A lot has changed since 1994, the year that alumna Michele DeSantis O’Mara graduated from Colgate University. Staple buildings — like Persson Hall — have been constructed from scratch, thirty graduating classes have come and gone, and the world outside of campus has been made anew by social media.
Some alumni fondly bear the scars, literal or figurative, of a bygone era. For any current Colgate student, Michele DeSantis O’Mara’s account of “Cardiac Hill,” where Persson Hall now stands, might sound like a bone-chilling relic of a harsher time.
“I still have a faint scar on my knee from falling and sliding down Cardiac, one of the many times it was completely covered in snow and ice. Cardiac Hill, which now has Persson Hall stretching across it, was aptly named,” Michele DeSantis O’Mara said.
Yet, for all of the comings and goings, some things remain remarkably similar. Harsh weather warranting lots of layers has not wavered, as returning alumni might notice. Most of the buildings, too, remain exactly where they have stood for decades or centuries — Michele can still point out most of the rooms where she attended class as a student.
Much like the stability of the layout of campus, certain experiences have proved themselves universal. For Michele DeSantis O’Mara, it’s the feeling of stepping back on campus that resonates most strongly.
“That hasn’t changed over the decades,” Michele DeSantis O’Mara said. “It is a campus that is alive.”
For her, this fall semester also brought about an even deeper full-circle experience: her daughter, Corinne O’Mara, joined Colgate’s Class of 2028. Some aspects of their respective journeys even carry an uncanny echo.
For one, both O’Maras found a home at Colgate almost by chance. In Corinne O’Mara’s case, a tag-along on her brother’s visit to campus would spark her feeling of belonging which was confirmed on her own campus tour years later. Michele DeSantis O’Mara, too, found her fit by luck.
“I applied to Colgate unseen based on what I had heard about it,” Michele DeSantis O’Mara explained. “When it came time to commit to a college, my family and I took a road trip up to Hamilton, N.Y. ‘Just to have a look.’ The rest is history.”
On campus, Corinne O’Mara walks many of the same paths that her parents did. Her father also attended Colgate and is happy to share a moment of connection over their shared experience.
“I love telling them about my days, professors they remember, spots around campus they used to go to, and all the new places they’ve never been,” Corinne O’Mara said.
While mother and daughter have shared experiences, both choose to see Corinne’s Colgate journey as a way to grow and change, not just reminisce.
Allowing for mistakes, taking advantage of campus resources while still here, and keeping an open mind are just some of the things Michele DeSantis O’Mara has encouraged as Corinne O’Mara forges her own path at Colgate.
“Everyone’s journey is different. We want Corinne’s to be uniquely hers,” Michele DeSantis O’Mara said.
Corinne O’Mara , too, sees the value in having a Raider for a parent, but understands that her path is her own.
“I think my mom’s advice really helped me settle in during those first few weeks of school when everything was so new and there were so many unknowns,” Corinne O’Mara shared. “I needed that supportive, calming voice. At the same time, though, our experiences are 30 years apart, and very different in a way. I think we’re both enjoying that part of it.”
With a strong connection to the Colgate community, a path of her own, and a healthy dose of pride (she did, after all, start singing with Colgate’s all-female a cappella group, the Swinging ’Gates, exactly 34 years after her mother), Corinne O’Mara — and any legacy student — is poised to make an important impact on the Colgate community.
“Growing up knowing how special Colgate is has given me an even deeper respect for being part of this community. By being students here, we’ve all been given this legacy to contribute to and carry forward.” Corinne O’Mara said.
