As we anticipate welcoming the Class of 2028, let’s celebrate the impact of our newest Carthaginians. Meet 15 first-year students who are definitely ready for year two.
Why did you choose to come to Carthage? I choose Carthage because of the small class sizes and the unbeatable views. Having small class sizes allows me to get to know my professors. I feel so much more comfortable in classes and better able to get to know my peers since the classes are smaller. On top of that, walking to class and looking at the lake daily is incredible.
List any clubs, orgs, extracurricular activities you were involved in: United Women of Color, Yoga Club, Neuroscience Club, Art Club, Book Club/Banned Book Club
Why was it important for you to get involved on campus right away? Getting involved on campus is essential. At first, things can seem very intimidating. Joining a club allows you to meet people you’ll see in the dining halls, walking to classes, or just out and about. Sometimes, seeing a familiar face in a not-so-familiar environment makes you feel so much more at home.
Which professor helped you to succeed during your first year? The professor who helped me succeed during my first year has to be a combination of them all, but Endia Robbins is hugely memorable to me. She was the instructor for my College Success Seminar, and on top of that, she has given me great advice and a listening ear with college changes and life in general.
Did you travel for J-Term? Where and what was the experience like: What do you hope to do for future J-Terms? My J-Term experience has been my favorite at Carthage by far. While I didn’t go on a trip, I took a course about things I enjoyed and wanted to learn more about. In the future, I plan to go on J-Term trips that involve healthcare, be immersed in a new culture, and learn new skills.
What advice do you have for incoming freshmen? My advice would be to give yourself time. It takes time and patience to adjust to a new life, and allowing yourself to experience new things makes the process much more enjoyable.
Why did you choose to come to Carthage? I chose to come to Carthage because of its welcoming environment from its students and staff, along with its amazing location right next to the lake. Not to mention its amazing culture on the soccer team, along with the help necessary to succeed in the process of graduating and after.
List any clubs, orgs, extracurricular activities you were involved in: Men’s Varsity Soccer, Career Ambassador Training Peer Coach Recruiting for Next Semester
Why was it important for you to get involved on campus right away? Getting involved on campus will help open doors, such as building connections, improving skills, and learning new values for later years in college and a workplace environment.
Which professor helped you to succeed during your first year? During J-Term, my teacher Mandy Long helped me find my major in Biology. She was also there to help me learn good professionalism in various areas such as LinkedIn, Handshake, Emails, and more future workplace-related essentials.
What’s been the biggest surprise about your first year of college? My biggest surprise was how easy it was to meet new friends, along with how much support and encouragement the teachers give to each student.
Why did you choose to come to Carthage? Carthage felt like home. Growing up I always knew I wanted somewhere small and a place where I knew my needs would be met. Carthage felt like the best choice for me and I wouldn’t change it for the world!
Which professor helped you to succeed during your first year? Professor Morris taught Chemistry 1 and was always willing to help me if I needed help. He made his classroom a very welcoming environment for all students to learn and made sure to make classes entertaining and engaging.
Did you travel for J-Term? Where and what was the experience like: What do you hope to do for future J-Terms? I did not travel for J-Term. I took an intro to acting course. This class helped tap into acting which was something that I had loved for a long time but was unsure if I wanted to pursue it in college. I really enjoyed this class and would recommend it to everyone.
What’s been the biggest surprise about your first year of college? Everyone else going in is just as nervous as you are and you are never alone. I felt very at home especially knowing that my peers were going through the same things as I was.
Why did you choose to come to Carthage? I chose to come to Carthage because of their nursing program and small class sizes which helps me get more one-on-one attention in the classroom. Carthage also gave me the opportunity to play Lacrosse and meet a great group of girls. Lastly, the location of Carthage is great! It’s not so far from my family.
Which professor helped you to succeed during your first year? Professor Rockhill was the biggest help my first year. He is super passionate about what he teaches which made the class really engaging. He is really knowledgeable. Being able to learn from him was helpful in my transition from high school to college.
What’s been the biggest surprise about your first year of college? My biggest surprise was how much you’ll learn about yourself within just the first year. It’s such a huge shift going from high school to college and living at home to living on campus. You now are doing things on your own time instead of someone else’s while also trying to balance school and your other involvements.
Why did you choose to come to Carthage? I chose Carthage because of its small class sizes. I was looking for a school where I could make connections with my professors. In addition, I chose Carthage because of its location. I really liked the lake view and Carthage’s proximity to Milwaukee and Chicago.
Why was it important for you to get involved on campus right away? Carthage is a fantastic campus with so much to offer. By getting involved here on campus, it has allowed me to feel more connected to our Carthage community. Making connections here on campus it has prepared me for leadership roles in my future and allowed me to adjust to college life here at Carthage.
Which professor helped you to succeed during your first year? Professor Blaine helped me a lot through my first year. In the classroom, she always answered my questions and was always very enthusiastic about teaching. Outside the classroom, she was an excellent resource for any questions I had regarding my major.
