An unconventional path led to her success
NAME: Shaelyn Hostager
CLASS YEAR: 2024
HOMETOWN: Ankeny
MAJOR: Psychology and Sociology
ON-CAMPUS INVOLVEMENT: Cross country, track and field
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE WARTBURG: I actually never thought I would end up at Wartburg because the majority of my family went to Luther. I wanted to branch out and go somewhere different. All it took was one visit for me to realize Wartburg was the best fit for me both academically and athletically. That being said, it was still a bit of a shock to the rest of my family.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR MAJOR: I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do, so I started out as a psychology major. One of my jobs was a work study student in the social sciences office, and I ended up developing close relationships with all the professors there. After taking a few sociology classes, I decided to add that as a major my junior year. Even though I was a little behind, my professors believed in me and helped me make it work.
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS AFTER GRADUATION: I plan to attend University of Minnesota-Duluth in their psychological science research-based graduate program with the goal of completing a Ph.D. I also plan to use my last year of NCAA eligibility to run cross country and track there.
HOW DID YOUR WARTBURG EXPERIENCE PREPARE YOU FOR THE NEXT STEP: Attending Wartburg taught me that reaching the destination of success sometimes means taking unconventional routes. Within my sport, I had to have a separate training plan than the rest of my teammates in order to be successful. Working three jobs and going to long practices meant I had to study during random hours of the day and night in order to be successful in the classroom. While doing things in an unconventional manner could sometimes be stressful, time-consuming, and lonely, I learned how to tackle many things at a time and embrace every challenge that came my way. This prepared me to do the same in graduate school, where I will be studying for classes, working as a TA, and still competing on the cross country and track and field teams. Wartburg College teaches you to be a lifelong learner and a constant go-getter.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE WARTBURG EXPERIENCE: I broke my leg in a 10k my freshman year, and I considered calling it quits. I decided to stick it out and it was the best decision I ever made. I became an All-American for the first time in the same event the next year, and was able to attend many national meets after that. The real reason it was the best decision though, was because of the memories I made with all of my teammates. Wartburg is filled with people who are there to celebrate your victories and be there to pick you up when you fall short.
WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU NEVER IMAGINED YOU WOULD DO BEFORE COMING TO WARTBURG:): I ended up accidentally signing up for a computer science class during May Term my junior year. I didn’t think it would be that bad since it was an intro class, and it ended up being one of the hardest classes I’ve ever taken. I tried to figure it out on my own, but I ended up staying after class every day so the professor could help me. While it did cost me valuable May Term time, it made me realize the importance of asking for help when you need it. Whether it’s academically, physically, or mentally, you’re always better off asking for help rather than walking alone.
WHO HAS BEEN A MENTOR FOR YOU ON CAMPUS: I would say almost everyone at Wartburg. While people in my immediate circle were always there to help me succeed, I also received support from professors I never had in class, coaches that weren’t my own, and Wartburg students I didn’t know. Many of the staff members, like the lunch ladies, cleaning staff, and security guards, bent over backwards to help students. They really deserve a large thank you for not only my success but others as well.
WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS: Whatever it is that you do, be passionate about it. Whether it’s athletics, music, academics, service trips, or clubs, be intentional about it and suck the life out of each day. You may never know who you inspire or motivate to do the same. Take advantage of everything that Wartburg has to offer.