Senior finds synergy in BGSU student experience

Cherylle Dave uses on-campus organizations, study abroad to find academic pathway

Midway through her undergraduate journey at Bowling Green State University, Cherylle Dave found total synergy in her life.

A naturally gifted student and charismatic person, Dave’s time at BGSU has, at times, felt like a whirlwind of changes ranging from her student involvement to her major to her career aspirations — but her persistence proved critical.

Dave made the most of her time at the University by fully taking advantage of all that it offers: leaning into support networks, learning from advisors and professors, joining organizations and being willing to try new experiences.

Doing public service through the C. Raymond Marvin Center for Student Leadership and Civic Engagement — particularly BGSU Votes, a nonpartisan and student-led effort to improve voter turnout — and studying abroad in Spain allowed Dave to apply her double major of communication and Spanish in real time, which provided confirmation she was on the right path.

“Everything felt like it was clicking,” Dave said. “After my sophomore year, I had just started with the Marvin Center and BGSU Votes and said to myself, ‘This is really cool.’ I felt really passionate about it. Things started to align for me.”

A native of Stow, Ohio, near Cleveland, Dave originally came to BGSU on a pre-med track, but quickly discovered the career didn’t actually line up with what she hoped to gain from a career.

Dave, a Thompson Working Families scholar, approached her next steps with curiosity. With the aid of her network at BGSU, she used her activities outside of the classroom and her study abroad experience to chart a new course.

Also a member of an improv group on campus, Dave’s involvement allowed her to practice public speaking, organizing, collaborating and doing service — all of which spoke to her.

“With the support of my advisors, and especially my Thompson advisor, we really talked about my ‘Why?’ and how each thing would be meaningful to me beyond putting a line on the resume,” Dave said. “I may not have grown up thinking I wanted to be a communication major, but when I actually got down to it, I really like how many possibilities it had and all the career options. It really aligned with my personality and my skills.”

Dr. Lisa Hanasono, a professor in the BGSU School of Media and Communication, said Dave has been the type of student who made the most of college.

As a student leader, much of Dave’s time on campus has been dedicated to helping others.

“Relle is a remarkable leader, student and team member who works tirelessly to create positive change and support the public good,” Hanasono said. “From increasing voter registration and public engagement as a BGSU Votes Fellow to helping organize major events like BGSU’s MLK Day of Service and TEDxBGSU as a student coordinator at the Marvin Center for Student Leadership and Civic Engagement, Relle has made a positive impact on the lives of countless people at BGSU and beyond.”

After graduation, Dave will remain at BGSU to pursue dual master’s degrees in Spanish and public administration.

The experience of modeling a professional life while in college has been invaluable — a testing ground through which she found her calling.

“You can see on the resume I went to BGSU and my grades, which is great, but beyond that, what’s my story? Who have I grown into? What am I bringing into my graduate program and my jobs?” she said. “I think that’s where the additional experience stuck out because it's very formative.”

Four years after enrolling at BGSU, Dave said she will complete her undergraduate journey with gratitude.

In the end, Dave found where she fit best.

“Of course, it worked with my effort and hard work, but I feel like I ended where I’m meant to be,” she said. “Looking back on everything, it feels like everything worked out the way it was supposed to.”