Student Reflections on Their First-Year Experiences

Kaitlyn DeJong '09
Major: Mathematics
Minor: Religion
Hometown: Berwyn, PA

"My favorite first-year memory was an ASCENT trip I participated in with GRAB (Gettysburg's Recreational Adventure Board) which took place before orientation began. Along with other first-year students, GRAB employees, upperclassmen and alumni, I went rock climbing in Virgina.

It was an amazing experience, as on our trip, I was able to talk about my fears as I approached freshman year with other students who were experiencing the same thing. The trip not only helped me to feel more comfortable about college, but to push myself outside of my comfort levels, and I'm so glad I did!"

Steven Ferraro '09
Majors: Economics, History
Hometown: Huntington Station, NY

"One of my favorite first-year memories was move-in day. Although every first-year college student must have been nervous the morning we were to move-in, that feeling was soon gone.

Waiting for us at our cars were hundreds of upperclass students who were there to move us in. Not only did they help carry everything, but it gave the first-years a chance to meet a lot of people in just a few minutes!"

Lee Gatto '10
Major: History
Hometown: Canaan, CT

"One of my favorite first-year memories was touring the battlefield with Professor David Booz.  He taught my Intro Civil War course and was kind enough to take some extra time to give my class a personal three-hour tour around Gettysburg.

It was an amazing experience to talk about the battle one day and then see the actual places that we learned about the next."

Terri Lewis-King '09
Major: Religion
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA

"My favorite first-year memory would have to be writing a paper for my First Year Seminar. Everyone in my seminar was sitting around someone's room passing papers back and forth, and would interrupt each other's reading just to comment and discuss.

When we went to class later, our professor was impressed that we had used each other for editing assistance and to challenge each other's points of view. The class discussion that ensued from those papers was one of the best I've had at Gettysburg College, ever."

Shannon Mounts '09
Major: Mathematics
Hometown: Washington, PA

"One of my favorite memories was during my First -Year Seminar, Death and the Meaning of Life. We went into Washington, D.C. to visit the Holocaust Museum after reading Elie Wiesel's "Night" for class.

I had never been there before, and I will never forget the rush of emotions I felt as I walked through the museum and later discussed them in class. The seminar was not only my favorite class, but that specific day I will never forget."

C.J. Rauch '10
Major: Political Science
Minors: French, Secondary Education
Hometown: New Providence, NJ

"GIV day was a lot of fun; I spent the morning volunteering at a local center that helps immigrant families. In the process, I got to know a few other First-Year students and a professor.

It was really neat learning about the community through a different lens. Plus, I picked up a little more Spanish!''