August 24, 2023
Leading by example
Skylar Walder ’24, Board of Governors – Student Member
On my first day at Shippensburg, in 2020, I felt excited and ready to start the next
chapter of my life. Although there were not a lot of students on campus, and I did
not have any in-person classes, I was still able to get connected through our Fall
Welcome Week programming and meet other “Shipmates”—as we call ourselves at Ship—around
campus. What made me feel most at home was the morale and optimism of the students, staff,
faculty, and administration. We were all navigating the pandemic in our own ways,
but we continued to support one another and move forward as one, which was awesome
in a time of uncertainty. The united support gave me a great sense of community very
early in my college career.
Having been quite involved in high school, I knew I wanted to do the same in college.
Because I was on campus and welcomed the added connection, I took a dive into student
life when I joined two large organizations, Student Ambassadors and Student Government.
Both were critical in bringing me to where I am today.
Through these organizations, I was exposed to many groups of students on campus, and
I connected with different offices and the staff within them. I stepped out of my
comfort zone, and that contributed to my growth and development as a student leader.
I have also been involved in new-student and family programs, athletics, housing and
residence life, multicultural student affairs, fraternity and sorority life, and many
different advisory boards. These experiences have evolved and changed over my time
at Ship, but I have stayed busy in campus life because of the joy I get from working
with individuals from different backgrounds. I also continue to learn so much more
about myself as I grow and develop as a person. (And yes, while I take advantage of
a lot of the opportunities that are presented to me, I am still laser-focused on excelling
in the classroom and within my major.)
With that personal growth in mind, I would like to share a few thoughts with this
year’s freshmen: College is a life-changing experience. You get what you put into
it. Be open to the possibilities, and take advantage of as many opportunities as you
can, because you could miss out on something great. Give yourself grace in the hardships,
but always be willing to learn, because that is where you will find your best moments.
Also, be willing to change your expectations and step out of your comfort zone. I
do not think I would be where I am today had I not stepped out of my comfort zone
early in my first year and opened myself to diverse experiences. And no matter what
experiences you have, always make sure to thank those individuals who are helping
you along the way. I have developed so many different relationships over my time at
Ship and learned from many talented individuals. Through their guidance, I stand before
you the confident leader I am today.
This is my last year at Ship, which is both exciting and sad. It is exciting to look
back and see how far I have come, but I am also sad that my time on campus will soon
come to an end. Over the next year I will continue to be an active student leader
on and off campus. I am most excited to continue to serve on the Board of Governors
and on Governor Shapiro’s Advisory Commission on Next Generation Engagement.
If you’d told me on my first day that I would have so many opportunities that would
help prepare me for the future, I would not have believed you. College is truly a
life-changing experience.