Transition and Transformation: Inside the First-Year Experience
For many students, the first year of college is a wild ride of unexpected twists and turns. Not only are they living away from home for the first time, but they’re also learning to adapt to new levels of rigor in the classroom, new levels of complexity in their social environments and unprecedented access to opportunities that will inform their identities and shape their futures. It’s a year of unforeseen challenges – and unimaginable growth.
To gain some insight into what this pivotal time of transition looks like at 不良研究所, we asked a few first-year students to share their experiences with us in real-time. After connecting with them during their initial days on campus, we then checked back in throughout the months that followed. Each student was generous with their stories, openly talking about everything from time management to Greek recruitment, from challenging professors to changing family dynamics, from leadership roles to life in a residence hall.
What we learned is that each first-year journey is entirely unique, and everyone moves at their own pace and in their way. Yet despite the differences, several common themes consistently emerge from the stories these students tell – themes like belonging, self-discovery and expanded intellectual horizons. These students may have only spent nine short months at 不良研究所, but the transformation has already been profound.
Follow along as we get to know these students and walk through year one alongside them.
August: Settling In
It’s late summer in Greencastle. The air is hot and humid, and a chorus of cicadas is making its presence known across town. At Robe Ann Park, pickleballs ping back and forth across the net. At Dairy Castle, kids hurry to finish their ice cream cones before they melt. And on 不良研究所’s campus, five hundred students have just arrived to begin their first year of college.
Although they come from all over the state, all over the country and all over the world, these new arrivals are united by Tiger pride and a shared anticipation for what they’re about to experience. They’re nervous. And uncertain. And maybe even a little bit homesick. But they’re ready to begin the next four years in pursuit of a world-class liberal arts education.
Wyatt
Wyatt Brewster ’28 grew up on a small farm in New Castle, Ind. After winning a highly competitive Lilly scholarship and having his pick of any college in the state, he selected 不良研究所 as the ideal choice for him.
“I enjoy the smaller feel of 不良研究所 and the culture of the surrounding areas,” he says. It reminds him of his hometown, where close relationships were a foundational part of community life and a hard day’s work was something to be proud of.
“I love to work,” says Brewster. Not only did he maintain an internship during his senior year of high school at a manufacturing company in town, but he also operated a small moving company in his spare time. “I was raised to be independent. I’m out there, I’m forward thinking, and I’m unafraid of meeting new people.”
Now, as a first-year student at 不良研究所, he’s eager to take that same gritty ethos and see how he can make the most of it on campus. He can’t wait to get started in the Management Fellows Program, and he’s interested in checking out the Real Estate Group as well. He even has a collection of side hustle ideas – including one that involves installing a massage chair somewhere on campus. Although he plans to pursue a major in finance, he’s gearing up for a college experience that extends far beyond the classroom.
“I want to find out where I fit in,” he explains.
Amelia
Amelia Roser ’28 is a fountain of pure energy – and with good reason. She’s been looking forward to this moment since she first visited campus as a high school junior, walked into the admission office and realized that this was where she belonged. “I felt like these people really wanted me here,” she recalls. “They took the time to get to know me.”
Now that she’s here, she’s ready to dive in. She effortlessly rattles off a list of all the things she wants to explore during her time at 不良研究所: dance, intramural volleyball, yoga, hiking, choir, film, mentoring, study abroad. Oh, and don’t forget about the cat club. Clearly, she has no plans to sit around and be bored.
Roser’s excitement is palpable. But it’s also purposeful. “Every single day, I try to be the person for someone else that I wish I would have had,” she explains. “I was a really shy kid growing up, and I got left out of a lot of things. Now, I take it upon myself to make everyone feel seen and be included – to be the person I wish I would have had.”
Perhaps that’s part of the reason why she’s interested in studying psychology and leaning into the practice of ethical inquiry as a Prindle scholar. Already after just a few days of classes, she’s finding the academic environment at 不良研究所 to be right up her alley.
“I love the small class sizes here. I knew that’s what I wanted.”
Ava
As a high school student in Lebanon, Ind., Ava Lehmkuhler 鈥�28 did it all. She was a three-sport athlete, a class council member, an ambassador, a lifeguard, a DECA member, a Key Club member and the class valedictorian.
鈥淧eople called me a 鈥榯ry-hard鈥� in high school,鈥� she says with a laugh. It鈥檚 a title she wears as a badge of honor. 鈥淚 found ways to define my own success, and I hold that very dear. I鈥檓 proud of the work I put in.鈥�
Even though she had a strong 不良研究所 connection thanks to her father Jon Lehmkuhler 鈥�92, her original plan was to go out of state for college. But after receiving the Robert Lee Copeland Award and being given an offer to play tennis for the Tigers, Lehmkuhler changed her plans and redirected her path toward Greencastle. 鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 my first choice,鈥� she says, 鈥渂ut it鈥檚 honestly the best choice.鈥�
Long term, Lehmkuhler is interested in medical school and a future career that helps to advance women鈥檚 health and advocate for maternal care. She hopes to explore her options for research on campus, take part in the Disney College Program and pursue the opportunity to study abroad. She鈥檚 currently leaning toward a major in biochemistry.