What advice do you have for incoming freshmen? Put yourself out there and make new friends, join clubs, and attend sporting events. Also, manage your time well. College gives you lots of free time, so make the most of it.
Why did you choose to come to Carthage? I choose Carthage because of its beautiful location (close to home!). The lake provides a calming aesthetic for me to look at and listen to. Carthage’s financial aid is outstanding — so many scholarships and sponsorships to help me succeed.
Which professor helped you to succeed during your first year? Professor Duncan was an amazing start to my freshman year, her class, personality, and kind spirit really resonated with me. Intellectual Foundations pushed me out of my comfort zone I loved to discuss and listen to other’s discussions, opinions, and ideas. Her class welcomed diversity in individuality, ideas, morals, opinions, etc. I gained a level of confidence in who I am, and I was proud, no longer timid and bold. Every essay I wrote, I wrote with creativity, passion, and a thirst for knowledge. She really helped me find my spark for loving to learn.
What’s been the biggest surprise about your first year of college? How many resources there are on campus, Carthage really provides you with everything you need to be successful in life! In almost every building, there are resources of some kind whether it be medical, mental, social, hygienic, business, financial, and so much more.
Why did you choose to come to Carthage? I chose Carthage for the smaller class sizes, the pre-med program looked promising, the affordability due to the scholarships, the lakeview, and a chance to get away from Missouri.
What accomplishment are you most proud of in your first year, and why? I am most proud of passing a resolution for housing for out-of-state students in student government. I am also proud that my phage Onika was sent to the Howard Hughes Medical Institute for DNA sequencing, and that I along with others annotated Onika’s genome and will be presenting the year-long research of Onika at the Celebration of Scholars.
Which professor helped you to succeed during your first year? Professor Tobiason helped me succeed during my first year. She has always been able to explain things in a different way which allowed me to actually understand. She also helped to guide me through the research aspect of Bio 1110.
What advice do you have for incoming freshmen? Be yourself, and get involved. Don’t be afraid to reach out to people. Know who to contact when you encounter any problems.
Why did you choose to come to Carthage? One of the main reasons is I really enjoyed the campus atmosphere and environment. The small class sizes were something I really liked, because it allowed a close relationship with classmates and professors. My hometown is only about an hour away, so Kenosha was the perfect distance for me to enjoy being on my own but also close enough to see my family. And the lake, who can forget about the lake!
What accomplishment are you most proud of in your first year, and why? The accomplishment I am the proudest of this year was officially declaring my major. I originally came into Carthage undecided, but with the help of the different resources on campus and my professors, I found my calling and declared my major.
Which professor helped you to succeed during your first year? Professor Dalzin’s Education and Society class was the first education class I took on campus and it really helped me fall in love with the education field. He also had a really warm and welcoming class environment where every student felt seen and heard.
What advice do you have for incoming freshmen? Please get involved! Carthage is always hosting events on campus, and it just gives so many opportunities to meet new people and find clubs you want to join. I also just want to tell freshman that even though it seems hard at first, stick with it! It gets better, so much better.
Why did you choose to come to Carthage? I loved the lake view and I also came here for sports as well but soon learned to fall in love with the campus and how involved everyone here is and I love the community as well as the clubs that are provided here at Carthage.
List any clubs, orgs, extracurricular activities you were involved in: Carthage Bound
What accomplishment are you most proud of in your first year, and why? I am most proud of being able to do so many tasks at once such as being on the Men’s Track & Field Team while playing Football here at Carthage. The main highlight is speaking at the MLK Day speech ceremony which brought me out of my comfort zone.
Why did you choose to come to Carthage? I chose to come to Carthage because of the community environment . Everyone here is so kind and welcoming, even those who don’t share the same major as you. It was important to me to have a classroom setting where I would be more than just a number and I feel like I’ve truly found that here at Carthage.
What accomplishment are you most proud of in your first year, and why? Something I’m proud of is putting myself out there and learning to stand up for myself. Being more independent has really pushed me out of my comfort zone and allowed me to be more open with myself and those around me.
Which professor helped you to succeed during your first year? One professor that helped me succeed was Professor Hougland. He’s not only a great professor, but also a great ear to those who need to be heard. He also always has such a great attitude and it’s so fun to be in his class.
What advice do you have for incoming freshmen? Some advice I have for incoming freshman is to keep your door open within the first two weeks of move-in because that’s how you’ll meet people on your floor and eventually become friends with them.
Why did you choose to come to Carthage? Carthage was closer to home, small class sizes, friendly community, beautiful campus, the communication program, and……the Esports program!!! All of these reasons have stayed by my side since I came here and I’m truly grateful. Especially the esports program. Coach Robert Xiong welcomed me with open arms and has allowed me to maximize my potential as a broadcaster further, after broadcasting over 100 matches previously for the Wisconsin High School Esports Association.
