Meet Kelsey Berkheimer, our work study student
Posted on 25. Apr, 2012 by Kelsey in Advisor Profiles
Hey Central Penn students, faculty, staff & visitors!
My name is Kelsey Berkheimer and I am the new work study student for the Advising Center on the Summerdale Campus. I was born and raised in a small town – New Columbia, Pennsylvania. I am the second girl and youngest of three in my family. Throughout my childhood I was very shy. After I transferred schools three different times I started to come out of my shell. Moving from school to school and seeing different people really allowed me to open up. When I was around twelve, I was diagnosed with Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD). This is a disorder that gives people a fear of being watched, judged, or evaluated. Often, the anxiety and discomfort becomes so over whelming that people who have it cannot function properly. This was a major setback in my life. I could not leave my house for months. I was placed on a medication that really made my disorder worse. Things started to look up when I attended high school. During my sophomore year I started to write for my school newspaper. Senior year arrived and I was chosen as one of the editors for my high school newspaper. That is when I realized my passion for writing would become my career. On June 5, 2009, I graduated from Milton Area Senior High.
Looking over college information I had to keep in mind my disorder. I was not able to pick just any university, which was hard for me. I love people, but I cannot be around a huge crowd. Watching my friends pick different universities like Penn State and Millersville was very difficult for me. I knew college was for me, but never thought that I could find a college that would be right. I found out about Central Penn College from my guidance counselor.
I entered Central Penn Fall 2009. This will be my third year; I am pursuing my Bachelors Degree in Corporate Communications. My expected graduation date is May 2013; from there I will take my knowledge, skills, and talents into the event planning field. During the Spring term 2011, I was able to experience planning an event through a class titled Media Events Planning. The event the class planned and executed was titled International Knight; A Global Celebration of Dance, Song, Poetry, Martial Arts, and Fashion. This experience is where I picked up the interest and skills of being able to plan various types of events. I am a member of many different clubs around campus – event planner of Campus Christian Ministries (CCM), current member of the cooking club, PR Club, and I serve as a Peer Mentor in the Peer Mentoring Program. In addition, I have earned the reputation around campus as the baker of delicious sweet treats for many of the school bake sales.
During my time at Central Penn I have learned that being me is the only person that I can be and I should be proud of who I am. Faced with the issues I have dealt with in life, learning something like that and sticking to it, is progress. With SAD comes everyday struggles, however, I am very blessed to be able to have the group of friends I do at Central Penn. My friends are the ones who motivate me to wake up in the morning for class and love me for who I am.
If you ever see me around campus don’t hesitate to ask a question or just say hello. I am a person who will be smiling and usually on the go. Being able to learn, live, love, and serve at Central Penn is an honor. In my spare time you can find me cheering in the stands at basketball games during the Fall and Winter terms and supporting first year students year round. Also, you may hear my other passion,singing, at my home church with my mother and for the River of God Church here in Enola. The words of Langston Hughes say it best…
“Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die,
life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly.”
-Langston Hughes
Do you have questions or need assistance from your advisor but are not sure of how to reach him or her? Send an email to CollegeAdvisors@centralpenn.edu and someone will be happy to assist you
Tracey Walker
Apr 26th, 2012
I am a 1986 graduate of Central Pennsylvania College. Upon graduation from Central Penn College, I was in a very bad auto accident. At the onset of the accident, I was paralyzed on my left side. I suffered very bad head trauma.
When you have inner drive, you can overcome anything! Today, I am an insurance agent for The Hartford, in Allentown, PA.
Keep looking forward, and NEVER look back!! Congratulations, and best of luck to you.
Tracey
Kelsey
Jun 13th, 2012
Thank you. I know that coming to college was a huge step for me to have to overcome a large part of my anxiety disorder.
But thank you for sharing your story this is so amazing. It is wonderful to know what you have made of your life. This is something that took a lot of strength. So again thank you.
Good luck to you with all of the rest you do in life.
Kelsey