Over twenty five years ago I started the Wesley College chapter of my life as a college freshman. It’s hard to imagine that I have spent nearly half of my lifetime all at one place; that place being Wesley College. People joke around about having second homes, the gym or their job, but the truth of the matter is, Wesley College HAS BEEN my second home for over 25 years. And while Wesley College as I know it today will no longer exist on July 1, 2021, all of the amazing people I have met there (faculty, staff, students, alumni, etc.) and all of the memories I have from there will NEVER go away and they will carry on with me into the next chapter of my life.

My freshman year I lived in Williams hall with my high school friend JWU. Although today I am a huge proponent of getting a college education, back then I wasn’t too sure about going to college, let alone going away to college. But I was happy to be at a place that was far enough away from home and at the same time close to home as well. As a student I had only lived in Williams and Carpenter Halls, but when I first started working at Wesley, I got to know Gooding Hall all too well! The first year I worked at WC I lived in Gooding Hall. And against best practices, WC leadership changed Gooding Hall into a residence hall full of all females!!! Can you imagine having more than 50 females living together in one building?!?! While there were some girl fights here and there, it wasn’t nearly as bad as having a residence hall full of males. Poor Williams Hall took a beating back then. I can’t remember how many years the administration kept those two residence halls as single sex residence halls, but it was one year too many!

Over the course of my 20+ years working at Wesley College I held many different titles and worked with students in many different capacities. I started off in Student Affairs as a Resident Director (RD) of Gooding Hall and the Director of Student Activities (yes at the same time), then transitioned to Academic Affairs as an Assistant Director of Student Support Services, then became the Director of Disability Support Services, then the Director of Student Success & Retention until I was promoted to my final position, the Assistant Vice President of Academic Affairs. My higher ed. journey at Wesley taught me so many things about myself, others, and the world we live in (both then and now). There were many times I wanted to quit WC, curse or fight the people there for their stupidity, yet I persisted because I was always taught to never give up! Students came and spent their academic and athletic careers at WC, graduated, and moved on to the next phase of their lives. Yet the one thing that remained the same for me – the special relationships I made with each of them. The relationships I built at WC are the true definition of the “Wesley family”.

Not only has Wesley afforded me the opportunity to meet some amazing students, Wesley College also gave me my husband (KAM)! I met my husband our freshman year when he walked into my Orientation class in the building that is now known as Longwood Hall (we think it was formerly known as Bradford Hall). We quickly became friends and his friends all became my friends. Over the course of the next four years we developed a friendship that eventually turned into more. Throughout our relationship, and even now as a family of four, Wesley College remained a constant in our lives.

KAM and I spent many years after our graduation(s) at Wesley supporting the athletic programs and other student organizations’ events. While the football, women’s soccer, and men’s lacrosse team(s) will always hold a special place in our hearts, KAM and I supported all of the teams! Since the time KEM & KMM were babies they were brought to all kinds of games and student organization events. These two kids truly grew up having WC as their second home too. Two months ago when a student was interviewing me for his class assignment I found out that my kids are pretty famous! What he meant by that was that the WC kids knew they were MY kids. I couldn’t tell if that was a good or bad thing 🙂

While many WC students know my kids, my kids know them well too. Many of the WC students have become their older brothers or sisters and have made a tremendous impact on them. One of the older brothers reminded KEM one time he was talking back to me that “it is NEVER ok to disrespect your mother.” In fact, this older brother asked KEM if he needed to be taught some lessons :). Some WC kids pick up KMM from her elementary school when I can’t get out of work to get her myself. And they don’t just drop her off at WC, they actually walk her to my office to make sure she gets there safe and sound. They have supported both kids with their school fundraisers and supported me in my fundraising efforts for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation.

The personal connection all of the Wesley students have made with KEM & KMM is so very special and important to both of them. This is one of the many different changes that weigh heavy on my heart and in my head. KEM is 14 years old and KMM is 10 years old and they have spent their whole lives being dragged along to a variety of different WC games or events, and that all changes on July 1st. Some of their big brothers and sisters are moving away and things will change. While change is always a good thing, this is the exact type of change that I dread. For over 20 years I have gotten used to students going home for the summer (or even staying!) and then coming back in August. Even when they graduate they always come back to Wesley to visit. But what, how, etc. will they come back; where will they go?

I haven’t even acknowledged the profound impact the Student Success & Retention (SSR) team has had on the McDermott family. Not only are they MY family, but they are also KAM’s, KEM’s and KMM’s family too! They know what KEM can and can’t eat because of his Crohn’s disease and what his favorite sport is; they know what KMM’s interests and hobbies are, even when they change on a daily basis; they know how much KAM loves to fish. K2 feel so comfortable calling or texting the SSR family if they need anything because SSR is their family too!

This might sound cocky (oh well) but the SSR team (and our cohorts in crime who know who you are) truly has kept Wesley operating smoothly and cleaned up so many messes for many years. The current SSR team is the best support system (for faculty, staff and students) that Wesley College has ever had! NO TEAM from the past could or would ever even come close to the perfection that is SSR now! DLA and I built the best SSR family Wesley College has ever had or seen. While we will always be a force to be reckoned with, we will look and be different next year. We need each other now, and after July 1, more than we have ever needed each other, but I know that we will continue to support one another, no matter what!

The Wesley home as we know it won’t exist after July 1st. And while I know that “Great Things Await” for all of us… I have prayed every day since the WC’S acquisition was announced that TOGETHER we will continue to remain WESLEY STRONG!