Episode 6: Featuring Skylar Hazlewood!

Bulldogs in the Buggy continues with President Father Jim and our newest guest, fellow Philadelphian Skylar Hazelwood ’26. In this episode, Skylar shares what it was like transferring to DeSales University and finding her place in the community. A Supply Chain Management major with a minor in Ethical Leadership, she offers a thoughtful look at the choices and connections that shape a college journey.

Filmed on campus in the DeSales Virtual Production Studio.

Transcript

SPEAKER_03 0:17

Hello, Bulldog World. We are ready for another episode of Bulldogs in the Buggy. And I am pulling up to the main entrance of Dueling Hall to pick up our next guest. She is a senior. Her name is Skylar Hazelwood. And you are going to enjoy this interview. So I see Skylar right up here, and I'll get back to you in a minute. Good afternoon, Sky. Father, how are you? I'm well. How are you doing?

SPEAKER_00 0:48

I'm doing excellent, Father.

SPEAKER_03 0:49

Welcome to Bulldogs in the Buggy.

SPEAKER_00 0:51

I am so honored.

SPEAKER_03 0:52

And also, I'm thrilled today. We're doing this on this beautiful day on campus. It's the first day of spring.

SPEAKER_01 0:58

Oh my gosh. It's it's amazing. After the winter, we had uh sledding down those hills were fun, boy. Definitely, definitely need this weather back. I got to get a little bit of a tan back, you know?

SPEAKER_03 1:07

There you have it. And so were you in Abbott um ski, uh not skier, but sledding down the the famous DeSales Hill?

SPEAKER_00 1:14

Oh, absolutely. Uh this winter was my first time actually.

SPEAKER_03 1:16

Oh, really? Okay. And how was that for you?

SPEAKER_01 1:19

Um, it actually was really great. I got to take one of my roommates out who's never been sledding before.

SPEAKER_03 1:23

Oh, really?

SPEAKER_01 1:24

Never in her life. And I was like, let's just send it. And she did it and she loved it.

SPEAKER_03 1:28

Uh now does someone have to teach sledding or is it kind of just come naturally?

SPEAKER_00 1:32

It just comes naturally. It's more so the fear of like she didn't want to get hurt. I'm like, it's no, you're not gonna get hurt.

SPEAKER_03 1:39

Okay. Well, let's let everyone know who's listening to our podcast today, that we are going to go to your favorite spot on campus, which you let me know ahead of time, which is the Pulse Cafe.

SPEAKER_00 1:51

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_03 1:52

In the Gambit Center.

SPEAKER_00 1:53

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 1:54

Okay, so before we get there, let's let everyone know your full I'm calling you Sky, but what is your full name?

SPEAKER_00 1:59

My full name's uh Skyler Hazelwood.

SPEAKER_03 2:01

And where are you from?

SPEAKER_00 2:02

I'm from Philly.

SPEAKER_03 2:03

Philly, that's where I'm from. For those of you who don't know Philadelphia.

SPEAKER_00 2:07

Hi, Folge is Philadelphia, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 2:09

Absolutely, Philadelphia. And how long have you been a student here at DeSales University?

SPEAKER_01 2:13

I sadly only have been a student here for two years. I came in as a transfer on Valley Forge uh Military College.

SPEAKER_03 2:20

That is something that is rare. To be a transfer student from Valley Forge Military Academy, you came in your junior year. So before we get into that, here we are at the Gambit Center. So I'm gonna put a pause on it, and then we're gonna get back into the buggy after we view what's happening in your favorite space.

SPEAKER_00 2:38

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_03 2:39

And then we're gonna let everyone know all about you.

SPEAKER_00 2:42

Awesome. So, what is it you love about the uh Pulse Cap fight?

SPEAKER_01 2:50

Um, so I was I still live in business major bowl on my place. That's why I transferred over, work here for um, and a lot of them were early morning, like nine cents as ever the water place to Thursday. So before that, I would always give a smoothie, chill up, review my notes, and then go in a really glance card to a really good day. And when I would have your class, I'd do the same thing, grab a smoothie, and then just be enjoying my day.