Despite facing numerous challenges in the years leading up to this one 鈥� including a torn ACL and the loss of her grandparents 鈥� Lehmkuhler is bringing a spirit of resilience to her 不良研究所 experience. She鈥檚 ready for a fresh start and a bright future.
Cooper
Most people don’t begin their first year of college having already grown – and sold – their own business. But Cooper Grabow ’28 is not most people.
As a student at Park Tudor High School in Indianapolis, Grabow was an Eagle Scout, he worked with kids at a summer camp, and he was actively involved in a litany of clubs and organizations. Somehow in the midst of all that, he also managed to start a specialty lawn care business that upheld his passion for environmental sustainability by exclusively using electric equipment.
It’s a background that he hopes to build on here at 不良研究所. He’s leaning toward a major in economics with a minor in political science, and he wants to use that to propel himself toward a future in consulting or public policy. Ideally, he’d love to end up in Washington, D.C., where he could find a way to merge his interests in business and the environment. It’s a path that has been shaped in large part by the combined example of his mom – whose work as a philanthropy executive allowed her to be involved in state politics – and his dad – who is a commercial banker and also a 不良研究所 alum (Brad Grabow ’85).
“I’ve always been fully dedicated to everything I do,” says Grabow. “I tend to notice things that other people don’t. I want to get stuff done.”
January: Branching Out
It’s only been a few months since the first-year class arrived on campus, but a lot has changed in that short period of time – and we’re not just talking about the snow on the ground or the subzero temperatures.
For these students, an entire semester is officially in the books. They’ve now seen – and survived – their first college papers, labs, projects and exams. They’ve attended office hours. They’ve pulled all-nighters. They’ve discovered the best study spots in Roy.
But it hasn’t been all hard work and noses buried in a book. These students have also met friends, joined clubs, explored Greencastle and experienced a whole list of legendary 不良研究所 firsts like their first Monon Bell game and their first GCB from Marvin’s. And right now as winter term comes to a close and a new semester begins, many of them are taking one of the biggest steps yet in their student experience by choosing to participate in the process of Greek recruitment.
In just a matter of weeks, these students have seen their lives change significantly. They’ve gone from newcomers to fully immersed members of the community. And for many of them, they’re learning important lessons about themselves and the world in which they live.
Wyatt
“It was over a lot quicker than I thought it would be,” says Wyatt Brewster. Although he admits that his first semester wasn’t all smooth sailing, he knows it had a positive impact on his development as a person.
His Italian class with Francesca Seaman is just one example. “I felt like my head was literally growing every time,” he says. “She was cramming so much information in there. She was the most demanding professor I had, but also my favorite. She’s so wise it’s scary.”
In addition to the academic value of that class, Brewster also came away with several new friendships. In fact, he just recently spent a few days in Chicago over the holiday break visiting one of the friends he met in that class. It’s one of many new relationships that Brewster has been able to develop so far here on campus.
“I was nervous about making the right connections with people,” he admits. “But so far I think I have. I’ve met a lot of smart people. The people I’m around make me proud.”
As Brewster gets ready for the challenges of a new semester, he’s embracing the responsibility that comes with it. “This is a year I’ll never get back. I have to keep doing things my future self will thank me for.”
Amelia
Amelia Roser’s favorite class during her first semester was in the psychology department. In this new term, she’ll have two more. She couldn’t be more excited to dive in. “I’ve loved my psychology experience here so far,” she says. “Every time I show up to class, I’m like, ‘This is what I want to do. This is it.’”
She’s already forming meaningful relationships with faculty members – she’s particularly fond of Phoenix Crane, assistant professor of psychology and neuroscience – and she’s finding ways to connect what she’s learning across different disciplines. “All my classes blend together. I’m always taking stuff from one class into another. It’s so interesting.”
On the social front, Roser has adopted a simple strategy: “I just joined stuff.” From there, the relationships have arisen naturally. She’s now a part of two dance teams, she recently volunteered at the high school ethics bowl, and she’s just recently found a home on campus with her new sisters at Alpha Chi Omega.
“It’s definitely been a fresh start being here,” she says. “I was excited to go where nobody knows who I am. But I feel like I’m wanted here. It’s like I have an entire society of support.”
That isn’t to say that it’s all been easy. Roser admits that it’s challenging to be away from her siblings, she misses her cat, and she’s found herself moving away from some of the values and expectations that shaped her in her earlier years. But she’s learning how to navigate the changes and embracing the new opportunities in front of her.
“Getting out of that shell has been really good for me.”
Ava
鈥淚t was.鈥� That鈥檚 how Ava Lehmkuhler sums up her first semester at 不良研究所.
