DIANE MAKAR MURPHY YSU senior's involvement is inspirational to the area
With all the negative press about the Valley's children graduating college and leaving town, it's terrific to meet a YSU senior who'd like nothing better than to stay here. And what a college senior she is.
Carrie Anderson came to YSU in fall 2000, a graduate of Mohawk High School in Bessemer, Pa. Take a look at her r & eacute;sum & eacute; since then:
President, Panhellenic Council
President, Alpha Xi Delta sorority
Treasurer, Greek Campus Life
Participant, Leadership Alliance
Participant, Emerging Leader Program
Honor Society Scholarship Recipient
Arby's Leadership Scholarship recipient
Powder Puff football player
and, let's not forget, a 3.96 GPA.
Future ambitions
As an art education major, Anderson has a year of classes and a semester of student teaching to go. Along the way, she has her eye on an intramural soccer team, more football and a year of governing via the Panhellenic Council. She'll also continue helping freshmen orient to college and YSU as part of her job as peer assistant team leader.
And this year, Anderson goes from being vice chair of the homecoming committee to being chair.
"We're planning events, games, activities and contests," she said.
Quick, can I take a nap now?
"In high school, I was president of the Graphic Arts Club and in basketball. I thought I was done," Anderson said. She had plans to focus on her college studies and leave the crowded schedule of high school behind. "Then I got to work in the student activities office -- the most involved office on campus."
Before she knew it, Anderson was signing up for things. "They pulled me out of my shell," she said.
Academic success
Most important to Anderson, however, through all the leadership training and extracurricular participation, is doing well in her studies. And it shows in her grades. When she graduates, her certification will allow her to teach art to pupils from kindergarten through high school.
And continuing to work at YSU, where her cartoon figures have already graced T-shirts, pamphlets and programs, is attractive as well.
"I'd really like to stay here if I could," she said. "Wherever God leads me to be, I'm going to go."
Anderson started drawing when she was a little kid. Her mother Ruth is an artist as well.
"As early as I can remember, I've always drawn," she said. "And I've always had a fascination with cartoons, though I do realistic things as well."
Lots of praise started Anderson thinking. "Hearing that you're good often enough, you start to believe it," she said.
Love of teaching
During high school, Anderson took a cartooning class outside of school and discovered she could draw quickly and well. This led a teacher to ask her to teach other pupils what she had learned. And that led to her discovery that she enjoyed teaching.
"A teacher from Mohawk Middle School asked me to teach seventh-grade art class for three days," she said. "And I saw them getting it, and I thought, I must be doing something right."
In addition to art education, Anderson still loves sports.
"I still love being active," she said, though an aggressive tackle led to a broken wrist for the amateur quarterback a while back. "I was very worried about art. I thought, what am I going to do now?" she recalled with a laugh. She made it through and is looking forward to more sports this year.
"I'm always running around," Anderson said. "It helps my attitude and work ethic. I used to play with my cousins who were guys when I was growing up. I'm used to it."
Philanthropy
The other thing that helps with her attitude is involvement with YSU's sororities.
"Anytime you hear about a sorority, you think 'Animal House,' drinking and hazing," Anderson said. But what she has found at YSU is quite different. "I started here with a friend, and there is no hazing and you make your own decisions about drinking. What it turns out to be is philanthropic."
Anderson's sorority, Alpha Xi Delta, has chosen children as their philanthropy.
It makes for a busy schedule, but there's no doubt Anderson will come through it successfully. Let's hope she stays here after she does.
murphy@vindy.com