Why Waldorf?

Student profile STARR GEORGE '24 - WHY WALDORF?

Out of all the schools in America, why are you going to Iowa? Why would you leave your warm Caribbean Island for the school in a cold cornfield? I thought you were going to Ohio, but why Iowa? These were questions that my friends and family kept asking me when I started my first year at Waldorf University.

I discovered Waldorf while I was working an apprenticeship program at the Barbuda Channel in Antigua and Barbuda. I was giving the midday newscast and there were two individuals that came to do relief network because my island was damaged by hurricane Irma in 2017 and recovery was slow, even in 2019. After my newscast, I met Mr. Cory Brown, Associate Vice President of Waldorf University and he asked me “how long have you been working here?” and I said to him “This may sound like a lie, but I’ve only been here for 3 weeks.” He then gave me his card and asked me to apply to the school, and then I was granted the opportunity to study communications under the Pillars scholarship.

When I got to Waldorf, I was excited but then that quickly went away because I am from the Caribbean where we have one climate, and I had never experienced frigid climates before - so I got super depressed. The culture shock took a massive toll on me, but then I met some people who I will remember as lifelong friends, and they helped me get over home sickness and quickly became my second family.

I really like the small community where Waldorf is because it reminds me of where I’m from, everyone knows everyone, they’re very friendly and they’re very supportive. Even though Forest City doesn’t have much, the goal is to earn the degree and become outstanding individuals to move on to the real world.

I got heavily involved in many things around campus. I became a resident assistant in the Johnson and London Residence Hall after being at Waldorf for one semester and I’m a member for the following clubs: Black Student Union, WAL TV (the school’s tv station), “The Lobbyist” (the school’s newspaper), KZOW (the school’s radio station), World Student Association (WSA), Pillars program, orientation leader and I'm a student photographer as well.

I am very grateful for the many opportunities that I have been given on Waldorf’s campus. It has taught me to network and build very close relationships with students, faculty and staff. And knowing how to reach out to the right people at the right time. This has helped me so much, especially in my adjustment period here in a new country and new climate. In the United States, the culture shock is so harsh especially on international students like me, but attending a university as small as Waldorf makes it easy to have personalized attention for your courses and yourself.

Now that I have decided to obtain a B.A. in Communications, I want to emphasize journalism and digital media. One of the core values of Waldorf University is passion. My passion can impact the world in a very positive way. My goal is to network with major and minor news and media companies to be one of the first Caribbean females to produce joint shows and programs for the international scene when I graduate. This can help bridge the gap between the older and younger generations and help find lost traditions and re-discover cultures. I want to document history digitally so the younger generation to never forget who they are when they’re older.

Waldorf has become my home away from home and has contributed to molding me into the person I am today!