SPEAKER_03 3:15

So, did you need um a lot of caffeine for my class? It was uh it was two o'clock in the afternoon, wasn't it?

SPEAKER_01 3:21

Yeah, if not mistake, it was like uh it actually ended around two. It probably started a little bit earlier, but believe it or not, your quest was actually very entertaining. It's a very nice, like refreshing break from all the other academic courses. Okay, um, which is really nice.

SPEAKER_02 3:36

Thank you. Well, I can believe that. So I knew the professor, so I thought it was pretty good too. Let's see if our coffee's ready. All right, here we go.

SPEAKER_03 3:45

Okay, Sky. So here we are back in the bucket. I hope you enjoyed your little treat.

SPEAKER_00 3:49

Oh, I did, thank you, Father.

SPEAKER_03 3:51

So let's talk more about, you know, growing up in Philadelphia. What led you to the Valley Forge Military Academy?

SPEAKER_01 3:57

Um, so I knew I went to military service from a very young age, back in like the end of middle school.

SPEAKER_03 4:02

Um the end of middle school, you knew that?

SPEAKER_01 4:05

I joined C Cadets when I was in eighth grade and I stayed in throughout my entirety of high school uh over at Maritime Academy, Charter High School.

SPEAKER_03 4:12

Maritime Academy, Charter High School, which is where?

SPEAKER_01 4:14

Uh like Fishtown, Kensington area. Okay.

SPEAKER_03 4:18

Fantastic. Um I never heard of it. I grew up in Philadelphia.

SPEAKER_01 4:21

Yeah. No, I our partner school was Kensington High School for sports, so it's a little bit of a smaller school, but with that smaller atmosphere, it was very, very good with helping me get to where I needed to be. Okay. Um and they're definitely a big reason why I was able to get the scholarship that I did for Valley Porge Military College. It was a pull ride.

SPEAKER_03 4:40

Okay. Full ride. Wow.

SPEAKER_01 4:42

Yeah, it was uh it was really beneficial. I'm really appreciative for all the people in my life who could help out. And uh, I'll be talking about them a little bit later.

SPEAKER_00 4:48

But Okay.

SPEAKER_01 4:49

Valley Forge, um, Valley Forge made me the leader I am today. I got my commission early out of them. Uh it usually takes four years, but with Valley Forge it took two. I'll talk a little bit more.

SPEAKER_03 5:01

So you got the commission from Valley Forge Military College or School? Was it College? And then you came here to the Sales. Yep. And then one thing that you told me attracted you to the Sales was our Veterans and Military Services program.

SPEAKER_01 5:15

Yes. They made the transition very smooth, very easy. And uh they took all my credits over from Valley Forge.

SPEAKER_03 5:23

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 5:23

Um, and I'm practically on a full ride here, too.

SPEAKER_03 5:26

That's fantastic.

SPEAKER_01 5:27

It's absolutely amazing. Wendy Badman has made this transfer.

SPEAKER_02 5:31

And let's let everyone know who Wendy Badman is.

SPEAKER_01 5:33

Yes, Wendy Badman is the head of the Bachelor's Melody City Service Center, and um, she just basically helps you out from if you show interest to the school to basically getting you to where you need to be. And she got me transferred over. Uh, I lived up in the villas my junior year and my senior year here too. So great living, great food.

SPEAKER_03 5:52

That's great. So the villas is our really nice place for student housing, and also um, you have a beautiful lounge, don't you? The veterans and military. Yes. Um, that's on the second floor of dueling.

SPEAKER_00 6:04

Yep.

SPEAKER_03 6:04

And um I think I've run into you a few times there.

SPEAKER_00 6:07

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_03 6:08

Okay, well, here we are. We're pulling into the back of Labuda. Have you been to the virtual production studio yet?

SPEAKER_01 6:14

No, I have not. I've been to Labuda Theater, but not the production studio. So let's rock and roll with that.

SPEAKER_03 6:19

I think let's rock and roll. You're gonna be very impressed. So I'm looking forward for you to experience all of this. Please have a seat.

SPEAKER_00 6:34

Father, this is an absolute treat.

