By: Tyler Kasper
My first year at SNC was amazing; I made a ton of friends, joined a lot of groups, and I learned a lot – both academically and about myself. It truly became a place that felt like home and I enjoyed being on campus every day. However, I felt I needed to take a different turn in my degree choice, which I felt I could do better if I transferred to another school. So I spent a semester at Stevens Point, where I explored more options with Theatre, something I had been wanting to try for a while. I had everything set: my classes were good, I had a nice apartment, and I already had some friends on my new campus. But something didn’t feel right. I never seemed to fully click with Stevens Point like I did with St. Norbert. It just didn’t feel like home.
Within the first few weeks, I knew I wasn’t the happiest I could be, and I was missing SNC. Sure, SNC was what I was used to, but I knew it was more than that. The SP campus had no sense of connection; it seemed as if everyone was just going to class to go to class. Meanwhile at SNC, it was bigger than that. Oftentimes, I sensed the students in my classes actually want to be there and progress our learning. Another difference in the classroom was the genuine care of the professors. I feel like my professors at SNC truly care about me and my learning, something I didn’t feel as strongly at Point. At SNC, I feel that my professors are approachable and always willing to offer advice and help in any way they can, something that makes SNC stand out from other institutions.
After a few weeks, I also came to realize I also missed the Honors Program. Sometimes, I took it for granted that I had the opportunity to be a part of a program of like-minded students who care deeply about our futures. Campus wouldn’t be the same without Dr. Mann and KC supporting us along the way, and they made a tremendous impact on me even in these two short years at SNC. When I reached out to them and informed them I would be coming back, without hesitation, they told me I was more than welcome back into the program, which I was super excited about. It speaks volumes that even when my path had some turns in it, the Honors program was there to help me in any way and made sure my transition back to SNC was smooth and easy. It goes to show how much SNC cares about meaningful connections, and these are some I will have my entire life.
It’s safe to say that I am more than happy to be back on campus at SNC. While it was nice to try something new, SNC simply feels like home. It’s a place where I can be my authentic self, and have the resources and community to try new things and further my education. I can’t see myself at any other institution, and I am happy to be a part of the Honors program and campus community again.
