Spring 2008

St. Norbert College: My Unexpected School of Choice
by Kelley Flinn '08

During my junior year at St. Norbert College, my brother, Bryan, was looking at colleges and I often found myself thinking about what made me come to St. Norbert. I remember coming home from school one day during my senior year in high school and my mom approached me with a postcard from St. Norbert College. At the time, my dreams consisted of packing up to California and trying to become a professional vocalist. My mom pushed me to put St. Norbert on my lists of schools to visit and I reluctantly did so. St. Norbert College was the last school I visited and I immediately fell in love with the school. There were numerous housing options for students (even for freshmen), the classroom size was large enough to have a good class discussion but intimate enough to get to know the professors and other students.

I had initially wanted to be a musical theatre major and, although this was not a major offered by the college, I was able to double major in communications, media and theatre and vocal music. Because St. Norbert College was a liberal arts institution, if my aspirations to become a vocalist changed, which they did, I would easily be able to switch majors and be able to graduate on time. Since my freshman year in college I have changed my major three times, and will not only be graduating on time, but will be graduating with more credits than the average senior in college.

St. Norbert also allowed me to be just as involved in extracurricular activities as I was in high school—if not more! I quickly became involved in the student-run musical theatre program, joined an all female independent social group on campus called the Untouchables, participated in the T.R.I.P.S community service program, and helped organize networking events like Junior Knights and Days and Senior Wine-Tasting—all activities allowing me to take on a leadership role before my senior year.

St. Norbert College has provided numerous opportunities for me to become the well-rounded adult that I am today. Not only have I been challenged academically in my four years here, but I have been able to explore and determine my passions and interests, along with who I am and what I want to do with my life. As graduation approaches, I realize that St. Norbert College has more than prepared me mentally, emotionally and intellectually for real-world experiences, and I am confident that I will go far no matter where I go or what I do.