SPEAKER_03 6:36

Oh, well, thank you so much. And the treat is all mine, and actually, everyone who watches this, I think they're in for a treat. So we we talked a little bit in the buggy about you and growing up in Philadelphia, obviously, going to school and then um grade school, then into um eventually college, Valley Forge Military Academy. You got there, everything was great, and then we're gonna bring us up to speed here with this photo. Uh, tell us about your family.

SPEAKER_01 7:05

Um, so my family has been a big part in where I am today. My mother is a uh high school teacher out in Philadelphia. She teaches at Martin Luther King High School.

SPEAKER_03 7:13

Martin Luther King High School. I know where that is.

SPEAKER_01 7:15

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 7:15

That's fantastic. Okay.

SPEAKER_01 7:17

She's been teaching there for a while now, and um, dad probably just they're more so the fun side for me, like help me get through. And uh that's me on my commissioning day at Valley Porch Military College. I commissioned in as a transportation officer. And then just recently, uh within the past year, we've reclassed over to logistics as a whole.

SPEAKER_03 7:36

Okay, and it's so that's interesting. So you commissioned as a transportation officer, then switched into logistics, and it's probably no mistake that your major here is supply chain management.

SPEAKER_01 7:47

Exactly. And ethical leadership minor because I want to be a sound and ethical leader for my soldiers.

SPEAKER_03 7:53

Okay, that's fantastic. And speaking of sound and ethical leadership, there is Dwight D. Eisenhower.

SPEAKER_01 7:58

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 7:59

So what do you think?

SPEAKER_01 8:00

It's actually Eisenhower Hall.

SPEAKER_03 8:01

It was Eisenhower Hall. Yeah. So it did you take your photo there because you have a special appreciation for him, or it was just a great spot to get a photo?

SPEAKER_01 8:10

No, um, they kind of set up there. We got the American flag, we got the uh state flag, the Commonwealth of PA, and uh it was just a really good shot. That's great. It's it's a great place.

SPEAKER_03 8:20

And then after this, I'm delighted. This is what?

SPEAKER_01 8:24

Uh this is when I finally committed to the sales university as well.

SPEAKER_03 8:28

When you say finally, did it take you why it would just take you two minutes once you found out about it, right?

SPEAKER_01 8:34

That that pretty much was it. Um I was I was sounding myself so hard due to the fact that I saw you guys had the 50% acceptance rate, and for some reason my brain was like, Oh, they're not gonna accept me. They're not gonna and then they you guys did, and I was like, Oh wow, that makes life a lot easier because I've been in small schools like my entire life.

SPEAKER_00 8:50

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 8:51

And the sales has that small like family atmosphere. And um, I took my tour around campus one final time, talked with Wendy Badman like we talked about prior, and uh it was a no-brainer at that point.

SPEAKER_03 9:02

So you you've you like the the the small family atmosphere here. I love it. Which I love too, and you've also shared that you know you would tend more towards being introverted, and you have a sense that being in this environment, it's exactly right for you.

SPEAKER_01 9:20

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_03 9:21

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 9:22

I definitely realized within my junior year being here, I definitely was a little bit more introverted when it came to talking to people. I realized that was probably the hardest part of being a transfer is like with the regular students who come in as freshmen, like they have their entire orientation. Obviously, we have a transfer orientation. Um but there isn't as much like connecting automatically. So you definitely do have to do a little bit more work, but follow just the motto of the sales, be who you are and be that well. And after you do that, it makes life so much easier.

SPEAKER_03 9:53

Well, being who you are and being that well, you got a great head start growing up in Philadelphia. So here's a picture of you and Shannon and who's this other guy here?

SPEAKER_01 10:01

Um, he kind of photobombed us, he's a security guard. We uh we had a fun night around Philly, and like I said prior, I'm very spontaneous, especially when it comes to my hometown.

SPEAKER_00 10:12

All right.

SPEAKER_01 10:12

And we got on the train, we were coming back home, and uh we were just taking a couple of picks and he just randomly photobombed us and afterwards we started talking, and he's he's honestly such a good dude. I wish I could have caught his name, but honestly, it just shows how much love is in our hometown of Philadelphia. It really just shows everything I feel like we need.

