Some of you may question whether my following article was in some way sponsored by Cabrini College because of the overwhelmingly positive nature, but I promise, I have not received free paninis from Sandella’s or a nice new hoodie from the bookstore.
This is my honest experience and my view of the place that has changed my life for the better. My name is Laura Hancq, I’m a sophomore communication major and I truly feel at home here at Cabrini.
Allow me to backtrack by saying I believe I am qualified to make the above statement because I know what it is like to not feel at home when at college.
They say to know true love you have to first experience heartbreak. Well, after my divorce with my former school, I like to think Cabrini and I are going to be on our honeymoon for the next two years.
I don’t like to name drop, so I’ll leave out which school I previously attended but what I can tell you is that I never truly belonged and have now found my home away from home at this small, Catholic college here on the Main Line.
The college I previously attended was quite a distance from my home in Marlton, N.J. Although no flight was necessary, there were also no weekend trips home in store because although my parents love me dearly, New York traffic is enough to make anyone say, “see ya at Thanksgiving.”
Last year, I traded being close to home for proximity to the beach and Times Square. While I love those things, I realized, that’s not everyday college life. You have to find a school that can give you what you really want day in and day out, and that means within the classes and the campus community. And there is nothing wrong with wanting to be closer to home and having the option of seeing the people I love on a regular basis.
I originally came to visit Cabrini because a good friend from home was already a student here. Before my tour, all I really knew was if I chose Cabrini, I could be closer to home, have a car and be surrounded by my fellow Philadelphia Phillies Phaithful. When I left, I realized I could have all those good things but I could also probably have the best opportunity in the area for my major.
Once again, allow me to throw out a relationship reference. I’ve always been told a good relationship needs to be give and take, 50/50 and all that jazz. When I took a step back and looked at the situation, I realized Cabrini could give me immense opportunities for everything I was looking for professionally, socially and emotionally. All I would have to do to reap the benefits would be to give myself fully and unconditionally to my new partner. We haven’t had the his and hers towels made yet but I’m in contact with Bed Bath & Beyond.
Has it always been a walk in the park since day one? Not at all. Has everyone I met welcomed me with opened arms and wanted to be my best friend forever? Of course not. But anyone who would think those things are going to happen immediately needs to defer college for a while.
Here is the greatest secret of any successful college student and possibly any person in life: it is what you make of it. Yes, Cabrini itself offers some great experiences and houses some of the most incredible people within Founders Hall. However, they aren’t going to chase you. I worked harder than I ever thought I could to make a name for myself here. And you know what? It loved me back just like it said it would.
On one of my first days of class with Dr. Jerry Zurek, head of the communication department, he told my class that the secret to success is to say yes. It’s a word we learn when we are so young and it is so easy to say; yet it gets lost in translation from our brains to our mouths.
I said yes to the feeling in my heart that there was more out there for me at a different college. I said yes to doing the dreaded transfer process all over again. I said yes to being new for the second year in a row. And here at Cabrini, I have honestly tried my best to say yes to all the opportunities.
What’s the bottom line? I’ve gained incredible professional experience, made what I hope to be life-long relationships and had my eyes opened to new people, places and things. What more could I possibly ask for from my still young college experience? I have no idea.
Don’t take my word for it; try saying “yes” to Cabrini for yourself.
Back to my honeymoon.
