Sharing Stories

One new friend request? Marc Colcer.

After maxing out his Facebook capacity with 5,000 friends, Colcer has become a recognizable name within the MSU community and even has his own meme to prove it.

With a population of more than 45,000 students, making a name for oneself is quite the accomplishment.

But for Colcer, a general business sophomore, it was a challenge.
When debating which college to attend, Colcer had a conversation with a close friend who chose to go to Western Michigan University, arguing he would be more likely to make an impact on a smaller, less-populated campus.

But Colcer, being the go-getter he always has been, thought — why not go big and make a sizeable impact? Like he has always said, nothing worthwhile comes easy.

That challenge, paired with his lifelong love for MSU and will to hold a purpose in life, ultimately shaped his decision — one that he said has made all of the difference.

At 16, Colcer got involved with his community by promoting a teen club through social media in his hometown of Milford, Mich. Although his first attempt didn’t quite work out, Colcer found success after talking with various businesses near his hometown about his idea to create a place for teens to have fun.

After investing a great deal of time and effort into his venture, Crome the Club was started in Whitmore Lake, Mich., in the summer of 2009.

Crowds of more than 1,000 young adults filled the venue, giving underage individuals the opportunity to experience a club atmosphere.

After coming to MSU in 2010, Colcer didn’t slow down.

Colcer started to sell MSU-themed bracelets and shirts around campus and donated a portion of the profits to charities including the American Cancer Society, Susan G. Komen for the Cure and Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

Colcer also played a role in bringing DayGlow to East Lansing and is currently the event manager at the Landshark Bar and Grill, 101 E. Grand River Ave. — which recently started to open its doors to East Lansing’s 18 and up population Wednesday nights.

Currently, Colcer is working on a project called It’s Up to Us, which highlights different problems in society that can be changed through discussion.

Despite his many accomplishments, Colcer has received some negative exposure as a result of his involvement with social media, often questioned about his motives and why he has so many Facebook friends.

Colcer said it doesn’t really bother him, but rather gives him something to laugh about. He doesn’t allow the criticism to hold him back in life.

Although he would rather have people ask questions and actually make the effort to get to know him before passing judgment, Colcer is aware not everyone in life is going to be supportive — that is just one of the downfalls of success.

After all, Colcer is not just a Facebook page, he is a real person who is trying to make a difference in the world.

And if you give him the opportunity to display his real mission, it might open your eyes to an entirely new perspective on life.

At just 19 years old, Colcer has proved that hard work will eventually pay off.
Although life doesn’t always work out as planned, sometimes things might just turn out a little bit better than expected.

Colcer sports a wristband everyday to remind him of his mission to “make it happen.” Every decision Colcer has made in life might not always have been the best, but he said it has helped him learn and strive to become a better, more positive person.

Upon walking into Fred Colwell’s suite at the Edgewood Retirement Center, 200 W. Edgewood Blvd. in Lansing, it was obvious he had two passions in life — MSU and family.

Countless family photographs and Spartan memorabilia adorned the walls like a time line, showcasing 93 years of a life well lived.
Although Fred grew up in a small New York town, he was always a Spartan at heart.

As a teenager in the 1930s, Fred spent his Saturday afternoons listening to the radio as MSU’s football team stomped it’s competitors — a historic period for MSU sports when it first defeated U-M four years in a row.

This determination to win and love for the game is what first attracted Fred to MSU.

After graduating from high school in 1937, he had plans to start college at Cornell University in the fall, where he would pursue a degree in hotel administration.

Shortly after arriving on Cornell’s campus, Fred knew something wasn’t right. Although they had the top-rated program in the country in his field of study, he felt as if he didn’t belong.

The decision to leave wasn’t hard — Fred packed his suitcase and hopped on the first bus out of town. After arriving in East Lansing, Fred was finally at home.

During his first semester, Fred decided to try out for the football team. Unfortunately, he wasn’t big enough to play, but that didn’t keep him away from the field. Fred became the team’s manager.
In addition to his involvement with the university’s football team, Fred joined MSU’s Army ROTC program and also was inducted as a member of the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity.

The culmination of Fred’s college career came in the midst of the U.S.’s first draft for WWII in 1940. Initially, Fred was deferred so he was able to finish his degree, but that didn’t stop him from becoming involved.

After graduating in 1941, Fred immediately went into basic training for the military with hopes of serving his country during a time of need.

In 1942, he was commissioned as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army and was sent oversees to fight in the war.

After touring through England, France and Belgium, Fred ended up at the Battle of the Bulge in Germany, not far behind the firing infantry soldiers.

Following the war, Fred returned home, joined the Army Reserve and began his career as an insurance agent.

With his first wife and four children, Fred was living the American dream.

Although he encountered some obstacles later in life, Fred faced his challenges head on and made it through with the love and support of his family.

Fred commemorates his time at MSU by remaining active in the Varsity Alumni Club, which he has been involved in for more than 60 years. He still cheers on the football team every year from his seat in Spartan Stadium.