SPEAKER_03 10:33

And you know, I grew up in Philadelphia, so I don't doubt anything you say about that. I had many a time on the SEPTA and uh it brought back a lot of memories. Here's another uh group that you are very involved with. So tell us about the C D C.

SPEAKER_01 10:49

Yes, uh the CDC is a brand new family.

SPEAKER_03 10:52

And what does it stand for?

SPEAKER_01 10:53

Career Development Center. Um they're a newer family for me this year, but they have made a really big impact on me as a human being. Uh, I'm a career ambassador for them.

SPEAKER_03 11:04

Okay. And right now Which means what's career ambassador mean?

SPEAKER_01 11:07

Uh basically that I provide help around the sales university with resumes, cover letters, mock interviews, basically any way that we can help our other fellow students succeed after graduation.

SPEAKER_03 11:19

Okay. This is just an aside, but I want to get your thoughts. I'm hearing a lot about resumes and they're really important. But now in the day and age of AI, a lot of employers are just feeding resumes into some, you know, AI, you know, algorithm. And, you know, how how's the sales uh helping students write resumes so that we can make sure that even with these AI models that you know employers are getting to see our fabulous students?

SPEAKER_01 11:48

No, absolutely. So we uh all get through a training in the summer, and when it comes back from winter break, we all go through like a just brush-up training, and it's basically the things that we want to be seeing on the resume. That's not a template because that's one of the things AI doesn't like. Um, that there isn't that phantom second page because that's one of the other things that AI really doesn't like.

SPEAKER_03 12:07

What is the phantom second page?

SPEAKER_01 12:09

So sometimes if like it's a oh my goodness. Um sometimes if you just use something that's already pre-made, okay. I'll give that phantom second page and it'll just be a blank page. And it doesn't look professional, and I don't really like that either either.

SPEAKER_00 12:24

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 12:24

Uh so we highly recommend that you just start from scratch, like a Word doc or Google Doc, and it really just allows you to put your best foot forward. It shows your creativity that you're not relying on a template at all.

SPEAKER_03 12:35

Okay, that's great. And just one thing before we move on, this career fest, yeah. Um, it's always in the fall and it seems like it's always a beautiful day. Oh, absolutely. We have local employers from the Lehigh Valley show up. Is that what happens at this?

SPEAKER_01 12:48

Yes. Um, a lot of the local employers show up. Actually, a decent chunk of them end up being alumni who come through too. Okay. Who uh find jobs within the Lehigh Valley. And it's it's an amazing time. We partner with some of our other schools. Uh, Moravian comes out, and it's really just a great opportunity to network, um, get to know your career development team so you can actually get that help to be the best version of yourself where when you go to apply for that internship or when you go to apply for that job coming towards graduation, and uh, yeah, that's just a team at the end of it. It was very successful. Um and this year's theme was superheroes.

SPEAKER_03 13:24

Superheroes. And just before we leave this, I always say to um incoming students or potential students and their parents that one of the things that we do here really well at the Sales University is we prepare our students for both a career in life and then a career in eternal life. I say we want to help you get a job and help uh all of our students get to heaven. And a lot of people always laugh at that, but it's true because we have that Catholic Salesian mission here, and we really do believe that um, you know, we want people to have great careers here and then a career um in eternal life.

SPEAKER_01 13:59

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_03 14:00

Okay. Here we have uh rocking around the Christmas tree. This is after what we call Ducksgiving. So tell our listeners what Ducksgiving is, what the tree lighting's all about.

SPEAKER_01 14:10

Absolutely. So Ducksgiving is roughly around uh Thanksgiving, and it comes around good sign. And uh you get to really just be there with some friends. Um, in this picture, we have the one person I automatically knew, uh Sammy, who is on oh sorry, my direction is horrible, the one who's on the peace sign.

SPEAKER_00 14:28

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 14:29

And then uh her friends, and basically you go down, you eat some dinner. After that, you come up, you watch it.

SPEAKER_03 14:35

Some dinner, like it's let everyone know what kind of dinner is this, guy?

