects, and gatherings to give Honors students a chance to relax from classes and meet other Honors students. The Social Committee of HSA is thrilled to announce two new events for HSA members: our weekly Movie Club and an upcoming partnership with the Alumni Committee.
Each week, Movie Club sends out a movie to watch on your own time whenever it’s convenient. Movie Club meets once a week on Mondays at 8:00 pm to talk about the film, dress up as our favorite characters, and just hang out. We’ll be going through timeless classics, brand-new movies, obscure films you’ve never heard of, and many more. Reach out to me via email at JL926111@wcupa.edu for more information!
The Social Committee and Alumni Committee are teaming up to host HSA Pumpkin Carving! Thursday, October 29th, we’ll be hosting current and former HSA members for a casual pumpkin carving event (BYOP). This is a great event to celebrate fall and Halloween, hang out with friends, and network for HSA alumni. Find out more information in upcoming October HSA meetings!
Introduction
Kim Bydlon graduated in the year 2015 and was thoroughly involved on campus during her undergraduate years! The Honors College at West Chester University has taught her the necessary skills in order to experience success and thrive in her career. Currently, Kim works with the Recorder of Deeds Office of Chester County as the Special Projects Coordinator. She also works part-time in her leasing office in her apartment complex, and recently she sings as the lead vocalist for the cover band: “Kim and the Clairvoyants!” They perform a couple of times each month in Lehigh Valley; search them up for more details!
How has the Honors College at West Chester University prepared you for your career?
“The Honors College has taught me team-building, collaboration, and most importantly self-awareness,” Kim stated. West Chester’s Honors College offers a truly unique experience for their students in placing an emphasis on leadership and collaboration. “These are the skills that have truly shaped my character,” Kim added, saying that she felt tremendous individual growth during her time at West Chester University.
One instance in particular the Kim recalls goes back to a time in her honors ethics class. For those of you who have not taken ethics yet, there is a term paper due at the end of the semester and it is “not kind to procrastinators.” Kim was up until 4:00 A.M. frantically finishing the term paper. The next morning at her 8:00 A.M. class, she brought her printed copy of the paper, but her heart sank when she realized that she had forgotten one major detail--she did not submit to D2L. At first this might not seem detrimental at all, but her professor failed her on the paper for not following all the requirements. Originally, Kim thought this was a cruel punishment, but after lots of time reflecting, she realized that the “devil is in the details.”
“In a corporate setting, I could get fired if I failed to follow all the instructions. While I was certainly mad at first, I realized that this was a valuable life lesson.” Thankfully, her professor offered her a remediation paper. Kim aced the paper her second time around, but she acknowledged that you “don’t always get second chances.”
How did Honors at West Chester University shape you as an individual?
Kim attributes her social, cultural, and self awareness to the Honors College at West Chester University. “The sense of community is unreal, and I am thankful for the several lessons I learned in my years there.”
Her Capstone Project was a culmination of the leadership skills that she learned throughout her time in the honors college. The people she surrounded herself with as well as the several unique experiences that honors offered changed her perception of life for the better. “I still like to make time for me. I have my career, but on the side I pursue my passion: singing!”
Kim has been singing for over half of her life, devoting herself to musicals in the past and now the band business! “It’s my true passion,” she said. “I love my career as it is, but I could never envision my life without music.”
What was the greatest transitional issue that you faced when entering college; do you have any advice/tips for new students?
“Even now, I’m super close with my family, so that was the number one concern with going off to college.” Letting go of the ties to home was Kim’s number one concern when coming to college. “I visited my parents often and almost dropped out over winter break freshman year but I made a deal with my parents to complete the spring semester and reassess how I felt after that. After we went back I never thought about it again.” While the situation is quite different during the pandemic for new students, college is still transitional socially, physically, mentally, and emotionally. “Be patient, focus on the ‘Big Picture.’ What are you really here for? Keep your eye on the prize. Secondly, get involved and step out of your comfort zone. I never thought I’d be into computer science, but senior year I took an elective on web design and now I’m a public relations and marketing professional who can code a site from resources… when I was struggling with unemployment, I would still visit my favorite professors’ office hours!”
Kim stressed that even in the online setting you should still do your best to put yourself out there! “Take risks, get involved… I was involved with over 25 organization during my time here at West Chester University.”
What steps are you/your institution taking to adapt to COVID-19? Do you have any tips for how to navigate the online world that have helped you personally succeed?
“I applied for my job in February and was contacted in June and started in July. During the pandemic, my office maintained its workflow and had no back-log, which is rare. As a government entity though, it was pretty necessary, though the majority worked from home for 2-3 months. At this time, still, we had to take precautions like masks, limited hours and capacities, etc."
As for navigating online, Kim claims “using multiple tabs is underrated! I have also built or recommended online forms or digitally fillable versions of program applications through our county department that allow for electronic transferal back and forth. Develop phone skills, learn social skills in the new online environment, or take a social engine optimization course!”
Honors Advice!
“Honors students have a tailored college experience, so they need tailored help,” Kim claimed. “Always feel free to reach out to your professors for help; they want you to succeed!”
Kim also mentioned that alumni secretly miss their time in the honors college and would always be willing to help with any endeavors that students might have.
“My best honors-specific advice is this: be conscious of the moments you’re living in. You’re not going to remember the parties, the Starbucks runs, or late nights at the Diner. It’s the Crossroads trip, Dr. Helion’s Self-Awareness Course, it’s the holiday gatherings at Dr. Dean’s in Princeton. Those are the memories you’re going to cherish when you look back five years later. Realize the significance of those moments when you’re in them! Best of luck and never hesitate to reach out to the honors college alumni in addition to all of West Chester University’s great resources. We want to help you succeed and, though some of us won’t admit it, we often miss it all. Living vicariously is a win-win!” Even though the honors experience is different this year, still cherish any time you can spend with your honors cohort!
Community Service Opportunities
Rebecca Porter
Sophia Shaloka - "The Importance of Breathing"
There are certain things in life that we do automatically: we chew our food before swallowing and put one foot in front of the other when we walk without any thought or hesitation. What if we stopped and thought about our breathing? In Honors 352 (Leadership Development – Lessons from South Africa), Dr. Dean discussed the importance of the common breath. Now more than ever, taking a deep breath can help us to calm down during a period of uncertainty and adjustment to online lectures. Breathing is not only essential to our being, but it is also a privilege that cannot be taken lightly. A key concept of the West Chester Honors College is self-awareness. Try to be aware of the next time you are “forgetting to breathe” and letting yourself drown in work or stress. Take a long, deep breath, focusing on the rising and falling of your chest. Eliminate all distractions, closing your eyes and letting the anxieties of life flee from your mind. Remember that it is okay to pause and focus on the simpler aspects of life for a moment.
Credits:
Edited by Jodi Lamborn, Director | Leela Rose & Allison Farrell, Assistant Directors | Dr. Martin & Professor Wooten, Faculty Advisors | Created with images by Jordan Cormack - "Pumpkins at Tyntesfield" • Jason Leung - "untitled image" • Thomas Bennie - "@thomasbennie_ (instagram) last light on table mountain in cape town" • Casey Allen - "Penguins at Boulders Beach" • Leo Moko - "untitled image" • Noom Peerapong - "Cinematographer’s room"