List any clubs, orgs, extracurricular activities you were involved in: Carthage Esports Broadcaster
What accomplishment are you most proud of in your first year, and why? The accomplishment I am most proud of is making the Dean’s List in Fall 2023. It was my first semester of college. My classes of Elementary Statistics, Intellectual Foundations, Understandings of Religion, and Visual Communication presented me with challenges that would benefit my future. I learned things like how to use Google Sheets to interpret statistics, how to use the Adobe Creative Cloud, concepts about Gods and Myths, and a concrete understanding of the 5 major world religions. This slate of classes maximized my potential as a Carthage student and I worked extremely hard to get on the Dean’s List with a 4.0 GPA!
What advice do you have for incoming freshmen? When coming to Carthage, remember that the students, faculty, and staff on campus are friendly and willing to help you. From a classes perspective, make sure you choose the classes you want to take, and don’t let anyone else change your opinion. Take advantage of your opportunity here for all four years. Always make sure to be determined and have fun along the journey!
List any clubs, orgs, extracurricular activities you were involved in: Model United Nations, Kappa Pi Member, Student Government, Mi Gente Member, Women’s Wrestling, Founded a peer education group for Title IX
Why was it important for you to get involved on campus right away? I wanted to meet new people and learn about the college experience by joining new clubs and organizations. Coming to campus, I didn’t know anyone and was nervous about having to make friends. Being involved, joining clubs and organizations, and going to school events allowed me to make great friends and learn so much. Now, I have learned so much about my major, developed great hobbies, and met some amazing people.
What accomplishment are you most proud of in your first year, and why? I’m really proud of the work that I have done on Title IX education. Throughout the year, I have been working on developing a Title IX Peer Education group that allows for its members to be trained to handle traumatic scenarios and be a support system for students on campus. It’s been a lot of hard work and determination, as there have been some issues getting the group off the ground, but I’m excited to see what the group does in the future and how we can make people more knowledgeable about Title IX.
Why did you choose to come to Carthage? When I first stepped foot on Carthage’s campus, I knew this is where I wanted to be. It was welcoming and I felt like belonged even though I didn’t even go here yet. At my audition professors knew my name and basic facts about me before we had ever really talked. I could tell at Carthage, the staff cares about their students.
List any clubs, orgs, extracurricular activities you were involved in: Musical, Cheer, Student Government, Carthage Chorale, Wind Ensemble, Philharmonic Orchestra, Jazz Band, Jazz Combo, Fall Play
What accomplishment are you most proud of in your first year, and why? I am most proud of getting cast in both musicals. I came into college understanding that I may not be able to audition in my first year. But at Carthage, they let all students have the same opportunities.
What advice do you have for incoming freshmen? My advice for incoming freshman is don’t be scared to put yourself out there. Go to the career fairs, go to on-campus events, ESPECIALLY BINGO, and just have fun! Along with getting good grades and going to class, college should be fun.
Why did you choose to come to Carthage? I came to Carthage because of the amazing theatre department. Stage management is a highly specific major that is only offered at a few colleges. I didn’t want to go to a school solely focused on the arts, because they didn’t let me double major with business. Carthage has made it very easy for me to balance my two majors in different departments.
Why was it important for you to get involved on campus right away? My chosen career field is more focused on experience than typical classroom learning. This means that it was very important for me to get as many experiences in stage management as soon as I could. I really wanted to have an opportunity to work as an assistant stage manager during my first year at Carthage. The department gave me a position in my first semester and actually let me work as the head stage manager during the second semester!
What advice do you have for incoming freshmen? The best advice I have is to enjoy the little moments. Whether it’s a walk by the lake, hanging out with some friends, or attending a club meeting, it’s important to get joy from the small moments. It’s easy to get wrapped up in the list of things you have to do and miss the fun along the way. I got so wrapped up in having “the college experience” that I got stuck looking at the big picture all of the time. You shouldn’t be focusing on all four years all of the time, just focus on what you are doing right now and you will do great!
Why did you choose to come to Carthage? I wanted to start fresh and new. It’s someplace far from home, but it’s still in the States. I also heard they had one of the best lake views, and the community also feels very welcoming, with many opportunities given to me to achieve and find that path.
List any clubs, orgs, extracurricular activities you were involved in: 1st Gen, French, Chinese, Intervarsity, Carthage Activities Board (CAB), Book Club, Pokemon Club, Carthage Carrol, CURE club, and working as the mascot.
Why was it important for you to get involved on campus right away? It was vital for me to get involved on campus right away because it gave me opportunities as a new freshman to explore and to figure out what I wanted to achieve throughout my years here at Carthage. Once you find that club or activity that you feel deeply passionate about you will find something here that will inspire you to choose the path that is carved for you to follow.
What advice do you have for incoming freshmen? Some advice for incoming first-year students: become more open, join clubs, interact with others, try making new friends, and ask for help when you don’t know. Other advice would be trust more in yourself and don’t stress out at the little things but work to overcome them. Try to find a way to be active in the community or on campus, attend events, become friends with your RA’s as they will want to check up on you!
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