The Future Ferrum Gave Me

by Grant W., Panther Blogger

I have some big news!  After years and years of hard work and dedication, it has all paid off.  I have been accepted into the Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine Class of 2018 at the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech!  What a mouthful!  I am so excited and cannot wait to spread my wings and fly into my future career (less of a career and more of a lifelong love).  I plan to specialize in food animal medicine and possibly may be part of the dual degree program (DVM/Ph.D.), but I am waiting to hear back from that program.  Through all of this excitement, I am not the shining start, but instead, I am a mere reflection of those who directed and impacted my path.

Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech

Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine
at Virginia Tech

Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine
at Virginia Tech

Those who have impacted my path make up a massively long list that I could never repay.  First and foremost, my parents, grandparents, and family not only helped bring me into this world but have also given me the tools to succeed.  In the same sense, I owe my success to the many faculty, staff, friends, and mentors in my life -- from my AP Biology teacher Mrs. Tangie Duncan who introduced me to my amazingly directive advisor, Dr. Aylesworth, to Dr. Gazdik who inspired me, to Dr. Grochowski who gave me connections to succeed.

Ferrum College often times receives a bad reputation as a school of dropouts and students who will go nowhere, but many of my classmates/friends and my own successes for the future shout quite the opposite.  Ferrum College possesses a special niche in every person's life that it touches.  The faculty pour their lives into the students, and the students pour themselves into each other.  The Ferrum community not only brings a bright new chapter to life, but also provides the breeding ground for successful futures.  Don't let prestige guide your path, for pride leads us astray, but instead, seek out the hidden benefits.

Greeks: My Family Away From Home

by Grant W., Panther Blogger

As families all over the nation came together to celebrate this holiday season, I thought in amazement at the love families bring to one another. In the same sense, the local Greek system at Ferrum College has offered me this same sense of companionship.  I am currently the president of Mu Sigma Chi (Men Serving Christ), a Christian fraternity on campus. We are a Brotherhood based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ and are active members in social, college, and community life.  We may not be conventional, but our goal is to promote the name of Jesus Christ.

We help each other grow stronger in our beliefs and grow closer together in a Christian brotherhood.  "We are all about spiritual growth!"

This group of amazing individuals has brought some of the best times to my life and offered a family away from home, in every sense of the word.  This sense of family not only reaches out from my own brotherhood, but also from all of the members of the local Greek community at Ferrum.  We truly stick together and look out for each other on campus.  Many of our lifelong friends are found within this tight-knit group.

The brothers of Mu Sigma Chi (MEX) recently had the chance to meet Ferrum's new chaplain, who will also be MEX's new advisor.  President Braaten graciously opened her home up to us and various members of our faculty and staff to meet our new chaplain, Dr. Jan Nicholson.  The event allowed us time to get to know our newest faculty member.  We concluded with a tour of campus and a group prayer.  I look forward to the new, tasteful insights that Dr. Nicholson will bring to Ferrum. 

If you are looking into Ferrum College as your future home and alma mater, I recommend you look at the biggest family on campus -- the Greeks!  They will change your life!  And look out for the awesome new things that our newest faculty addition will bring to Ferrum's Campus Ministries!

A Semester at Ferrum!

by Grant W., Panther Blogger

A semester here at Ferrum is a four-month roller coaster that many ride. The semester starts with a great deal of anticipated excitement as friends get back together and tell stories of their summer adventures, along with preparing for the first of the firsts. The first Monday/Wednesday/Friday class, the first Tuesday/Thursday class, the first tests, the first quizzes, the first papers, and of course, the first meetings of extracurricular activities. After the firsts are over, we all have our routines pretty much set, and we begin the long haul to the bittersweet end.

Each semester poses its challenges and excitements, and this semester was no exception. From juggling 18 credit hours of courses including calculus and organic chemistry, independent research, the presidency of Mu Sigma Chi, and a social life, I've had my hands full like many other students. Through the gauntlet of hosted events and the never-ending task of achieving the grades you desire to move on to the next step, we all still find time to have fun no matter how buys we get. Here on campus, we have an unspoken policy that fun doesn't find you; instead, you have to get out of your room and find fun.

From attending concerts to hiking and hanging out with friends on the weekends, Ferrum College students find a way to etch out some pretty amazing memories through their four years in this "out in the middle of nowhere" land. I think the so-called "lack of things to do" here actually pushes people's imaginations to create things to do here on campus; it's from this pressure that most of my memories have been made.

