Will Fischer ‘20
It was an ordinary senior year with an abnormal ending for Saint John’s University alum Will Fischer, who graduated in 2020.
“It didn’t really seem real when everything got cancelled because of COVID, but a big silver lining for the situation was all the people who lived in Saint Joe really were able to grow together,” he said.
Fischer loved his time at Saint John’s, and to him the most memorable thing was the community, friendly faces and kindness of everyone around him. He chose Saint John’s because he had heard stories about the Johnnie network and all the connections he could make, but he never imagined one day during his final semester he would find a job because of it.
Fischer was a member of the football team for three years and a board member for Square One – a student-run nonprofit organization. Like hundreds of other seniors at CSB/SJU, Fischer saw his senior-year experience diminished by the pandemic. He was able to look at it in a good light, just like when his football career ended by an injury.
“The members of CSB/SJU really reached out, helped out, and motivated me every day,” he said. “I couldn’t have made it through those times alone. They gave me a reason to keep working”.
Fischer found a job with SPS Commerce during his senior year after meeting an alum during a networking event. He spoke about the importance of the community and how it is unmatched by any school – in Minnesota or the country. He speaks highly of SJU and misses the beautiful campus and the faculty who try their hardest to get to know every student and celebrate their students’ success even more than they do.
Fischer is excited to come back to campus and see it again for the first time since he graduated in May 2020. He is beyond thankful for his experience and wants to give a piece of advice to every student still there.
“Don’t be afraid to reach out to as many alums as possible,” he said. “They are there for you and they remember the stresses of college and after graduation of picking a career. I can confidently speak for all alums that they are willing to help out and they want to hear from current students.”
Fischer’s words are a testament to the strength of the SJU alumni community and how the community values of SJU stand strong months, years and decades after graduation.
About the author:
David Cullen is a senior Johnnie majoring in Global Business leadership and minoring in Exercise Science and Sports Study. He loves creating content and reaching out and communicating with others. He is a student intern with the Saint John’s University Institutional Advancement team for the spring 2021 semester.