Compassion in Action

Crisavydenil Seeman ’25 | Perham, Minnesota
Major: Business Marketing
Minors: Communication Studies, Environmental and Sustainability Studies
Certificate: Entrepreneurial Mindset

Being a student at Concordia College means more than getting a symbolic ring and having the coolest corn cob mascot. Cobberhood represents a fierce desire for growth and challenge so that one may lead by example using critical thinking and compassion.

A distinctive trait of Concordia is the amazing Cobber network that you build during your time here and even after college. Concordia has given me countless opportunities to develop the highly valuable skill of relationship-building, in addition to finding a devotion to sustainability and service work.

A Bit About Me

In 2021, I graduated from Perham High School in Perham, Minnesota. During my free time, I like to be outdoors, be at the lake, go on walks, clean, go thrifting, take care of plants, read, paint, and practice photography and videography.

A fun fact about me is that my mom is from the Philippines, and I was born there! Though my dad is from Minnesota, my parents met when my dad was doing electrical irrigation pivot work in Saudi Arabia, where one of his co-workers was my mom’s neighbor. Shortly after being introduced, my parents communicated through letters and the rest is history. My dad eventually also spent some time doing electrical work at the McMurdo science base in Antarctica.

On campus, I am the showcase commissioner for the Campus Events Commission (CEC) and vice president of the Marketing Club, I participate in Women in Business, Cru, and Habitat for Humanity, and served as a committee member for the Orientation team in 2023. I also work at the campus post office, do digital marketing for the Lorentzsen Center, and intern for MarCom.

Why Concordia?

My decision story is not an uncommon one. Going to Concordia seemed like the predictable choice. The school is near my hometown and lots of people from my community attended, including my grandmother for one year. I had been on campus several times for extracurriculars but not once did I think I would become a Cobber. Little did I understand that there’s a reason why going to Concordia had such a reputation in my town — and the answer was staring me straight in the face: connectedness!

Concordia College has a strong reputation for its community, and I knew that I could see myself thriving in that atmosphere. I finally realized that being close to home doesn’t need to halt any growth but rather can teach me how to flourish where I am planted.

Reduce and Reuse

In Spring 2023, I was honored to be chosen as one of two Barry Scholars through The Barry Foundation and the Offutt School of Business. Barry Scholars are awarded two full years of tuition coverage and the opportunity to research and implement a project of their choice. The application process required a written essay regarding a given prompt, a written abstract of my proposed research, and a proposal presentation given to the board encapsulating the methods and project goals.

For my project, I plan to research ways to reduce overconsumption and waste production in the Fargo-Moorhead area. I hope to bring awareness to America’s growing overconsumption issues and introduce alternatives to deep-rooted habits. In a world suffocating by instant gratification, working on this project has helped me grow as an environmentalist and I hope to inspire others to rethink their habits as well.

What inspired me to pursue this topic is that there often exists a huge emphasis on recycling, but not as much of an emphasis on preventing waste in the first place by reusing what we have and reducing what we purchase. Recycling is great, but it is the result of consumption. Trends and influencer culture have given us an illusion that we need the latest and greatest, though that is not always true. My goal is to show our amazing community how they can reduce consumption in the onset by reusing.

A Ballad of Hammers and Smashed Fingers

It all started on a roof in North Carolina. I was extremely afraid of heights, yet I found myself nailing roof panels together by the trusses. This describes my first Habitat for Humanity trip, where I made best friends out of strangers and positively impacted a community in need. I had been on four mission trips in high school, but what I truly enjoyed about Habitat is the relationships you form by helping others build through hands-on construction experience. I really valued the PEAK class associated with it as well, where we discussed the importance of helping these communities without hindering their ability to help themselves.

This great experience is what led me to lead a trip the following year with my roommate and best friend, Claire Knutson. Claire and I led a group of 12 students to Tacoma, Washington, where we spent a week framing and sheathing a house. Volunteering of any kind is usually hard work that requires focus and dedication, but the impact on the lives of those you help and the community at large is a powerful and motivating reward.

Now Showcasing

One of the most unique experiences I have had as a Cobber is being CEC’s showcase commissioner. I have been in this position since spring of my freshman year and I actually accepted the role without really knowing what it entailed. Since then, I am proud to say that I have made the Showcase role to be my own. My job consists of planning and hosting contracted events for students such as DJ dances, headphone discos, singers, bands, comedians, hypnotists, magicians, karaoke nights, and Cornstock. My favorite Cornstock memory is getting to drive lovelytheband to campus as a freshman. The band was extremely nice and I just had a blast getting to be their chauffeur.

The people are truly what make my events great though. One of my favorite uses of this platform is getting to spotlight student talent whenever I can. I also have the best committee members who work hard at every event and not only support me but support each other. Seeing them grow and bond has been one of the most rewarding aspects of CEC for me.

Relationship-Building

Throughout my Concordia journey, I've come to realize that the most profound skill you can learn in college is the cultivation of strong relationships. As a freshman, the biggest lesson I learned was how experiences bond you more than material things ever could. My favorite part about meeting new people is the opportunity to hear their stories over a cup of coffee and learn what made them who they are.

I deeply believe that everyone deserves to feel a sense of belonging. This is why, in group settings, I choose to prioritize bonding and team building first. Being introverted at heart, I understand what it’s like to be intimidated working with others unless that period of uncomfortableness is breached.

Simply, it’s about going the extra mile. Sacrificing an extra minute of your day to show others that they are important to you is a great way to strengthen relationships and build trust with those you care about. Examples of this include writing cards to professors and bosses to show your appreciation for their time guiding you, writing a get-well note for a friend, asking how a weekend or break was, or going to DS with classmates.

My journey at Concordia has enriched me with opportunities to cultivate relationship-building skills and ignited a dedication to sustainability and service work.”

Beyond Academics

People in the Fargo-Moorhead area are admirable for all the ways they try to foster community and build relationships. Some of my favorite events to attend are organized by Emerging Prairie such as StartupBrew and Curiosity Week or Folkways such as the Red River Market and Christkindlmark, and anything at Brewhalla like their craft markets. There are so many good restaurants and coffee shops around too, my favorites being Pounds and Roasted Rail. I love attending church at Ignite in Moorhead, where I am part of a Monday night women’s community group that pushes me to grow in my faith and seek strong female mentors outside of the college hustle. Something I would like to explore more in the area is volunteer opportunities.

Looking Ahead

Regarding my plans after graduation, I am still navigating through ideas but, currently, I am most interested in branding and content marketing for an organization that values its people and their cause — preferably within the sustainability/eco-friendly realm, a field that I believe is rapidly growing with today’s interests.

Though I am still working toward my career goals, I am enjoying my time studying abroad in New Zealand for Spring 2024 at Massey University’s Wellington campus. Prior to my semester abroad, I spent two weeks with family in Hawai’i where I learned from their diverse ecosystem by actively volunteering in a range of beach and wetland restoration initiatives.

Being part of the Concordia College community transcends all symbols and mascots. It embodies a commitment to personal growth extending beyond graduation, displaying leadership through critical thinking, and the nurturing of compassion.

My journey at Concordia has enriched me with opportunities to cultivate relationship-building skills and ignited a dedication to sustainability and service work. As I carry these experiences forward, I am equipped not only with academic knowledge but with a deep sense of purpose and a network of connections that will undoubtedly shape my future endeavors.

^{Published February 2024}