August 1995: Western Michigan University

After touring Michigan State University, Western Michigan University, Grand Valley State, Central Michigan University, and Ferris State, I decided to go to Western Michigan University after graduating with my A.A.S degree from Muskegon Community College.

I am an only child, so having a roommate was going to be a big change for me.    I talked to my new roommate, Dawn Dougher, on the phone about what we were bringing to the dorm. She seemed very nice on the phone.  The big day had arrived for me to start my junior year at Western Michigan University.       I got to the dorm and was surprised when I opened the door and the whole room was taken up with the belongings of my new roommate.  She had rearranged the bunk beds in this strange way and had already painted the walls.    I swear there wasn't any room for my stuff.   I thought to myself, 'What am I getting into?'.   I chose Harrison Hall in the valley, as it was the closest dorm to the Haworth College of Business. Normally, this hall was for juniors, but due to an increase in the freshman class, the hall was full of the wild freshmen.   

The first weekend was very hard for me, as I didn't have a car on campus, so was stuck up there.      I knew after a week that I was not going to get along with my new roommate, so I had gone to see if I could move to a different dorm.   I went to meet the person in the other dorm.  She surprised me with a question.  She asked if I had a problem rooming with a lesbian.   I about died!   I was polite, but walked pretty fast out of there. I decided I better just hang in there at Harrison Hall at least until the end of the semester.

I met some nice people on my floor, Amy Klopp, Nina Ganesh, Mike Swank, and Bob Haight.    I hung out at Amy's room alot, as she had her own room and it was quiet there.    My suite mates were so loud that I could not study.    There were these African American brothers who didn't study, but spray painted their bikes in the hallway, played basketball in the halls, and many other numerous activities.  As an only child, I was not used to this noise and wild behavior.  I cried many nights during that first month at Western Michigan.

Nina Ganesh and I hit it off from the beginning.   She heard about this co-ed business fraternity meeting that met at the business school, so she convinced me to go and check it out.   I was hesitant at first, as I didn't know much about fraternities except that they partied.     I went to the first meeting and met some nice people.   They talked about 'rush' which was a new term to me.     I figured we got free pizza and pop, so why not go.     Nina and I ended up pledging the fraternity that fall and becoming members of the co-ed business fraternity.  I am so thankful I met her and joined this group, as it brought alot of happiness and good times for those 2 years at Western. 

In January 1996, I moved out of Harrison Hall and moved in with Rose Carlson in Stinson Hall.   Nina Ganesh, Robyn List, and I shared an apartment at Dover Hills Apartments off campus for the 1996-1997 school year.           

I had a hard time figuring out what type of business degree I wanted. I talked with Robyn's boyfriend, Mike, who told me about the Food Marketing program, so I checked that out.     I graduated from Western Michigan with my degree in Food Marketing.   My goal when I graduated was to have a job, which I did get at Information Resources in downtown Chicago at 150 N. Clinton.       Nina and I walked down the aisle together to get our diplomas in April 1997.