Alumni, Family and Friends
Name: Caroline Flemming
Class Of: 2016
Major: Business Administration 3Year Honors Program
I would be lying if I said that Southern New Hampshire University was my first choice when applying for college. In all honesty, it was actually my last, or as many from my hometown called it, my “back-up” school. When I began applying for colleges in my senior year of high school, I decided to apply for some of my dream schools. Southern New Hampshire University became my back-up since it was only twenty-five minutes away from my home and offered the major that I wanted to attain. After hours of application processes and months of waiting, I finally heard back from all of my schools. All had accepted me, except one in which I was wait-listed, and it was time to make my decision. Although financial aid was provided from all universities and colleges, only one was truly in my budget and that was SNHU. SNHU was able to offer me financial support in a way that no other university was able to. As a business major, it was important to me in order to make a good business decision. Graduating college with an insane amount of debt just did not make sense to me. Reluctantly, I sent in my deposit to attend Southern New Hampshire University in the fall of 2013. Little did I know that SNHU was exactly where I needed to be.
My goal entering college was just to attend in order to receive a degree. Having spent two years at SNHU already, I am pleased to say that I have gained much more than that. The opportunities that SNHU makes so easily available to students are absolutely incredible. Never would I have imagined gaining such real-world experience as I have thus far. The leadership roles that I have held on campus have truly sculpted me into the leader that I will be one day within the workplace. I have never seen a college hold so much trust within its students, allowing them the opportunity to lead independently and to learn from those hands-on experiences both inside and outside the classroom.
The moment that I stepped onto campus I was a person. I know that may sound a little cliché, but to the campus community, I wasn’t just another student ID or another check written to the University. Never in my life have I entered a campus, and let alone a business, where the faculty, staff, and students truly love and enjoy what they are doing. From in the classroom to the dorm rooms and even into the meetings of organizations – the support is seen from all around. The small classroom sizes make the learning process more personal. Meanwhile, within offices like the Center for Student Involvement and the Learning Center, there is always a smiling face and guidance awaiting one in need. The overall size of the campus I think is what really helps to make SNHU personal. There aren’t 30,000 students shuffling around from class to class – there are only 3,000 students. It’s a campus where almost everyone knows your name and people genuinely care about what you’re doing and where you see yourself going in the world. Having been a part of one specific organization for my entire college career, I have made a second family – one where if I were ever in need, they would be there to support me. SNHU is different than any other school out there. Sometimes, it is necessary for one to come onto the campus and really get that feel. It doesn’t take long to experience the continuous support provided by the Southern New Hampshire University community.
I think that many professors, advisors, and peers have helped to influence my experience at Southern New Hampshire University over the past three years. Although there have been some incredible people who have crossed my path at SNHU, it is because of one advisor and an Orientation Leader that I am the person I am today at Southern New Hampshire University. At the start of college, I intended on attending classes and working full-time back within my hometown. There was no goal of starting an on-campus job or joining an organization until I met my Orientation Leader, Molly Bower. Molly was a quirky, redheaded Orientation Leader who struck up a one-on-one conversation with me on the second day of Orientation. Maybe it was due to my lack of involvement during First Days that she decided to pull me aside and start asking me questions about my involvement in high school. Delving further into what I enjoyed doing with my free time, Molly finally recommended that I look into this one organization on campus – the Student Government Association. Later on that day, she took me to meet the advisor of the organization at the time who, after only speaking with me for a matter of minutes, declared that he saw “potential” in me. This recognition and encouragement is what made me get my foot-in-the-door for involvement within the campus community. Not only did I join this organization and was voted in by the student body, but in the following years I was able to work my way up within the Student Government, finishing my senior year as President. These two complete strangers changed the course of my college career through their encouragement and support. Every day that I work on the SNHU campus, I try to do my best and give back to the community, just as Molly and the advisor of the Student Government did for me.
As of this year, I will be entering my senior year within the 3Year Honors Program in Business Administration. I have also worked as a receptionist for the Center for Student Involvement, and as a mentor/tutor for the Learning Center. Currently, I am President of the Student Government Association, one of the two Orientation Leader Coordinators, a member of the Signature Leadership Program, and the student representative on both the Board of Trustees as well as the Alumni Board.
Dedicated and hardworking. I think that these are the two words that really sum up who I am as a student, as well as a person. Anything and everything that I take on, whether it is a leadership position, additional course, or extra employment opportunity, I do my best to give 100% with each commitment. As a student, I dedicate my time and efforts into the work that I take on and make sure that whatever I am putting forth is something that I take pride in. I think that a pivotal part of being a college student also includes what he or she is giving back to the campus community, and that is what I try to do as well.
