Some students come to college to find community. Others help build it. Rachel Gruber achieved both at Slippery Rock University, first as a freshman searching for belonging and then as a leader helping others feel at home.
“When I talk to friends at other universities, they don’t have this type of community and that’s what I love about SRU,” she said. “We have the environment, we have the community and I can walk around campus and say hello to a dozen people who all do different things. It makes me so happy that I’m not a number on a list here.”
What started for Gruber as curiosity and exploration of opportunities around campus quickly turned into confidence. At her first Involvement Fair, which is an event where students learn about student organizations and other opportunities on campus, Gruber embraced the welcoming spirit she felt and jumped into positions that allowed her to grow and eventually lead.
Gruber, a senior early childhood and special education major from North East (North East HS), is now involved in many organizations: Honors College, Tri Sigma, the Emerging Leadership Experience, Council for Exceptional Children, Early Childhood Club and Green and White Society, where she serves as the vice president of traditions.
Through her role as an Emerging Leadership Experience peer mentor, Gruber uncovered a passion for mentorship. And now as a VP for the Green and White Society, she had the chance to organize and emcee the SRU’s Homecoming pep rally.
“Standing in front of everyone and realizing I helped plan the whole thing was an amazing thing,” she said. “It was an ‘Oh my gosh!’ moment, I realized these are things I can do.”
Gruber’s motivation to immerse herself in the SRU community is twofold. She wanted to create a sense of belonging for herself and others, but she also wanted to make the most of an opportunity many of her family members did not have.
“A lot of my family members didn’t get to go to college,” Gruber said. “Being one of the first to move away and do something new, I wanted to make them proud.”
Approaching her high school graduation, Gruber was searching for a university where she felt a true connection. During high school, she toured a few campuses without ever feeling a spark until a high school track meet brought her to SRU.
“I never felt at home anywhere else I visited,” she said. “When I toured SRU, it was the only place that felt like a home. It ended up being the only school I applied to.”
Gruber involvement on campus taught her how to balance her many commitments, skills she says will carry her beyond graduation. Her experiences in campus leadership and connections with her mentors have motivated her to imagine returning one day to SRU as a leader and mentor herself.
“Through my experiences I realized I want to work in student affairs and teach leadership,” Gruber said. “I want to come back to SRU to become a graduate assistant. My advisers have helped me so much. If I need anything, they talk with me and guide me wherever I need it. Everybody here wants to help.”
Throughout her undergraduate journey, Gruber found purpose through the SRU community – a community she still helps create. For incoming students, Gruber offers encouragement grounded in her own experience.
“You’re only here for four years, so try something new,” she said. “Go to an event, join a club and explore. That’s how you find your people and make lifelong friendships.”
More information about Campus Life at SRU is available on the University’s website.
