“When I think of Gettysburg, I think of all of the connections I’ve been able to make over the past year,” said Elizabeth Miller ’19.
Specifically, she mentions the friendships she made during her five-day pre-Orientation Ascent trip less than a year ago and the connections she felt compelled to make as a result. At the same time, building those relationships was one of the aspects of college life that she was most wary of as an incoming student.
“When you first come in to college, you are worried about finding friends, getting involved, and feeling comfortable on campus,” Miller recalled. “Signing up for Ascent has definitely played a huge factor in my ability to make connections with many different people across campus who I may not have met otherwise. It set up a strong foundation for me to build on over the next four years.”
Ascent is the pre-Orientation leadership initiative coordinated by the Office of Experiential Education. Facilitated by student leaders from the Gettysburg Recreational Adventure Board (GRAB), the Center for Public Service (CPS), and the Garthwait Leadership Center (GLC), these programs integrate wilderness education, leadership, and service initiatives to provide a unique introduction to life at Gettysburg.
Miller became interested in the program after hearing members of GRAB discuss it during a Get Acquainted Day event. The emphasis on experiential education with an adventure component appealed to her, and she signed up for a backpacking trip in the Shenandoah Valley right away—despite her lack of backpacking experience.
She found the adjustment easy enough, though, thanks to a quick training session before her group embarked for the Shenandoah Valley, and help from other incoming students and GRAB student facilitators.
“It was hard, but it ended up paying off in a big way,” Miller said. “The most challenging day of the trip was also my favorite. We climbed a mountain that was so steep, at one point, there wasn’t even a trail—just rocks and boulders.”
The climb took place less than a day into the trip, with Miller and the other students working together in order to make it to the top.
“When we finally got to the top, we were more of a team than we were the day before,” Miller stated. “We were all sore and tired and thirsty, but when you have to rely on these people you didn’t know 24 hours ago in order to hike up a mountain, you feel like you’ve really accomplished something together.”
Miller has continued to build on this experience and the connections she gained from it by pursuing other formative opportunities across campus, including becoming a GRAB student facilitator and participating in the Gettysburg College Leadership Certificate Program. In fact, after a year of developing, reflecting, and refining her leadership style, Miller was invited to participate in the program’s public showcase, where she discussed the leadership lessons she’s learned from her GRAB trips.
“Through all of these programs, I realized that leadership—no matter what role or program you are in—is about surrounding yourself with people who encourage you to be your best.”
According to Tucker Little ’13, Director of the Office of Experiential Education, building this type of supportive, motivated networks is one of the natural outcomes of Ascent.
“These trips aren’t just about backpacking or service or leadership,” Little explained. “Ascent is about making connections, challenging expectations, and setting college off on the right foot. If you start your first year with a strong network of people who push you to succeed and support you when you struggle, you’re going to continue to excel long after Ascent has concluded.”
One of the ways Ascent does this is by balancing high-impact wilderness, service, or leadership experiences with hands-on learning, reflection, and an essay series to create connections that extend well beyond the trip.
For Miller, building on the lessons she learned through Ascent means starting a position with the Residence Life student staff as a Resident Assistant and expanding her involvement across campus.
“I hope to continue to maximize my Gettysburg experience,” Miller stated. “It has so much to offer, and I hope that each year continues to bring the same kind of challenges and rewards that I have been able to enjoy as a first-year.”
Incoming students who are interested in learning more about Ascent can view the Ascent website or contact the Office of Experiential Education at grab@gettysburg.edu or (717) 337-6319. This year’s Ascent trips examine Homelessness and Public Policy in DC, Urban Farming and Food Justice in Philadelphia, Gettysburg’s Leadership Legacy, and include wilderness education programs like backpacking in the Shenandoah National Park, kayaking in the Allegheny Reservoir, rock climbing and backpacking in Annapolis, and a multisport adventure. The deadline to sign up for an Ascent trip is July 8, 2016.