Letter from the Editor: Finding My Voice in a World of Experiences

When I committed to Frostburg State University four years ago to play soccer, I was not envisioning anything more than a schedule of going to class and then practice – something I grew up doing. I honestly never considered myself to be more than an athlete. If I could go back and tell 17-year-old me I one day I would be Editor-in-Chief of FSU’s student newspaper, I would have never believed it.

It took me until my junior year to truly buy into the school’s “One University. A World of Experiences” motto. By that point, I was already knee-deep in involvements, and I would not have it any other way. My junior year began by rebuilding the staff and making sure we published a paper each week – I was essentially focused on the basics. When the spring semester came about, I developed more confidence in myself as a leader and took on a story that would ultimately fuel my passion for journalism, drive the desire to make positive change, and to chase the truth. I am beyond proud of The Bottom Line staff and its growth into a prominent news source for both FSU and the local community. I am grateful for the dedication and commitment of the newspaper staff over the past two years, and I hope to see this growth continue.

As a graduating senior, I wanted to use my platform once more to thank Frostburg State University for all they have done to celebrate the class of 2020. Schools across the country outright canceled graduation, but FSU opted to give graduating seniors multiple opportunities to have their moment and walk across the stage. Thank you for celebrating us and honoring our four years of hard work.

Frostburg State has paved the way for the last 4 years providing us with the knowledge, adversities, and life lessons to prepare us for bright futures. They have allowed us individuality and provided us with encouragement to become the best students, athletes, artists, actors, and overall people we can be. Frostburg State has given us ideas of the people we want to become and those we don’t. In just one Western Maryland university, we truly had a world of experiences. Students studied abroad, took their talents to the stage, played a sport, excelled in the classroom, and joined Greek life. Students found their passions and pursued them, inspiring one another along the way.

As someone who has truly recognized the power of words, it’s hard for me to find the right ones to rightfully describe my appreciation for my college experience at Frostburg State University.

Thank you for giving me the platform to find my voice. I am forever indebted.

Once a Bobcat. Always a Bobcat.

Gwendolin Schemm // Graduating Editor-in-Chief