Dear Spartan: Wisdom and Reflections from Graduating Senior Chase Hellwig

At York College of Pennsylvania, we believe that every Spartan's journey is filled with lessons worth sharing. As part of our Dear Spartan project, six graduating seniors — representing a wide variety of majors and experiences — wrote letters to future students, offering reflections, advice, and encouragement. Their words capture the heart of what it means to be a Spartan.

Name: Chase Hellwig

Major: Mass Communications, Communication & Writing

Hometown: Pylesville, PA

Dear Spartan,

College is hard. But rest assured, you are in the right place here at York College. I truly think that YCP does the very best it can to make college the best experience for its students. When I first arrived, I was terrified. I had never lived in a dorm or had to wake myself up for class. But learning all of that, and sometimes oversleeping for a class, is part of the whole experience. 

Now that I’m nearing the end of my college experience here at YCP, I’ve learned far more about myself and the world than I could've ever imagined. I’ve learned that being independent can be stressful, but it’s pretty awesome. I’ve learned that I get along with lots of great people, and not so much with others. I’ve learned that this experience has prepared me for life outside the classrooms of Wolf Hall. In my program (Mass Communications), we are constantly being presented with new information and new connections that can only help in the future.

I really hope you enjoy your experience here at York. In fact, I know you’ll enjoy your experience here at York. The community is wonderful, the professors are real professionals in their field, and there’s always something going on to keep you busy. Get involved and be active in your community. Honestly, it’s so much more fun that way, and you never know who you’ll meet. I’m a Spartan now, and I know I always will be!

Best of luck,

Chase Hellwig

This is Part 2 of our six-part Dear Spartan series. Part 3 is written by Nina Bell, a Mechanical Engineering major.