SPEAKER_01 14:39

Oh, it's it's oh, you can eat kind of dinner. It's uh perky, ham, stuffing, whole nine yards. Yes. You're gonna you're gonna gain a little extra weight, but sorry, you'll work off on that New Year's resolution, you know.

SPEAKER_03 14:50

That's right. And speaking of working things off, um, you actually have to get up what time usually in the morning here?

SPEAKER_01 14:58

Um, a regular morning, I would say I'm probably up by like 4.58 because it takes me a little bit extra time to get functioning and moving. Uh, but on my RTC side, I'm probably at PT by like 545.

SPEAKER_03 15:10

And 545, you have to be over at Lehigh University's campus for this?

SPEAKER_01 15:14

Yep, usually uh Goodman Round.

SPEAKER_03 15:16

Okay. And then how long is the run usually when you get over there?

SPEAKER_01 15:19

Uh they usually go from after some warmups, uh six till like six forty-five, six fifty. Then we do some cool down stretches and then we're done. And something new, we just started uh last year is for weightlifting days to come over to Baleria, Bolera and they actually do their weightlifting days over here.

SPEAKER_03 15:37

Oh, so they're easy days for you then, right?

SPEAKER_01 15:39

Yeah, exactly. You know, just a like 10-minute wake up and then just drive down to Bolera.

SPEAKER_03 15:43

So when you're for those days, you don't get up at 4 50. What time do you get up?

SPEAKER_01 15:47

I'd say probably camp around like 5 15, 5 20. I'm horrible with getting up by the army has definitely taught me I need to get up.

SPEAKER_03 15:54

But those extra 18 minutes really make a difference, right?

SPEAKER_01 15:57

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_03 15:58

So here are your friends in what is this um the villages?

SPEAKER_01 16:02

Yeah, these over the villages, and ironically enough, with my roommates, um they're all theater majors, and I'm the only business one open here.

SPEAKER_03 16:11

Uh but so how did you get placed with four theater majors as a business person?

SPEAKER_01 16:18

Um, so a big thing I wanted after my junior year was to still be in the villos. And somebody I knew back at the time was like, hey, uh the one who's in the front, Teresa, she's in character you. She's like, somebody's in character you're they're looking for one more person. I'm like, you know what? Let's rock and roll. Like, let's just go along and do it. Okay. And I am beyond happy that I made that decision because um these people aren't even my friends at this point. I've known them not even an entire year, but they're genuinely family to me. I've I've seen them each grow in their own ways. Uh Theresa graduating with me along in this graduating class of 2026, and then Madison, Meg, and Emily are all juniors, but they have so much to offer to the uh the sales musical theater department. Like genuinely, they're all amazing human beings. Uh Emily, even is a double dual major with uh criminal justice, and they they have so much to offer, like they're the embodiment of being who you are and being that well at DeSales University, and it made me feel so much like more comfortable. Like this was this was the year when I really took that step out and realized who I was as a human being, along with the career development family, them, um, even the Veterans and Military Service Center, like they definitely taught me who I am, and I love them all for that. I can say that wholeheartedly.

SPEAKER_03 17:39

That's great. Now, did any of them try to convince you to go out for the musical nine to five that's gonna be airing soon?

SPEAKER_01 17:45

You know what? Yeah, but I I just I couldn't do it to the other, you know, actors out there. I I probably get the lead, you know, I'm saying very well. Um I'm a triple threat that way.

SPEAKER_03 17:54

I love it. So, Sky, let's wrap up here. Um, one of the things that um I found so interesting about you and reading the materials that you presented in terms of our interview is that you have really found your place here to sales. Absolutely. That you really um feel that you are becoming your best self. And you did comment on a course that I taught that you were in, Introduction to the Devout Life. Um, what are some of the highlights of Silesian spirituality that are going to stay with you behind graduation?

