An Introvert Learning to Say "Yes!"

Growing up, I moved around. A lot! I was born in Kansas, moved to Michigan, moved to New Mexico, back to Michigan, back to New Mexico and landed back in Michigan for my High School and College experiences. You would expect that moving often would create an outgoing personality, but it didn't. Everyone had relationships formed and it felt difficult to "break in." This created severe social anxiety/phobia that led to the labels of being quiet and shy. I had amazing friends, but it didn't feel permanent. I never felt comfortable in my environment and missed out on a lot of opportunities based solely on self-imposed, fear-based decisions. 

When I graduated from High School, I ended up attending GVSU as a commuter student (1992- Dec.1993) while all of my friends moved away. They had stories of all the new experiences they were having and of their time in the dorms. I was left feeling alone and like I needed to start over. AGAIN. Only I didn't have a community to easily jump into to meet people as I lived off-campus (40 minutes away) and was taking Gen Ed courses of 250 or more people. 1 1/2 years in, I changed my major to Speech and Language Pathology. At that time, GVSU did not offer that major so another move needed to be made. I was excited to have found my career calling yet terrified of transferring to a new place.

After tons of research and realizing MSU, U of M, WMU and CMU were just too big for my liking, I found out that my cousin (Julie Ronk Henry, 97') was attending NMU and that her roommate was moving out at the end of the semester. I packed my car and moved to Marquette, sight unseen, in January of 1994. I knew it was small, I knew it was beautiful and I knew, this was my new start.

Once I got settled, I looked for every opportunity NMU had to push myself to my limits by saying "yes" when I wanted to say "no." I went to parties, explored new places (I tried to find every hidden waterfall), tried new activities (rappelling from the Superior Dome and doing obstacle courses 30 feet up - have I mentioned my fear of heights?) even though it was hard! I decided to interview for the Student Leader Fellowship Program (SLFP) because I knew I would be put into a small cohort that would grow into friends and later, family (I was in Purple Block!). I knew I would have to put myself out in the community, practice public speaking, try new things and just be ... uncomfortable. I was accepted into Mortar Board Honor Society and became an officer in the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association. Through my time in the dorms, finally having specialized classes with the same group of people, SLFP and a small community to live in, I was home.

I credit my time at NMU for helping me grow into the person I wanted to be and the one I became. I could still be my introverted self while having the time of my life.

I graduated in 1996 and transferred to WMU to work on my Masters. I have continued to volunteer for organizations such as Feeding America, Kids Food Basket and MomsBloom while now living in the Grand Rapids Area. NMU created the safe place and opportunities needed for me to be successful. The friends and memories that I made in the short time I was there has been a lifelong gift. I have also been able to share these experiences with my eldest daughter who recently graduated from NMU with her BS in Social Work. (Lara Hazzard, 22')