Post author Kate Spangler (at right) poses with fellow students and faculty from Purdue University’s Brock-Wilson Center gather for a casual meet-up inside the Mitch Daniels School of Business. The center fosters mentorship, leadership, and community among women pursuing business degrees at Purdue.
“What is your passion?”
For most of my life, whenever someone asked me that question, I never knew how to respond. I don’t have a niche hobby or an overly fun fact about myself. Coming into college, I knew I wanted to find my passion and use it to make a difference. After being on campus for a few weeks, I found my answer: community.
At my Purdue’s-For-Me visit during my senior year of high school, I met strategy professor Cara Putman, whom I sat with at lunch. I listened to her describe the Daniels School’s Brock-Wilson Center (BWC). The way she lit up when talking about BWC and the community they had built prompted me to ask questions. After this day in April, I knew that Purdue would be the place I would call home for the next four years.
THE BROCK-WILSON CENTER COMMUNITY
I went to the call-out meeting for BWC during my second week at Purdue. At the meeting, I met so many amazing, like-minded women, as well as three of my now-best friends in the business school. Two of them are a year older than me and have helped me navigate classes, schedules and college life.
Kate Spangler
Through BWC, I have been blessed with the opportunity to become a mentor for the Women in Business Learning Community, a group of about 25 freshman women who live and learn together, help lead leadership seminars and attend networking events, along with numerous other events.
My favorite BWC tradition is our letter-writing initiative, where we handwrite a postcard to every female who was accepted into the Daniels School of Business. I remember receiving my postcard and was amazed someone took the time to write to me personally. My freshman year, I was so excited to take part in this initiative and to be part of someone’s journey to Purdue.
On the postcards, I added my Instagram, as I wanted to add something personal where young women could feel like they could reach out. One prospective student direct-messaged me a few weeks after we sent out the cards with several questions about my experience. I was able to share my journey with her and give her advice about the college decision. We messaged a few more times, and once she got to campus the following fall, we were able to meet for coffee and talk about how she was adjusting.
It was a humbling moment. A year before, I was sitting in her seat, scared to take a chance and try new things. An upperclassman took the time to meet with me and helped shape my journey, and I was grateful to have an opportunity to pay that forward. Every time I see her now, I get to smile and wave. It has been amazing to watch her journey unfold and watch her thrive at the business school.
OUTSIDE THE DANIELS SCHOOL
During my freshman year, something valuable to me was finding a Christian community that I could join and continue to grow in. Unlike BWC, I went to several gatherings before finding one that felt like community. The first time I walked into the Wesley Foundation & Campus Ministry, I was scared and overwhelmed. Within a few weeks, I had found what I was searching for.
I got plugged into Salt Company, a college ministry. The following spring, Salt announced that student leader applications were open for the following year to lead a small group. I had never thought that this was something I would do or step into as a sophomore, but I decided to apply, and it changed the trajectory of my college path.
I now get to serve in a position where I can help underclass females find and build communities, as my leaders had done for me. I get to do this alongside my first friend that I made at Purdue. We were in the same Boiler Gold Rush group, and after many awkward moments and conversations, a friendship was built. We were in the same community group freshman year and shared the same vision for what we wanted our group to look like: a place where people could come and make their best friends, like we had done, who were rooted in Christ.
Members of the Salt Company college ministry gather for a photo. The group helps students build meaningful connections and grow in their Christian faith through small groups, worship, and campus outreach.
FINDING MY PASSION
It has been a gift to be able to build community inside and outside of the Daniels School. Like many freshmen, my biggest fear and struggle was finding where I fit. All the strong relationships I have built started with a risk by going to places where I didn’t know anyone and taking a leap of faith. I am so grateful for all the memories I have at Purdue and cannot wait to continue to see where my remaining year and a half takes me.
Author Kate Spangler is a junior at the Daniels School of Business at Purdue University, double majoring in Accounting and Business Analytics and Information Management. She is from Fort Wayne, Indiana. Kate is involved in a variety of clubs on and off campus. She is an Ambassador for the Brock Wilson Center, a member of the Purdue Accounting Association, a small-group leader for Salt Company and the finance lead under the operations team for Kamp Love.
About the Mitch Daniels School of Business: The Mitch Daniels School of Business at Purdue University is building the future of business. Comprised of the Bruce White Undergraduate Institute and the Krannert Graduate Institute, the school offers top undergraduate, master’s, PhD, and professional development programs in critical business areas. The Daniels School is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the leading global reviewer of business schools. Guided by five strategic pillars — Integration of STEM and Business, Academic Prowess, Transformational Student Experience, Freedom and Capitalism, and Powered by Business Partnerships — the Daniels School provides a STEM-infused, interdisciplinary education that empowers graduates to lead and innovate in a rapidly evolving world.
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