The best part about the fall semesters here is the changing of the leaves, cooler weather to have Friday and Saturday night campfires, football, and some great holidays. Many students have early Thanksgiving dinners together and, of course, Secret Santa gift exchanges.

Along with the semester, all of this hard work, stress, and fun comes to an end though -- as all good things must. Many times this end is very bittersweet. Great friends graduate, final grades come in, and we all get to go home and try to relax. Ferrum College is forever changing and evolving as students come and go -- each one of them leaving their mark on this campus for all who follow. Semesters get challenging no matter where you go to school, but Ferrum has a way of offering a sense of comfort and a break from the rigors of this precious time of life.

Sweet Summertime!

By Grant W., Panther Blogger

As it is for many students, summer is a precious time to me. It is a time to be outside enjoying the entirety of what this world has to offer. Families go on vacation, friends visit friends, and we all get to kick back and soak up some rays. Along with all the fun in the sun comes some hard work though! Summer offers all of us some valuable time to try and strengthen our resumes, and get a head start for next semester.

This summer, I have traveled to Cocoa Beach, Florida, Charleston, South Carolina, Atlanta, Georgia, Chesapeake, Virginia, and have made countless trips to the lake; in the midst of all this traveling, I have been working at Richland Creek Animal Hospital to gain experience for my future career.

Preparing for graduating from college and applying to vet school are both processes that I began well before my senior year of college.  Preparing for vet school at the University of Georgia has been an ongoing process throughout my scholastic career. As a minimum requirement for the University of Georgia's Vet School, an applicant has to have a minimum of 350 hours of experience in the field. Well, for the past few years, I have been working on just that -- gaining experience.

Through my job this summer, not only have I gained some cash for books and other college needs, but I have also gained many priceless pieces of knowledge. I have been trained to administer vaccines and draw blood and have enjoyed many other great learning experiences at the animal hospital.  Over the years of preparation for my future degree(s), I have observed many different surgical procedures including declaws, spays, neuters, amputations, tooth removals, tail dockings, and intestinal obstruction removals; all of these add to my desire to become a veterinarian. I still have a long way to go to be fully prepared for applying to vet school, but I have accepted the challenge, and now I'm striving for my dream one step at a time. I hope that any of you reading this would realize one thing:  all dreams require hard, persistent work.

But enough of work, work, and more work; in my life there is always time for play. During the days I have had off, I have taken the time to go fishing, swimming, kayaking, and hiking. I have visited friends in Atlanta and Cocoa Beach, spending some needed time just enjoying the beach and city life, as well as enjoying time with family on the intercoastal waterways of Charleston crabbing, fishing, and cast netting. My summer has also included a visit to Athens, Georgia, where a Ferrum friend and I made a special trip to the University of Georgia, the Georgia Aquarium, the CNN building, and the Centennial Park. Of course, I can't forget the event that kicked my summer off:  representing Ferrum College at Norfolk State University for the Virginia Academy of Science Conference for my research work on bacteria and antibiotics.

All in all, this summer has been one of the best. I am anxiously anticipating the start of my junior year at Ferrum College, and I can't wait to see what Ferrum has in store for all of us this year. Just remember:  always make room for some fun in between the hard work for the future. Life is all about balance, as it will be again this school year when it comes to my classes and social life!

Ferrum’s Honor Program

By Grant W., Panther Blogger

The Boone Honors Program here at Ferrum College offers many different opportunities that enhance the learning process on campus and gives students amazing experiences. The program is by invitation only and has many perks. One of the most beneficial things that the program offers is the Boone Honors Scholarship, which is awarded to students who maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher. 

Roberts Hall

Another important perk that was just recently incorporated on campus is the reserving of most of Roberts Hall for honors students as an academically-focused residence hall that promotes good study habits and community. The program also hosts different events, classes and programs that honor students get to enjoy for free while exercising and extending their minds to a higher level.

President Braaten and her husband with us at Cirque Du Soleil

Besides taking regular outings together each semester, the program also offers a trip for any honors student to attend, free of charge. Some past programs have included going to different plays, musical events, and historical landmarks. This past weekend, we went on a trip to see Cirque Du Soleil. Before each trip, we all go out to eat at different places in the area while we get to fellowship with friends. Some of the more exciting restaurants we have been to include Chinese and Indian restaurants.

The Honors Program is not all fun and play though; each student is required to take specialty courses and enrich their academic success with some extra work. This may seem like a daunting task since most students just try to graduate in four years; however, Dr. Lana Whited, the program director, along with any other professors pride themselves in working with their students to excel and succeed.

