The Community Foundation for Crawford County is pleased to introduce Jack Gatchel, a 2024 recipient of one of the nine Glen and Alice Beers Scholarship awards.
Jack, the son of Lyle David Gatchel and Jo Ellen Simonsen, is a 2023 graduate of Wynford High School. He is in his third year of a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology at Ohio Wesleyan University.
What is your favorite aspect of college life and why?
My favorite aspect of college so far is the social life, especially for those living on campus. The diversity is exceptional, and I have enjoyed getting to know different types of people that I would have never met outside of college. Even after just a year, I can tell that many of the friendships I have made are ones that will continue to be important to me throughout the rest of my life."
What new interests or courses of study have you discovered at college?
"I have become more interested in film since I started attending college. I was able to tap into this interest with the "Woman Directors in Latin America" course I took last semester. I am particularly interested in what unique ways the medium can be used for storytelling. Because of this, I recently added a film minor."
In what way has the college experience changed/improved you?
"The college experience has made me more sociable than I once was. I am still quite shy, and I do not think this is something that is going to change, but I enjoy things like partying and trips around town more than I used to before attending. Overall, college has broken me out of my shell."
What advice would you give an incoming college freshman?
"My advice for incoming college freshmen is that if you prioritize having a healthy sleep cycle, the other problems you will have to tackle in college will become more manageable. As someone who had a bad sleep schedule my first year, not having enough sleep will quickly spiral and make you tired and napping for hours on end during the time you wanted to work on tomorrow's homework. Aim for eight hours of sleep each night, and avoid becoming too reliant on things like melatonin."
What is one item on your bucket list and why?
"One item on my bucket list is to have some experience with a psychology internship by the time I earn my bachelor's. Having a valuable experience like this under my belt would be beneficial for my future career in school psychology in so many ways. As someone who needs to attend graduate school to get into my desired career, this would admittedly be something that could give me a better change at getting admitted into one as well."
Congratulations and good luck in the future, Jack!
To learn more about the scholarships offered through the Foundation, visit www.cfcrawford.org/scholarships
