An instant community: SHC's upperclassmen
There are endless reasons why college can be intimidating for freshmen. There’s the fear of being far away from home, hard courses, and most of all, the fear of not belonging. One of the fastest ways for new students to feel accepted on campus is by establishing a community and for a few freshmen like Lily Mascari and Kristen Mitternight, being a part of Spring Hill College sport’s teams, did just that.
“Coming in as a freshman isn’t easy because you are trying to find your friend group and the people you can trust,” said Kristen Mitternight. Mitternight plays for Spring Hill College’s Volleyball team and credits the team for welcoming her to the Spring Hill community. She referred to the team as “an instant friend group” and a group of people that she knew she could trust with anything.
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Being a part of the volleyball team also connected her with her other friends like Lily Mascari, Payton Nicoud, and Brooke Borgmeyer. All of these freshmen found community within the volleyball team during their first semester of school. Nicoud mentioned that “finding community at Spring Hill was difficult,” but being around around the volleyball team helped her meet people.
Christopher Favalora
In addition to providing these girls with an instant community, Mascari noted that being a part of the volleyball team was a blessing because of the connections she made with the upperclassmen. “The older girls introduced me to new people and showed me the ropes. I definitely think they helped me establish a home on the hill because they all acted like a family to me,” said Mascari. Mitternight agreed that the upperclassmen on the volleyball team helped her find her home on the hill. She shouted out one of her teammates, Mary Coye Ward, who has served as a "big sister" on the team for her this year. “She made me feel so welcomed and helped me whenever I needed anything,” said Mitternight. She mentioned that Ward always checked in to see how she was doing. “She is an inspiration and a hard worker. She shows such a selfless attitude and that’s what made me feel so welcomed. I knew that no matter if I had a personal, school, or volleyball-related question that she would be there for me.”
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The volleyball team was not the only sports team that offered their freshmen teammates instant community. Christopher Favalora, a member of Spring Hill College’s Baseball team, felt the same way. “It’s mainly the upperclassmen that have connected me with this campus and introduced me to other people,” said Favalora. He met most of his friends through the baseball team and by the way his teammates constantly invited him to do things. “Because of baseball, I automatically felt a part of Spring Hill because I had people to go to.”
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