The process of navigating through college isn’t always easy, and one Olivet Nazarene University student dealt with that firsthand.
“I feel like I was new to everything and had to get used to everything,” said Junior Ellie Fontanetta as she remembered back to starting her college journey.
Why Olivet?
Extra-curriculars
College life is about more than just school for most students, and Fontanetta is no exception.
One of the most important parts of her life has to take place within the pool.
Swimming has been a big part of Fontanetta’s routine for more than seven years and is part of the reason that she decided to attend Olivet.
Not sure if swimming was going to be a part of her future post-high school, Fontanetta was planning on waiting to make a decision based on other aspects.
And then the offers started to come in.
Ultimately, she decided that she would take her talents to ONU, where she remains a valuable addition to the team.
“She loves to be around everyone in practice and is always offering to share a lane with someone or encouraging them,” says teammate Abbie Christensen. “At meets, she takes everything in stride and stays in good spirits almost no matter what the results of a race are.”
While it is a big part of her life, swimming isn’t the only thing that Fontanetta is involved in at ONU.
She was approached to aid in student development advising, to which she gladly accepted the offer. It is important to her that she can be a part of something in which her voice matters and she is able to give her valuable opinions.
“I’ve seen Ellie become so much more independent over the past few years. She’s developed a tenacity through swimming and coming to college that I think is evident if you look back at where she started.” – Abbie Christensen
Big-Picture
Fontanetta is grateful that she got the opportunity to attend school at Olivet. In addition to her involvements at the school, she has seen new levels of growth across her three years here.
Unsure at first at how she would react to the new environments that college presents, she recellects at how it was challenging at times trying to get used to everything.
However, as time went on, things did get easier, and she has gotten used to this seemingly daunting experience.
When asked how these changes might have been made easier, she responded, “I have gotten involved more in activities and grown more in my relationships.”
ONU has also prepared Fontanetta for life after school. She is already beginning to think about what she might want to do after graduation and is ready to face her next challenges head-on.
Responding to a question about what she is most looking forward to, she said, “I probably would say getting a job and living on my own, seeing where work takes me.”
As a communication major, Fontanetta also wants to use her talents and everything she has learned to eventually work for a nonprofit organization. She hopes to be able to use everything she has learned up to this point to really make a difference.
