From Montana to Moorhead With Grace

Grace Lawlor ’23, Helena, Mont.
Majors: Elementary Education, Psychology

Please tell us about yourself.

A series of cliches that best describes me: wear my emotions on my sleeve; walk to the beat of my own drum; fly by the seat of my pants; clever as a fox; fit as a fiddle; and cute as a button. I also love kids, cats, french fries, ice cream, and people who make me laugh.

How did you hear about Concordia and why did you choose to attend college here?

I knew some people from Montana who had graduated from Concordia, and who wouldn’t want to go to a school with a corn cob for a mascot? I knew I wanted to go to college outside of Montana and experience a new place. I felt like Minnesotans had some of the same qualities I value in Montanans — friendly, resilient, a strong work ethic, and an appreciation for the jello salad.

What is the biggest difference between Minnesota and your home state of Montana?

The biggest difference I’d have to say is the lack of mountains, but it has made me appreciate them more when I go home. I think it is very funny that Olin Hill on campus is supposedly the highest point in Moorhead.

What’s your favorite Minnesotan thing you have discovered while living here?

I don’t know if it is my favorite thing, but people weren’t kidding when they said it’s a “different” kind of cold here.

Was there a defining moment in your college search process?

I think it was when I came for a campus visit and met the soccer coach and team members. I felt both welcomed and valued as both a person and a player. Plus, I really vibed with the free-range turkeys roaming around campus.

What do you value most about your Concordia experience?

What I value most about my experience at Concordia has been the relationships I have developed. I have found both students and staff that support and uplift me. Being an out-of-state student and not having easy access to my parents, I also greatly value the personal growth I have experienced. I have learned to become a lot more independent.

What activities are you involved in?

I’m a member of the women’s soccer team, the director of alumni awareness for SALT (Students and Alumni Linked Together), and a member of Lasers with a Z (the improv group on campus).

How did you decide on your major?

I decided to pursue a major in education after working in a preschool my senior year of high school and the summer before I entered college. I had personally worked with a set of twins for about six months, a boy and a girl. After watching the growth and development of these two children in such a short period of time and seeing how influential I can be in molding their minds, I knew that working with children was something that excited me and I wanted to be able to make a positive impact on their lives.

I am also a psych major, which I have decided to pursue simply because I think it is very interesting content that can be beneficial for me in the future when working with children and their parents.

What do you like about your major?

I like how the education department at Concordia gives us the opportunity to get into the schools and work directly with children in almost any of the courses.

Have you had a favorite professor or class and why?

My favorite course that I have taken was Children’s Literature with Debra Grosz. It was my favorite because we got to read and talk about children’s books, which brought me back to my childhood, but also it gave us the opportunity to dive into deep discussions about the impact of literature and reading on student development.

What is your favorite part of being on the Cobber soccer team?

Similar to what I value most about Concordia, my favorite part of being on the Cobber soccer team is the relationships that I have developed. There are many teammates that I have been able to make such a genuine connection with both inside and outside of soccer.

Why motivated you to be a student-athlete at Concordia?

Honestly, I was most motivated to be a student-athlete because I wanted to follow in my older sister’s footsteps and I felt like coming from out of state this would be a great opportunity for me to make fast friends.

What’s your favorite thing to do in the Fargo-Moorhead area?

My favorite thing to do in the F-M area is take advantage of the lack of hills and elevation and cruise around on my skateboard.

What advice would you give to an out-of-state student considering Concordia?

Don’t be afraid to venture out of your comfort zone. You learn a lot about yourself and what you value most when you start fresh in a new place with new people.

What are your plans for after graduation?

I definitely plan to work with kids in some capacity, but what that will look like is still up in the air. There are many ways it could go, but I will probably leave Minnesota and experience life in a new state or country — ideally somewhere with fewer subzero days and a lot more mountains. But I will do all of these things while proudly wearing my Cobber ring.

Learn more about Montana to Moorhead admission

^{Published March 2022}