It was 1993. Tony Medina, then 23, spent his days subduing riots as a prison guard in Ionia, Mich. Although he liked his job, spending so much time in an environment filled with constant hostility eventually got to him. After a while, Tony said he felt as if he were one of the prisoners.

At that point in his life, Tony said he was an adventurer at heart — he flew by the seat of his pants. To fulfill his need to travel, Tony saved up his vacation time and planned a five-week trip to Italy. He finally had the opportunity to escape.

Before embarking on his trip in the spring, Tony saved up enough money to purchase a new bike from Denny’s Central Park Bicycles, then located in Lansing. The Schwinn Cannondale SH400 cost him $600, which Tony said was a lot of money for a bike back then. It was the first he had ever purchased.

The new bicycle never touched Michigan soil. It was boxed up and sent directly to Italy, where Tony used it as his main mode of transportation for the duration of his trip.

Tony and his Schwinn made the most out of their time in Italy. He joined a bike club that ultimately led him throughout his journey, he drank vino on a mountainside with gypsies and used his beloved bike as a platform to hoist himself and “the most beautiful girl in Rome” over the gates of the Colosseum for a romantic rendezvous.
After racking up an estimated 600 miles and countless memories, it was time to return to reality. Tony packed up his bike and made the long trip back to Michigan.

Once he was home, Tony loaded his bike on the back of his car and spent the night at his mother’s house in Lansing. The next morning, he awoke to find his bicycle gone. Tony was crushed — it served as a nasty reminder that there are bad people in this world, he said.
Although Tony is far from materialistic, his bicycle held immense sentimental value. It was a vehicle for which some of his greatest memories were made, and now it was gone.

After plastering flyers all around town, interviewing neighbors and filing a police report, Tony still had no luck in finding his lost treasure. Although he eventually started to lose hope, he swore he would get it back someday.

Fast forward to 2012, approximately 19 years later.

Sparked by a conversation at a holiday party last December, Tony got the idea to purchase a new bicycle, similar to his last. After typing “tall men’s Cannondale” into an eBay search, there it was — his bike, stickers from Italy and all. Tony was ecstatic.

He immediately contacted the police department and headed to Milford, Mich., to retrieve his old friend. The seller said he had bought it at a garage sale for $80 — which may or may not have been true — but Tony didn’t care. He was just happy to have it back. Although he was the rightful owner and wasn’t obligated to pay for it, Tony gave the man $100 for his trouble since the bike was still in relatively good condition.

Denny’s promised Tony a free tuneup when he originally purchased the bike. Although he has to pay a little extra since the bike had 19 years of wear and tear, the shop lived up to its promise.
Although this may seem like a miracle to some, Tony said he is known for overcoming the odds. His life has always been this way, and this was just another piece of the puzzle.

“Life has these poetic ironies that make it worth living,” Tony said. “It seems as if everything comes full circle.”
Tony may not be the adventurer that he once was, but he hopes to soon rekindle his love for travel by exploring Michigan from the perspective of a cyclist.

Click here to see a short video about Tony and his bike.

Kelsie Thompson, The State News

Please contact me at thomp925@msu.edu to: thomp925@msu.edu if you or someone you know have a story worth telling.

Hello, I’m Kelsie.

Throughout the duration of the semester, I plan to uphold a weekly blog in which I will introduce readers to a fellow student or community member who is willing to share their unique perspective on life.

This blog is based on the concept that everyone has a story. No matter what it might be, everyone has gone through something that has changed them, ultimately shaping the person they have become. During my 20 short years, I have learned that life isn’t defined by the places you go or the things you do, but rather the people you meet along the way.

Before we embark on this journey, I would like to tell you a little bit about myself and why I chose to pursue this blog.

I am a journalism junior at MSU and am currently holding the position of Projects Reporter at The State News. I love kitties, traveling, outdoor activities, food and writing. I am compassionate, weird, optimistic and sometimes a little bit sassy. I couldn’t live without my family and friends. I believe that everything happens for a reason and I plan to make the most out of what life has given me.

Before I began college, I was categorized as an introvert. I had an inept fear of the unknown, forcing me to stay in the boundaries of my comfort zone. Writing has changed that about me, and for that I have my newly developed connections to thank.

During my ventures as a student journalist, I have had the opportunity to meet some pretty amazing people, most of whom I never would have came into contact with otherwise.

I met two boys from South Africa who went through an enormous struggle in order to come to MSU, knowing it would eventually pay off and make an invaluable impact on the future of their country.
I talked with several 20-something college students who risked everything to become entrepreneurs, fearlessly motivated by the idea of positively impacting Michigan’s struggling economy.
I interviewed a man who created a robotic fish to detect harmful pollutants in water and another who invented a device that can literally see through walls.

For each individual’s personal story I share, I hope to open another’s eyes to an aspect of life previously overlooked. If you just take the time to listen, or in this case, read, you might discover a part of yourself that you never knew existed.
Don’t hesitate to contact me if you or someone you know has a story worth telling.

Kelsie Thompson
thomp925@msu.edu: thomp925@msu.edu