Student Profile
Lifestyle: Civilian Resident
Major: English/Communications
Name: JessieLynn Bagnas
JessieLynn Bagnas chose Norwich because she wanted a "big change." She got what she asked for. San Antonio, Texas, -- and all of her family and friends -- seem very far away when she is crunching through the snow on the northern New England campus. She had never even seen snow before she came to Norwich, and she still eyes it warily as it blows against the window glass during the interview.
"[Coming to Norwich] made me a lot more independent." JessieLynn says, "Because I'm so far away from home, ... I have to do everything for myself. I don't call my parents for money. I just do things on my own up here."
JessieLynn doesn't regret taking a different path than her friends from high school. "I've talked to all of my other friends who go to big schools, and, yeah, they do a lot more partying, but here we have our own ways of having fun. I think I needed this kind of environment to actually study."
JessieLynn also finds the class size at Norwich a significant advantage. "My friends at state schools, their classes are huge, especially the prerequisite classes -- they're in an auditorium! I know most of my professors, and they know me by name; that's a really good thing. I can go to them anytime, if I ever need any help."
JessieLynn's greatest challenge is juggling her workload; she is pursuing a double major in English and Communications. Every day is very carefully planned, with little free time during the week, but she keeps it in perspective. "Comparing myself to some of my Corps friends, I'm more laid back. I don't have to wake up at 5:00 in the morning."
Sharing a campus with military cadets has been a revelation. "It makes you see the other side. I think it makes you more involved as a person, just being around people who are so different, who choose to be in a situation like that. I think if I had gone to another school, with everybody civilian, my view of the military would be a lot different."
Asked if her own Norwich experience has been different than she expected, JessieLynn says, "Oh, yeah. But in a good way."
