Acorn

Issue date: 2/29/08 Section: TRUE DREW

Media Credit: Joanna Whitney

It is difficult to tell where exactly Andrew Cronholm is in his element.

When he's in-season, the Drew University varsity middle distance swimmer devotes at least three hours a day-with meets on weekends-to the pool in the Simon Forum. Otherwise, one would do well to find him lounging around a table somewhere in the library.

Wherever it is you manage to find him, Cronholm tends to stand out. If it weren't for his imposing stature, hair that is a bit reminiscent of Beaker from "The Muppets," it would be because of a personality that's larger than life.

"[Cronholm] is always positive and constantly energizing those around him," teammate Ryo Kuroki ('08) says. "[He's] hardworking in the pool and absolutely hilarious out of the water."

It is this enthusiasm and energy that has guided Cronholm through his coursework and extracurricular activities.

Cronholm knows his roots, describing himself as one of those "loud, obnoxious New England liberals." But the truth about this North Attleboro, Mass. native is that he hates politics.

"There's more to politics than what you see on TV," Cronholm says. "I'm interested in the policy behind that politics. The rest is just sex, money and power."

While he may never pursue a career in public office, Cronholm's involvement on campus has inextricably linked him to serving the Drew community. In the past four years, and on top of swimming, Cronholm has served the Student Government Association as a Hoyt senator and Attorney General on the Student Advisory Committee, the Academic Standing Committee, the Budget Committee and the Library Committee, among others.

Before he entered the life of an actively engaged Drewid, Cronholm was rather reserved as a freshman. He didn't get involved with the SGA until his sophomore year, and even then he took on a "more passive role," attending meetings but not really speaking out much. He was initially drawn into the SGA because three of the senior captains of the swim team were members. "The rest kind of just fell into place from there," Cronholm says.

As a result, Cronholm has become one of the Forest's most recognized faces. Three years has helped him change a lot about himself and his personality. It's hard to imagine him not trying to create an atmosphere where everyone around him is just having a good time.

"Andrew really helped create a climate of good-natured humor on class field trips," Professor of Biology Sara Webb says. "I've never had a class laugh so much during lab. Andrew was a big part of that."

Now a tutor for the Political Science department-which he highly recommends as a good source of income for beer and pizza-Cronholm is setting his sights on life after Drew, possibly looking into environmental law. He looks back on his varied accomplishments with a self-effacing pat on the back.

"It's one thing to go to class, take notes and exams," he said. "It's completely different to learn how to interact with other people, formulate thoughts, to speak in front of large crowds."

Cronholm was a B-average student in high school without a stellar SAT score or many extracurricular activities to boost up his college application. Without swimming, Cronholm felt he was not up to par with other students at Drew. He's dispelled all of that, and he's been able to prove to himself that college really is what you make it. To Andrew Cronholm, it is that attitude which ultimately determines whether you sink or swim.

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