At Westminster, Savannah discovered far more than a college education. Through meaningful friendships, leadership opportunities, Greek Life, and unwavering support from faculty and staff, she grew from a shy first-year student into a confident campus leader with a lifelong community behind her and a clear path toward her future.

Why did you choose Westminster?

My Mom graduated from here in 1998 and wanted me to at least tour here, even though she knew my agenda was to look at larger schools like the University of Pittsburgh and the University of North Carolina. But our tour guide was fantastic and shared a lot about what his life here looked like as a student. He was talking to a ton of people on campus in passing, and it made me realize I’d hopefully have similar relationships if I came here. That, on top of the beautiful scenery everywhere we looked during the tour, made me realize that it was perfect for me.

Did you know off the bat what you wanted to major in?

When I first toured here, my whole thought process was to major in Biology with maybe a minor in Psychology, knowing that my track would be pre-dental and that the ultimate goal was dental school after undergrad. I thought I had my academic interests figured out, but I was still open-minded to the process of getting there. My tour guide at the time mentioned that Neuroscience was a pretty good mixture of all the things I was interested in. I had no idea what it would entail and was a little nervous, but I was willing to give it a shot and declare that as my major. It turned out to be the best decision I could’ve made! It was the perfect middle between my multiple interests.

Tell me about the community at Westminster.

I came into college thinking that the professors would never know who I was. During one of my first classes with Dr. Furimsky, I remember thinking that he would never learn my name or know me personally. Not because that was the vibe I was getting from his personality, but because I just thought that’s how things went in college. But by the end of my very first week here, that relationship developed to the point that he was calling me by my first name and asking how my parents were doing, which goes to show that in this tight-knit community, you’ll gain relationships that you never expected to have, but never want to leave behind after graduating.

I think the community also made a difference in terms of my academic performance. My professors and mentors knew what my life looked like outside of the classroom and were always encouraging me to try new things. I would often look up at a football game while cheering on the sidelines to see one of my professors there supporting me. So, that encouraged me to work as hard as I could in class because if they’re showing up for me, I wanted to show up for them in return. Having that deeper connection with them makes you want to impress them. They made me want to do better because they cared so much about my personal life and hobbies outside of the academic world. I realized my success was because of them, and if I hadn't built those relationships, I don’t know where I would be right now!

What were you involved in as a student?

The biggest thing I learned was not to say no. It’s better to say yes to the opportunities that come your way, and if it doesn’t work out, it’s not like you had anything to lose. But if it does work out, you’ll discover more about your own interests and passions and meet people you wouldn’t normally cross paths with. I joined Sigma Kappa sorority in my freshman year and immediately knew that I wanted to be more involved. In my sophomore year, they wanted to fill the Vice President of Finance position. I had no finance experience, but the Executive Board was willing to give me a chance and trained me really well, so I did that for two years and then went on to a role in sorority recruitment and then served as President. I was also co-captain of Dance Line for two years, a Titan Tour Guide in the Office of Admissions, a Peer Success Coach for the Academic Success Center, and an Orientation Leader.

What impact did Westminster have on you?

It was the best four years of my life.

I came to Westminster as a shy, introverted freshman. I didn’t really go out of my way to talk to anyone, had no desire to make friends, was terrified of everything, and barely left my room during my first semester.

I’m not that person anymore. I’m confident, outgoing, and surrounded by friendships that I know will last a lifetime. Westminster brought out the best in me, and I didn’t even know that version of myself existed. The transformation was so noticeable that my friends and family would comment on it whenever I came home for breaks. They would literally ask me, “Remember when you didn’t come out of your room and never wanted to talk to anyone?”

When did that introvert-to-extrovert switch happen for you?

Being in Greek Life really changed me a lot. You go through recruitment without knowing what to expect, and ultimately, you find this group of 40 girls that you just fall in love with. Those girls become not just your sisters, but your best friends and your support system for the rest of your life. You see them everywhere on campus, you’re always spending time with them, and they’re always hyping you up. It’s like you have your own personal group of cheerleaders in your corner, and that’s where the big confidence boost comes from. It almost makes you feel invincible.

One of our values was personal growth, and that is something I largely recognized within myself over the four years that I spent as a member of Sigma Kappa. It was also a chance to give back to the community through service and volunteer opportunities. Sigma Kappa specifically has five philanthropies, so it wasn’t just one cause; it was a plethora, and I grew to love every single one of them for different reasons.

What was your next step after graduation?

I am currently working as a pediatric dental assistant and pursuing my Expanded Function Dental Assistant certificate.

What advice would you give to a high school student who is considering Westminster? 

Give it a shot. I didn’t know if it was the right place for me, and then I gave it a chance, and it ended up being the perfect college for me because I discovered who I am as a person. I found my place and a circle of people with whom I can’t wait to continue making memories with. And, on top of it all, I had the support from faculty and staff to ensure my long-term success.

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