“My two biggest pieces of advice are to get over-involved and then find your priorities. I joined lots of clubs freshman year and made a point to attend as many on-campus events as possible. Everything from paint nights to BINGO to dance lessons, my friend group went to it all. This helped me get a wide range of experiences quickly so I could figure out exactly what I liked and I did not like. Join a club and quit two weeks later, it is not that deep. For me, Student Ambassadors and The Slate are what felt like home because I love talking to people and writing. You’ll figure it all out in time, but you need to get out and experience life.”

-Elizabeth Peters

Editor-in-Chief 2023-24

“When you graduate high school, everyone says that college will be the fastest four years of your life. I hate that they’re right. It seems just like yesterday I was alone in my dorm room, scared to leave because of COVID-19 with no friends. Now here I am. I just celebrated my 22nd birthday with friends at HersheyPark. I won Homecoming Royalty last fall. I studied abroad, won awards and got accepted to graduate school. I quite literally have done everything. This response to Slate Speaks will be a letter to my 18-year-old self and anyone else who may benefit from reading what my 22-year-old self has to say. You do not have to be like everybody else in college. You do not have to be the most outgoing. You do not have to go to parties every Thursday to Saturday night of the semester. Enjoy college the way you want to enjoy college. I know FOMO is real, but if you don’t enjoy the college scene like it’s often depicted in movies and social media, you do not have to partake. There are friends and fun to be found staying in and doing what is comfortable for you. Even if you aren’t as outgoing as everybody else, don’t let that stop you from going after your goals. You are more than capable of achieving whatever you set your mind to. Best of luck with your time in college, and enjoy every moment. It goes by fast. (Also, buy a hammock.)”

-Allyson Ritchey

Multimedia Editor

“Get involved. I don’t expect anyone to take on the workload I gave myself in my four years I was here at Shippensburg University, but at the same time I wouldn’t be the person I am today without the groups I got involved with. From my first year on-campus I got rooted in The Slate, SUTV and WSYC. By sophomore year I added the Residence Hall Association on top of everything else. While times got tricky balancing everything, I wouldn’t change a single thing. Not only did I gain valuable knowledge that helped me get to the place where I am today, but the friendships I made along the way are ones that I hope to keep with me for a long time. Some of the people I’ve met in my Shippensburg experience are some of the best people I’ve ever known and I don’t think I would have been as successful as I was without them.”

-Adam Beam

Opinion Editor

“Do yourself a favor and get yourself a planner, a desk calendar or just set a million reminders on your phone. Keep track of things, everything, so you know exactly when you can have time for the fun things. And there are a LOT of fun things; don’t ever miss out on anything you want to do, even if your friends say it’s lame or boring. Make sure to take chances, but not with your health or safety. And never ever sell yourself short. You are more capable than you could ever know.”

        -Piper Kull

Editor-in-Chief 2022-23

“Trust the process and step outside of your comfort zone. College is meant to be a formative time of your life but it can be easy to fall into self doubt and negativity. I can’t say enough how important it is to find professors who support you both academically and in your well being. If I could tell my 18 year old self what I’ve done, she wouldn’t believe me, but that is a good thing. Standing up and doing things that I never thought I would (like joining The Slate) has changed my life for the better. Believing that what is meant for me in life will find me has been a hard lesson to learn at times, but trusting that everything will come together has made a difference in my mindset, and I would say the same to anyone else in college.”

-Brooke Curran

Copy Editor

“To new students coming into the CJM department at Ship, a good peice of advice is to always stay involved and to always push your limits and comfort zone. If you have a passion for news, sports, entertainment and you want to report it on air and do not feel comfortable, do not sell yourself short. Going out and trying new things is always key.”

-Jeremy Perna

Staff Contributor

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