As we celebrate Elizabethtown College’s 125th anniversary, we’re sharing the favorite stories of our alumni, students, staff, and faculty during their time at Etown. Whether it’s a funny anecdote from your dorm days, a moment of mentorship from a class or professor, or a standout experience from a campus event, these stories submitted by members of the Blue Jay community not only commemorate the rich history of our institution but also serve as a reminder of the lasting impact that Elizabethtown College has had on the lives of so many individuals.
Your Stories: Diane McNaughton ’84 – English
My core memories of Etown as a cog in the Class of 1984 always seem to include the high-volume soundtrack of the Outlaws shaking the poster-plastered walls and tenuous bunks of Ober, the people-watching paradise that was the Myer cafeteria on the weekends, and the amazing whoopie pies I never knew existed before I became a Blue Jay.
But, perhaps the memory I refer to most often in my own mind was formed on a regular day of class, during an advanced English course when we were discussing Maslow’s coinage of the term “peak experience.” I remember the professor asking each of us to share a peak experience that had occurred in our own lives. I spoke of a standing ovation at a ballet recital, a star athlete spoke of a state championship, and a sweet, quiet older woman bested us all by saying it was the birth of her children. That moment became a bit of a peak experience… and a bucket-list item of my own.
From that moment on, I understood the importance of learning from the experiences of others, and realized the true “peaks” in life were about far more than loud parties, district trophies, the right clothes, the right friends, and the right major. Years later, when I welcomed four children of my own, I recalled the foreshadowing of this “peak experience” every single time I was handed a warm, light-as-butter newborn, and I would think, “She was so right!”
Years later, another one of my “peaks” occurred when I watched our firstborn walk across the stage at graduation from Etown, and later, from law school! My peak experiences began at Etown!
Be a part of the celebration of 125 years of excellence at Etown by sharing your Etown story.