SPEAKER_01 18:26

Um I would definitely say just the concept of like friendship has been something that's definitely been implemented into me more. Uh gosh, I can I can remember the group presentation I did for you, and we did it on the friendships and the different levels and the ones that help you flourish as a human being and the ones that detriment you. And you're at the sales, I would definitely say we have nobody who wants to detriment you. We want to see you flourish. Our friendships are all true. You've even said it yourself in that list. There are plenty of times when if somebody's sing by themselves, you just go up to them and you start talking, and then you just have another face, you know, around campus. Like I've only been here two years. And it's crazy to me how many people know my face, and then they'll be like, Oh, that's Sky. And I'm like, Oh, what's up, dude? Because respectfully, like, I'm putting myself so out right now, but I'm horrible with names, so I might opt out as kind of dude. So I see somebody in student, but genuinely, like, if I see them anywhere and they need help, they can come upon me and I'll be more than willing to help.

SPEAKER_03 19:24

I think that's great. You have that laid-back Philadelphia ease in you. Um, I, you know, St. Francis de Sales spends a lot of time on friendship in his book. Um, our world is nuts nowadays, and you're in the military. Um like, let's talk a little bit about that. What what is it like to be a young person um with the career that you have picked, um, looking at just right now, uh, what's happening in Iran? I mean, how do you interpret the signs of the times?

SPEAKER_01 19:53

Um, my easiest way to describe anything, being a military leader this young is just I signed up for it and being a leader in the military is very much a people first business. Like it's mission first people always, and that's how it will always be. I did this for the sole reason that I want to serve something bigger than myself, which is obviously not too hard. I'm only shy if I put, but in a bigger sense, I do want to set like do something better than that. And I want to help. I want to help the best I can and get the education go out to what I can do.

SPEAKER_03 20:28

And what happens post graduation here in terms of your military commitment?

SPEAKER_01 20:33

Um, so after graduation actually just got my date, I'll be going off the Bullock basic officer leadership course, and uh that'll be February of 2027. I'll be heading over to Virginia for four months.

SPEAKER_03 20:46

For four months, okay. And I think I'll be at your commissioning. I'm usually invited to lead the prayer. We have it at Packer Chapel. Yes. Okay, so I'm looking forward to that day. Absolutely. Um, you'll be commissioned as a lieutenant.

SPEAKER_01 20:57

I'm already commissioned as a lieutenant. Oh, that happened when you left when that picture with my family was my commissioning ceremony. I got my gold bar over there.

SPEAKER_03 21:05

That's right. You're an overachiever. Usually it takes people like the whole of the college career. Well, I'm not surprised about that. Uh, so let's wrap up here. What else do you think you would like to share with our listeners today about you, um, about your time here at DeSales University, and about just being a fabulous human being in this planet we call Earth?

SPEAKER_01 21:26

The last thing I really want to leave everyone with is just enjoy your life. You only are given one like life. There's so many silly little tattoos on me, and a lot of that doesn't look silly.

SPEAKER_03 21:38

Let's see that. Okay. And St. Michael.

SPEAKER_01 21:42

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 21:42

Okay. And what what what else does that all mean?

SPEAKER_01 21:45

Uh, so some of them are copied by the piece rose up here. I have Die with Memories, not dreams, and then just a piece for my grandfather, but this is a big one now talk on. Is this is the uh time I was born. And oh the time.

SPEAKER_03 22:00

You were born, I love it.

SPEAKER_01 22:01

The big thing is we never get time back in this world. We never do. And just enjoy your time when you can. Live in the moment. Don't sit there and be like, dang, I wish I could go back and do this, or oh, my roommates are saying we should go and do something, but I don't know. I'm just I'm tired of my sleep in. Don't do that. Just enjoy your college experience because you are only given one college experience. Half of mine was in a military school, which don't get me wrong, I saw family, I saw friends from there. But an actual college experience, that really is only given to you once in a lifetime. So enjoy it while you still have it.

SPEAKER_03 22:35

Well, that's a great message to conclude on. You never get time back. Uh, I'm gonna be thinking about that for a long while. Uh, Skylar Hazelwood, thank you for being here and being it really well.

SPEAKER_00 22:47

Thank you, Fal.

SPEAKER_03 22:48

Okay, love spending this time. Absolutely. Peace. God bless. Thanks.