Conquering Fear and Finding Community

When Bridget Bartlett arrived at PennWest Edinboro as a "small little scared freshman," she never imagined she'd become an adventurer. Now a junior majoring in early childhood education, she's discovered that PennWest's supportive environment is the perfect place to push beyond comfort zones and achieve remarkable personal growth.

"I saw CORE (Campus Outdoor Recreation Experience) coming into college. It was one of the things that actually drew me to Edinboro," Bridget shares. Her first big leap? Skydiving. "I don't like roller coasters, so I was like, you know what? Let's try it though, because this is really cool opportunity."

That initial courage led to another skydiving trip, and then to rock climbing – activities she never imagined herself doing before PennWest. During a spring break trip, Bridget faced her fears on outdoor climbs. "I remember being like, 'I can't do this, I can't do this.' And all my friends were just in a line down here, and they were like, 'You know what, Bridget? You got it.'" She completed all five routes that day, one of only two in her group to do so.

These PennWest experiences have opened doors beyond campus. "Because of the spring break trip last year, last summer I was a whitewater rafting guide in Tennessee," Bridget reveals. "I don't think I ever would have been able to do that if I didn't have the CORE spring break experience."

Beyond the adventures, Bridget found her people at PennWest. From meeting one of her best friends during a welcome weekend kayaking trip to building relationships with fellow CORE workers, PennWest's recreation programs have created a supportive community where students encourage each other to reach new heights – sometimes literally.

 

Listen to Bridget's story on the Power of PennWest Podcast