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Samantha Grunden (’24) had a feeling from the beginning that ��ݮ��Ƶ State would be a good fit. Now an English major, she was first drawn to the craft due to her love for reading and writing.

“I applied for local schools around me, and when I came to campus, an English professor reached out to me,” she said about her experience with enrolling. “We were talking and walking on this Accepted Student Day and she said, ‘reach out to me as soon as you get here’. She was just super helpful and encouraging. It showed me what the community was like here on campus.”

With aspirations of working as a social media manager, Grunden reached out to her advisor who then pointed her to communications, which she now has a minor in. This, she hopes, will propel her future career to new heights.

When asked what makes ��ݮ��Ƶ State one-of-a-kind, Grunden once again answered by mentioning her English professors. “They’ll remember your name and if you’re absent one day, they’ll reach out to you because they genuinely care about you. They know who you are.” 

As a resident on campus, receiving support as a student is imperative for Grunden. She elaborated on her appreciation for campus staff and faculty, calling them “a tight-knit community.”

“It really feels like a family,” she said about the English department. “That’s one of the most beneficial things about my major and this college, is knowing that I have so many resources that actually care about me. The faculty and the English Department are very friendly, and they want to see you succeed.”

She also elaborated on her own personal community at ��ݮ��Ƶ State, stating that she’d “met a lot of [my] close friends there.” She credited meeting her friends from attending campus events and gatherings, which remains her favorite part about living at the University.

Last year, Grunden completed an internship at Interlink Publications in the  Marketing & Publicity department. “[It] was really helpful to set me on that career path and to use as a future reference for jobs.”