Increased traffic and school supply sales are both indicators that school is in full swing for another year. There is so much excitement and optimism for students and educators when a new school year begins. And I know quite a few people who have children going into their first year of college. Even though college freshmen have had numerous first days of school, the plunge into college is a bit different – students must now be responsible for their own attendance, studies and living habits. There are more unfamiliar faces than familiar ones and there is a new sense of pressure about figuring out the future.

I loved college. After my first summer as a staff member at Hermann Sons Life-Camp, I began attending the University of Texas at Dallas. Most of the Camp staff members I knew were going to school at the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Texas at San Antonio, Texas A&M and Texas State University. I’m sure it was nice to have big groups of Camp staff members in those places because it gave those individuals a contingent of people they would already know when they got to school.

For me, Camp friends were my first big introduction to the wide social network of Hermann Sons Life. The close relationships formed by Camp staff members are much like the close relationships formed by lodge members. It would have been really nice to have a Hermann Sons Life group to connect with during college because it would have been a group of people with similar values and experiences in a new setting.

This school year, a Hermann Sons Life social group is being formed among students attending Texas State University. This group of members and non-members will be gathering once a month for social and other purposes. San Marcos Lodge has also invited them to participate in some of their gatherings.

Three Camp staff members are spearheading the efforts – Carli Bartell, Alec Chamberlain and Aimee Miller. Aimee is also a dance instructor for Hermann Sons Life. This group of students has already met with San Marcos Lodge Financial Secretary Janice Kuhen to talk about some of the plans for the year. I also had the opportunity to talk with San Marcos Lodge members about this new group and they were glad the social group was being formed. The social group and San Marcos Lodge members are hoping to join together for a community service project and I can’t wait to see what they do!

There are so many students at Texas State University who were campers, dancers or Camp staff members and having a Hermann Sons Life social group will be a great way to reconnect with each other and with Hermann Sons Life. If you will be attending Texas State or you know someone who will be, more information can be found at hermannsons.org/social.