When I was a freshman, I, like most of my friends, was still searching for my sense of purpose at West Chester. Attending the involvement fair cemented a sense of loneliness in me, as so many people had already gravitated towards their people. The sense of community and school spirit was so palpable, but I felt like I was on the outside looking in. I was terrified to do anything without my friends, whose interests and majors varied from mine. I had no idea where to even start.
It took me a solid semester before I found my footing. I was alone in Sykes Student Union, already on edge because my friends were not with me, when I spotted Her Campus giving away mini perfume samples. Their table was adorned in pink decorations that instantly caught my eye. Scared and a little intimidated, I made my way up alone and curiously asked someone, “what do you guys do in this club?”
The girl at the table told me that Her Campus is an online magazine that is focused on empowering college-aged women. They have chapters all across the nation that provide professional development opportunities, partnership collaborations with big brands, and experience working on a variety of teams – one of which being the writing team. They’re even the #1 ranked college magazine in the country. I was instantly sold.
When I joined as a writer, I had no idea how much it would change my college experience for the better. This club is chock-full of both professional and personal growth opportunities, and I am beyond excited to share them all with you:
Her campus gave me a love for writing.
As a member of the writing team, I was responsible for submitting articles on a bi-weekly basis. My articles were then edited by our Senior Editors, and I then had to go back and revise accordingly. Unlike my experiences in the past with teachers and tons of red ink, I found the editing process in Her Campus to be an uplifting, collaborative experience. I was probed to think deeper, to use my voice, and to polish my ideas. I looked forward to receiving my edits every week I wrote; the editing team instilled a sense of confidence in me. I no longer felt afraid to make mistakes.
Actively contributing as a writer also helped me develop as a professional. In college, it is far too easy to fall out of a routine; we have to rely on ourselves for discipline. My position taught me the importance of meeting deadlines and adapting to feedback. I learned to pre-write articles if I knew the following week was going to be busy, and how to communicate effectively if I needed an extension.
Members in Her Campus have opportunities to find the niche that brings out their voice, too. Whether it be through content creation, event coordination, or PR strategy, there is always something for everybody. Writing won’t take away the heartache or the difficulties that come with being a woman in college, but it truly can help.
Her campus got me involved.
One of the features that drew me to Her Campus in the first place was the partnerships. Working with well-known brands that align with our values gave me something more to take home than just a product sample; it gave me an opportunity to connect with a broader community. My favorite event was the Her Town Clean Up: We partnered with Garnier, put on some Garnier swag, and set out across West Chester to clean those streets.
I’m sure you can imagine how the streets of a predominantly college town looked on a Sunday morning. It was by no means an easy feat to reclaim our streets from a sea of cans, plastic, and even bras in the middle of the road, but we did it. And we did it together, as a herd of girls dressed in pink.
This event made me realize that sustainability events can, and should, be fun. It’s one thing to post about promoting sustainability; it’s another to be out on the streets with a grabber cleaning up Frat Row. This experience inspired me to be more conscientious about the ways I can give back to my community, even in small ways. It showed me that Her Campus is about taking action through collaboration.
her campus taught me leadership.
My involvement didn’t stop at being a writer. I found myself tenaciously seeking opportunities to be involved in any way I could, whether it was picking up an extra article or helping another member direct a short film. My eagerness to share my ideas confidently was a newfound quality that surprised me; in class, you wouldn’t catch me dead doing so. But something about Her Campus and its members invigorated something in me.
In my time as President, I quickly learned to embrace mistakes. No amount of planning can prepare for the many bumps in the road that come with leading meetings, securing partnerships, and orchestrating activities. Our membership increased by 50 members last semester, which meant we had to adapt fast and completely re-coordinate logistics. For our Halloween night, I completely misdirected a bingo activity. The way I pictured it working out in my brain was unfortunately not how it played out in person, and instead of crumbling, I humorously acknowledged my mistake. Not only were the members receptive to this, but they leaned into the chaos and laughed along with me. Some members later told me that it was their favorite meeting.
Her Campus continues to thrive because of members stepping into roles that fit their strengths; that is the beauty of our chapter. Our executive board comprises around 15 different positions, and each position has a different purpose. If you like PR, there’s a Recruitment Manager position. Journalism? Photography Coordinator. You can tailor your own experience based on your interests and passions. My experiences as Senior Editor and Editor in Chief made an incredible impact on me as not only a writer, but as a future educator. I learned how to refine articles and give feedback with attention and care, which are two skills that will benefit me in my professional life.
to future her campus members…
Leading Her Campus alongside such formidable women has been the highlight of my college career. This sense of community is something that cannot be replicated anywhere else. There’s something so beautiful about gathering 50 hard-working college students together on a rainy Wednesday night after classes to paint or to share creative ideas.
As I pass the torch over to our new executive board and put on my cap and gown, I want to mention that I am honored to have served as the President for a group of creative, impactful individuals. I am so unbelievably excited to see Her Campus grow as not just an organization, but as a grounding community that members can find a community in.
I’m not sure what my life will be like without the consistency of our weekly meetings, but I know that I am leaving college a changed individual. I want to thank each and every member for their unwavering dedication to this organization. The love and the labor that they pour into every post, article, flyer, or event has empowered me deeply. Her Campus is living proof that creativity and authentic passion is not dead.
So thank you, Her Campus at West Chester. I don’t know who I’d be without you.