The program is a very well-constructed enrichment to any student’s academic career and will offer you many different experiences. The program has brought me many different exciting experiences along with providing me with tight bonds with professors and fellow students.

Religion, Ferrum Style!

BY GRANT, PANTHER BLOGGER

Many people have a major misconception when it comes to religion at Ferrum College. Because Ferrum College is a Methodist College, many people automatically think that the only thing that is present on campus is Methodist activities. The truth is though, that although Methodist activities are present on campus, Ferrum is open to many different denominations and religious beliefs.

I am the current president of Ferrum Christian Fellowship, a member of Mu Sigma Chi (Men Serving Christ), and I lead a Bible study on Tuesday nights here at Ferrum. Being involved in the campus ministries on campus, I can tell you personally that they will not disappoint. In the multiple Bible studies and at Monday Night Praise—which is basically church on Monday night—we do not teach philosophy or specify a certain denomination, but instead, we proclaim the Gospel and Jesus’s Holy Name.

Sanctus Real

The religious groups here on campus are not only greatly involved in Monday Night Praise and Bible studies, but we also participate in many other activities. Some of these activities include hosting Christian concerts, cookouts, tailgates, bonfires, pancake dinners, movie nights, car washes, game nights, Super Bowl parties, bake sales, Relay For Life activities, intramurals, and many other events. Last year, we had Sanctus Real come to campus for our “Big Christian Concert,” and this year, we are having The Afters join us.

In this week alone, we had Monday Night Praise, an intramural volleyball game and a Bible study at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, another Bible study on Wednesday, and we’ll be having a bonfire tonight and our typical Friday night game night tomorrow. This is just to show you a glimpse of a week here on campus regarding religious activities.

The religious group at Ferrum is literally like a family, and through it, I have experienced memorable moments and met people that will affect my life forever. Now, it is your turn to get the experience. Even if you are not religious, try it out, meet new people and have amazing experiences. Here at Ferrum, our motto is “boredom is a choice”; you have to go out and find things to do because activities won’t just come and find you in your room. Ferrum College is open to many different beliefs and ideas, and as a community, we are willing to accept many different things that each student brings to the table.

Greetings from Ferrum College Student Blogger, Grant!

BY GRANT, A PANTHER BLOGGER

For those of you who do not know me, my name is Grant, and I am a sophomore here at Ferrum College. I am currently working towards getting a Bachelor’s of Science with a Biology and Pre-professional Science major along with a Chemistry and Business minor. I also am working on an independent research project with Dr. Gazdik to determine gene regulation of M. smegmatis as a model for tuberculosis. I am originally from Georgia where I was born in Savannah and have lived in Augusta and Atlanta, GA. I spent my middle school and high school years in Chesapeake, Virginia and have recently moved to Greenville, South Carolina.

I plan on graduating in May of 2014, and hope to go on to the University of Georgia and get my Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine as well as my Ph.D. specializing in infectious diseases through the dual degree program that the University of Georgia offers.

Christianity is an integral part of my life, and there is no exception when it comes to my involvement in the campus ministries here on Ferrum College’s campus. I am an active part of Mu Sigma Chi (the Christian fraternity on campus), and I am also the president of the Ferrum Christian Fellowship.  Along with attending Monday Night Praise, I lead a Bible study every Tuesday night at 8 p.m. in the Lighthouse behind the Hank Norton Center. I am a regular attendant at one of the many local churches as well. My involvement on this campus stretches further than the campus ministries, though. I also am a member of the Minds In Medicine Club, the Ferrum Outdoors Club, the Boone Honors Program, and also act as a PAL tutor for biology. Some of you may see me on your visit to Ferrum because I am a Student Ambassador, too. 

 

One question many people ask me is, “How in the world did you find Ferrum, and what about it keeps you around?” My answer to them would simply have to be that my high school football coach suggested that I look at Ferrum because it is his alma mater; I would also say that at Ferrum, I have never felt like a number, but instead, a human being. Due to the smaller number of students here at Ferrum, I have had the opportunity to experience things that I never would have at a larger university.

Since my first visit to Ferrum, I have always felt at peace and right at home here. Just as an example of the homey feeling that Ferrum exudes, one of my favorite memories at Ferrum is sitting around the small Christmas tree with all my roommates and friends opening our Secret Santa presents while eating a Christmas breakfast. These are the people that you meet and experiences that stick with you the rest of your life. Hopefully, you will read more blog posts and get some sense of the truly wonderful Ferrum experience.