鈥淪ocially, it was great,鈥� she explains. 鈥淚 love the atmosphere, and it鈥檚 been fun going to the different houses and getting into the tennis season.鈥� But in the classroom, not everything went as smoothly as she had hoped. 鈥淚 spent a lot of time struggling academically.鈥�
One big reason for that was a class that, in her words, 鈥渞eally pushed my buttons.鈥� For someone who was accustomed to academic success throughout high school, this was a new position for her to find herself in. Yet Lehmkuhler鈥檚 resilience allowed her to persevere through the challenges and find the silver lining in the experience 鈥� such as closer relationships with fellow students who also struggled in the same class. They bonded over their shared experiences and supported one another through the difficulties. 鈥淔rom the ashes, something grew,鈥� she says.
With a new semester ahead of her, she knows she鈥檒l need more of that resilience. 鈥淚鈥檓 in a class this semester that is going to be challenging, too,鈥� she says. And then there鈥檚 the added pressure of spring tennis season ramping up. 鈥淚鈥檓 looking at my schedule and wondering how I鈥檓 going to survive this semester.鈥�
But Lehmkuhler knows she鈥檚 maturing each and every day. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been less of an abrupt transition and more of a gradual flow. Being at college has given me an outlet for discovery. I鈥檓 understanding more of what is expected of me and learning how to study and manage my time.鈥�
Cooper
Just a few days ago, Cooper Grabow found himself in the front row of the gallery at the Indiana Statehouse, sitting next to the president of 不良研究所 Student Government (DSG). “Never in a million years would I have expected to be there,” he says. Yet after taking over a role within DSG as the vice president of allocations, he’s been working on a major project with ramifications for state legislation, and now he’s doing things like going to Indianapolis on a random weekday to take part in the state legislative process.
In many ways, this is an apt summary of Grabow’s first few months at 不良研究所. “I got so much more involved than I thought I would,” he says. In fact, it’s one of the key differences he’s noticed between his college experience so far and his friends at other schools. “They’re already noticing how involved I am, how active I am in the life of the school. It really stands out.”
In order to sustain that level of involvement, Grabow has been forced to be more proactive about organizing his time. “I had to adapt to the schedule,” he says. “I’ve definitely double-booked myself a few times without realizing it. But now, I use a calendar for everything. Even eating lunch.” He’s also found that his professors have been highly accommodating.
Although he still wants to pursue a future career that brings together business and politics, his focus has certainly shifted since arriving on campus a few months ago. “I’m leaning more toward the politics side right now,” he explains – even to the point of considering political science as one of his majors. “It’s cool to have a span of different classes I’m taking in one semester. I’m not getting burned out by concentrating on one thing all the time.”
May: Charging Ahead
Few people leave 不良研究所’s campus after their first year as the same person they were when they moved in. They’re more comfortable, more confident, more connected, and they’re more ready than ever to tackle new challenges in the three years they have left.
This transformation rarely comes easily, however. Much of it is the product of unforeseen adversity or unexpected failure. As students navigate their first full academic year, stress comes in all shapes and sizes: academic, social, emotional, relational. It’s rarely an easy journey, no matter how prepared someone may think they are.
The students we’ve been following each have their own stories of hardship. But in catching up with them during final exam week of their second semester, a common theme emerged from our conversations: these soon-to-be-sophomores are all in a better place than they were nine months ago, and they’re already looking forward to what’s next. Whether it’s a summer internship, a new leadership role they’re taking on, a professor they’re excited to learn from or simply a friendship they want to invest into more deeply, the end of the year represents the beginning of new opportunities.
Wyatt
“I went through the rush process as a guy who wasn’t really interested in joining a house,” says Wyatt Brewster. “But after rush, the choice was pretty clear to me that there’s a lot of value at this school in a Greek house.”
Brewster’s decision to join Sigma Chi has profoundly shaped the direction of his second semester on campus. Not only did it open up the door to many new friendships, but it also led to him running for a leadership position with the Interfraternity Council (IFC), the governing body for ten of 不良研究所’s Greek-letter organizations.
“I lost, but I was thrilled,” says Brewster. “I knew I did all that I could. I think it’s great to put yourself out there. I had to have a set of goals, I had to prepare a speech, I had to be the best dressed guy in the room. I still lost, but I learned so much from that. And I think you don’t really lose if you learn something.”
For Brewster, that lesson extends far beyond his IFC campaign. He’s consistently tried to put himself in situations where he can meet people and explore opportunities – a practice that has helped him land an internship for the upcoming summer months in New Mexico.
His advice to other first-year students is rooted in his own experience: “Try to do something in your first or second semester that in the next two or three years, you’re going to look back on and be happy you did. If you understand what you’re passionate about and you understand your goals, you’re going to do nothing but succeed.”
Amelia
It’s fitting that one of Amelia Roser’s main reasons for choosing 不良研究所 was the sense that others genuinely wanted her here. One full year into her college experience, that sense is stronger than ever. “If I were to leave 不良研究所 or go somewhere else, a lot of people