Shortly after I received an acceptance letter from Penn State in 1998, I received a phone call congratulating me on my acceptance to the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences at Penn State University Park.  The call was from a current meteorology student at Penn State, and I was surprised that someone from a university so big had a minute to call me just to say congratulations and ask if I had any questions.  Now that was a nice personal touch. 
 
We all remember that choosing a college is a tough decision.  University visits and tours are very helpful, but I believe you can learn the most about a university by talking with either a current student or an alumnus.  By talking to someone who has experienced the student lifestyle, you can learn a whole lot more…even the answers to those questions you won’t find in university brochures. 
 
While I was a meteorology student at Penn State, I joined a student volunteer group called Lion Scouts who worked with the Admissions Office.  As a part of my job, I would call high school seniors who had just received their acceptance letters to Penn State.  I enjoyed answering their questions about the College of Earth and Mineral Science and Penn State, and it was nice to know that I was now giving these students that “Penn State personal touch.”
 
After graduation I joined the Penn State Alumni Association.  I then relocated to New York State and joined the Syracuse Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association.  I have always enjoyed talking to prospective students, so I got involved with the Syracuse chapter recruiting team.  I participated in many activities including high school college career fairs, setting up appointments with guidance departments at high schools to talk with prospective college students about Penn State, and calling students who recently received their Penn State acceptance letters. 
 
Additionally, I also participated in a few events at Penn State University Park.  I volunteered with EMEX (the annual Earth and Mineral Sciences Exposition), and last summer volunteered with TOTEMS (Total Orientation to Earth and Mineral Sciences).  I wish TOTEMS had been around when I was a freshman at Penn State!  TOTEMS is a wonderful program with numerous activities that allows the freshman to get to know each other before classes begin.  Last summer, I volunteered to mingle with the parents after they said good-bye to their sons and daughters for the semester.  There were hundreds of parents standing outside Deike Building sniffling and wiping their eyes as they hugged their sons and daughters (that brought back memories).  Get out the tissues!  The students boarded buses for Lake Raystown in Huntingdon, PA, and as the buses pulled away, everyone waved goodbye.  After the buses departed, TOTEMS hosted an ice cream social for the parents.  It was nice to talk to the parents and assure them that their sons and daughters were going to be okay.  They had a lot of questions, and I think it helped them to hear answers from Penn State Earth and Mineral Science Alumni. 
 
As a Penn State Meteorology grad, I also remember the stress that comes during the last semester of college…the job search.  During my senior year, I was constantly in the weather studio making tapes, at home printing resumes, and spent entirely too much time waiting in line at the post office in downtown State College.  I remember what senior year was like, and because of that, I volunteered to be a mentor for the Professional e-Portfolio course at Penn State.  As a broadcast meteorologist, I helped a Penn State meteorology senior with his resume and tape and gave him tips and advice to try to help him land that first job.  After everything Penn State gave me, this is all part of my way of giving back.
 
I recently relocated once again, yet this time, back to my home state of Virginia.  I’ve contacted the Hampton Roads Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association, and I’m excited to get involved once again!
 
-Cheryl Nelson, Penn State Meteorology ‘02, WAVY-TV, Norfolk, VA market