One of the biggest challenges that I have faced as an individual has to be self-doubt. Over the years, I have faced many situations that have caused me to second guess who I am as an individual and why I do the things I do. In turn, my self-doubt started to affect my confidence. It has taken a few years, but I have finally become comfortable in my own skin and confident in the choices that I make. The way I have learned to cope and conquer this challenge is by facing it straight on. Although I was struggling with my confidence, the best way I could overcome this fear was by putting myself out there and remaining steadfast. Even with my self-doubt and lack of confidence some days, I still went for those leadership roles and I made my own decisions as an individual, despite what others might have thought of my choices as a leader. These are challenges that I have faced in the past, and ones that I will most likely experience again at some point in the future.
The thing that makes me most proud is watching another individual succeed and realize their true potential. I think that often times we go through life putting ourselves down or stating that we cannot do something – even without trying. What I have noticed, as an individual and as a leader, is that sometimes we do not recognize our own potential until someone else realizes it. As a society, we have a tendency to put down others who are different or to make ourselves feel better about who we are. It’s a hard realization, but it is true – most of us have done it at least one time in our lives. In turn, we gain self-doubt and second-guess who we are and what we’re doing. What I love to do as a leader is recognize an individual’s potential – point out their strengths and what they do very well. I think we all need this sometimes. In turn, I have found that it yields some of the best results. As a campus leader, having overseen committees and organizations, I have witnessed this hands-on. Seeing that individual come into their own and enjoy the work that they are doing or become passionate about what they is something that I am extremely proud of.
There are so many wonderful memories that I have of SNHU that it is difficult to pinpoint just one. There is one SNHU memory that stands out to me, but it is one that didn’t happen all at once. After having such a wonderful experience with my own Orientation Leader my freshmen year, I decided to become one myself. After going through long, hot, sweaty days of training and activities over the course of the summer, I was unsure if I had an impact on any students within my OL groups. At least, I wasn’t sure if I made a great impression like Molly did for me. Months later, I was informed by three of the five elected, incoming senators to Student Government that I was their Orientation Leader over the summer and during First Days, and it was because of me that they decided to join the organization. This was one of my favorite memories because it was unexpected and they were all sitting in the office with me at the same time explaining how I left an impression on them and that I had encouraged them to get involved. It made me feel as though my hard work, time, and efforts were definitely worth it.
Never underestimate your ability to do great things. I think it’s natural for us to go through life thinking that we can only do so much, or that there are too many unattainable dreams and ideas out there – therefore we stop trying. When you come to SNHU, do not take those opportunities for granted. Southern New Hampshire University will open so many doors for you – so take a chance. Take those risks without knowing what the results will yield. If you never try, then you will never learn or you will always regret not reaching for what people believe to be unattainable. You have the ability to do great things. Who knows? Maybe those things that seem unattainable for others are opportunities that are just within your reach.
Being a senior, this is something that I have been thinking a lot about lately. As President of the Student Government Association, I actually sit on the Alumni Board. So naturally, I witness SNHU alumni of all ages who are still passionate about the University as well as actively involved within the campus community. If I could graduate and become involved on the Alumni Board, I think that that would be absolutely incredible. I would also like to become a donor to the Southern New Hampshire University scholarship fund. I have been able to attain a college education because of such donors, so I would love to be able to give right back to students what donors have given to me. Lastly, I have been speaking with faculty and staff members on campus who have brought to my attention the employment opportunities occurring on campus too. Working for a school that I am so passionate about would be a dream! So, there are many options and opportunities for me to become involved as an alumna, ones in which I definitely plan on taking advantage of.
I have two favorite professors – both for different reasons:
Susan Losapio (School of Business)
Having been a Business Administration major over the course of four semesters, naturally, I have experienced my fair share of business courses, materials, and professors. Out of all of the professors that I have had within the School of Business, I would have to say that Professor Losapio was the most innovative in her teaching methods. On occasion, the material for Organizational Behavior was either dry or “common knowledge,” yet she had a way of always bringing the information to life. Her classes were just so interactive and really engaged students – which I truly believe helped with the material retention.
Andrew Martino (University Honors Program)
With changing requirements in order to be considered an “honors student” at SNHU, the 3Year Honors Program was reconstructed my second year to fit two specific honors English related courses. In my second required honors English course, I was placed into a class taught by Dr. Andrew Martino. My first reaction to Dr. Martino was that he was very different compared to the other professors that I have had in the past. I would consider him one of my favorite professors because he really made you think – constantly posing questions and ideas that you might never have thought of. Some classes he barely even spoke, letting the class be self-directed and allowing the students the independence to discuss what they believed was necessary. Yet, even with such open-ended questions and vast topics to cover, the conversation always related back to the Enlightenment pieces that we were studying at the time. Dr. Martino was always so engaged in what each individual student said within the class, and that is something that I, as a student, greatly appreciate.
Last Book Read: The Inferno by Danté
Favorite Movie: Forrest Gump
Favorite TV Show(s): Friends and The Office
My favorite place to do homework, and I hate giving it away, would have to be the silent-reading room located on the third floor of the Learning Commons. After a long day of classes, it is one of the nicest places to sit and watch the sun set while finishing up your calculus homework or reading up on the latest chapter covered in psychology.
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