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The opinions expressed in this article are the writer’s own and do not reflect the views of Her Campus.
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at SBU chapter.

I have always been very close with my immediate family. 

Living five hours away from my parents and older brother has often been challenging, but having the Mt. Irenaeus family close by has made it easier. Life certainly got easier after meeting my second mom, Karen Pulaski.

I met Karen in April of my freshman year of college. I had just applied to be a Summer Companion for the Mountain and she was about to receive word that she was also going to be at the Mountain for the summer (her stay would turn into many years, but that comes later).

The first time we chatted while on a midday hike, we were talking about who knows what. I did not know if I would see her again since I did not have confirmation of my summer plans.

The next time I saw Karen was June 1, 2022. She was unloading her car as I walked towards her from the Mountain porch.

It was the beginning of our beautiful friendship. 

Throughout the summer, Karen and I went through a lot together. We laughed, we cried, we gossiped (just a tad), and we truly lived. There were many times that while we were still learning the ropes of living in a community we had to rely on one another (especially when in Pittsburgh. I would not have survived without Karen). 

My favorite routine of the summer was our Friday mornings. The four friars would go off to do their separate meeting, but Karen and I decided to start our own women’s chapter. We would eat breakfast, chat about how the summer was going, what was challenging, and what was bringing us joy.

It was such a unique and simple way to bond, but I will never forget those mornings. 

As the years go on, and even though Karen and I do not live together anymore, our relationship has only grown stronger. I call Karen ‘Mom’ if that gives you any context. 

I know that I can always go to Karen. We love to go out to lunch and talk for hours. She even comes to, and records, my award ceremonies. When I get a good grade in my hardest journalism class, after I tell my own parents, I await to tell her in UMin for a celebratory hug. When I need to cry, she chats it out with me (and even cries along with me). She knows my food preferences, can read the undertone of my many emails and remembers things about my friends, too. 

College is all about personal development and independence, but it doesn’t hurt to have a little slice of home in college either. 

While she has her own son, and I have my own mom, I think our special relationship will always be one of my favorite parts of my Bonaventure experience. 

Claire Fisher is the co-campus correspondent for the St. Bonaventure Her Campus chapter. She is responsible for the general managing of chapter and executive board logistics with her roommate and co-president, Leah! Claire even implemented a once-a-year print issue of HC at SBU. Claire is currently a senior studying Communication, Social Justice & Advocacy with focuses on theology and political science. Aside from Her Campus, Claire currently serves as co-president of Jandoli Women in Communication, passionate about representation in the media field, and works in the University Ministries building. Lastly, she is a content creator and the communications officer for St. Bonaventure College Democrats. In her time away from academics, Claire loves to walk on local trails or lay in the sun, especially while listening to playlist she made herself. Her love language is music; she even works as a DJ at a local bar! A fun fact you may not know about Claire is that her favorite game show is Press Your Luck.