Written by Shamira James
Emma Grosskopf is a junior here at RC from Fredericksburg, VA. She’s doubling major in Communications and French and she recently got an opportunity she always wanted, a platform to speak about body positivity. This summer, an online magazine offered Emma a freelance writing spot in and since August, she has been nothing happy to share her thoughts and feelings on the pressure society places women of today.
“It’s called Sunday Morning View and they’re just getting on their feet. It champions female diversity and promotes a body positive attitude, that’s always been really important to me. For younger woman especially, it’s difficult to feel comfortable with and love yourself the way you are because society always wants us to change and I hate that. I always try to send a message through my writing, I don’t think people should be afraid to talk about their bodies or insecurities but I also don’t think people should feel alone in these struggles, they should know people are there for them.
I’m one of the three winners of the Morehead scholarship. I remember my convocation and I couldn’t tell you a single thing that was said, I want to be different. I want people to listen or atleast pay attention – which I know is difficult. I think it’s very important to be real with people, it’s really easy to get behind a podium and talk about how you’re a double major with a concentration and you’ve gone abroad AND did a May Term, you’re super involved on campus and you have a super high GPA, but no one can relate to that. So, the most important thing for me is to be genuine to the incoming class.
“I’ve lived in Marion for three years and it’s always been a freshman dorm. Most rising juniors would move to New Hall or CAR but my friend is the RA here, so I gave it another go. Living with so many freshman you learn a lot of things. Even more than that you have a lot of advice to give to those freshman, the most cliche one is to ‘get involved’. I didn’t get involved until last semester and I really don’t know why, I guess I was afraid to. When it came down to it, I realized I was paying all this money to go to this institution just to complain about how hard my classes are and that’s not what this is about. Coming to college is paying for an experience and you need to live it to the fullest. My second tip is to be nice to people that work here. Whether it’s a professor, a commons worker, a cleaning staff member, a faculty member – ANYONE, don’t be a jackass. My final tip, is to get ready to handle your own problems. Becoming an adult comes with learning how to deal with your problems, small or big. You can’t always rely on other people, a support system is nice but it doesn’t hurt to try to figure it out on your own.
I’m am terrified of nothing more than senior year. I get really nervous when people talk about the future because mine is so uncertain right now. People always talk about how excited they are about graduation and how they have so many job offers. I’ve had such a good time here and I’ve made so many good memories with good people. Even seeing people from this class graduate is bittersweet. I’m excited for them but I knowing that I’m next is scary. Anyone who says they’re aren’t afraid, even just a little is a lying. I’m scared and I’m not afraid to admit it, but as afraid as I am, I am very hopeful.”
