As the weather warms and the trees start to regain their greenery, students around the country prepare to say goodbye to their classmates and embark on the adventure that is college. One graduating Bulldog, senior Elisabeth Wacker, shared how she set up her transition to higher education.

Leaving home is no easy feat, so any sense of comfort or familiarity can help immensely with the transition. Wacker has committed to Bowling Green State University in Ohio after visiting the campus and realizing the relative closeness to family. 

“I absolutely loved the campus. It made me feel at home,” Wacker said. “Another plus is that it’s halfway in between my family here and my family that lives in Ohio, so no matter what someone is always only 50 minutes to an hour away.”

Bowling Green was originally a teacher’s college, founded in 1910, and has been known for producing great teachers ever since. Wacker intends to use the school’s strengths to the fullest.

“I plan on getting a teaching degree to teach either middle school or high school English,” Wacker said. “I might stay in Ohio or move somewhere back in Michigan after college.”

Many students find the application process stressful, but Wacker expressed the ease with which she was able to complete it, with some help from her teachers.

“The application process was really easy actually,” Wacker said. “I just had to answer some questions and write a narrative. I wrote the narrative in my college prep English class, about the night that I won Fair Queen and all the emotions I was going through and how it felt to win. Thank you, Mrs. Johnson!”

But of course, leaving CHS is bittersweet. Wacker’s golf team has grown close over the years and hates to say goodbye to their friend. Luckily, there are opportunities to continue the sport at Bowling Green, and though it won’t quite be the same, Wacker is excited nonetheless.

“I plan on being on the club golf team,” Wacker said. “I didn’t realize how much I would miss it once I was a senior.”