Cynthia Schreder works in the security office. She takes the safety and security of Bethel University seriously. “We would be completely paralyzed if she wasn’t doing her job,” colleague Josiah Williams said. | Photo by Brook Sunderman

Priorities

One Bethel University community member who dedicates her life to loving others first.

By Brook Sunderman | Clarion Correspondent

Cynthia Schreder walked into church with her mom and five siblings shortly after her parents split up. Other kids ridiculed them.

“God doesn’t like you because your parents are divorced and God doesn’t like divorce,” they said.

Although the words were sharp and ill-intended, Schreder was not damaged by them. She took the circumstances of her childhood at the time and was made stronger because of them.

“It probably could have really damaged me but all through my life I have felt that God has had such a hand on my life. Everything I do. Down to the littlest things. I know that he’s there. I know that he’s guiding and leading me,” Schreder said.

Cynthia Schreder can’t help but burst into laughter as she applies lipstick at her desk in the security office. Moments like this happen on the daily with Schreder. “She can make fun of herself in a very light-hearted way,” said Josiah Williams, a colleague of Schreder. | Photo by Brook Sunderman

Many know her face, but not many stop and take time to hear her story. Schreder attended Bethel after graduating high school, but was kicked out due to a 1.8 GPA after a year and a half. She assumed it was going to happen. She had already appealed the decision the year before. She still cried. She didn’t want to go home. Home life was not easy. Life at Bethel was good.

“It was like living at camp here so I didn’t want to leave,” Schreder said. “I loved it so much that I never went to class and I never studied and I just had a lot of fun meeting new people and doing fun new things in a different city,” Schreder said.

Instead of moving home, Schreder moved to Pennsylvania to fill a nanny position that she found in the newspaper. After that she met a family who took her under their wing and got her back into school. She attended and eventually graduated from Saint Cloud State University.

“I was extremely immature and needed some time to mature,” Schreder said.

“I think sometimes when things are too tough they just kinda…you just bury them,” Cynthia said. “One thing I learned at a very young age is that humans will always end up disappointing you because they’re sinful, but God is the one constant and rock and that he will never disappoint you.”— Cynthia Schreder, security

Schreder grew up in a home with two parents, but her dad left when she was eight. She doesn’t recall much. She does remember her mom telling her how devastated she was. She doesn’t want to remember that time in her life. With tears in her eyes, she recalled all that she has learned from her experience growing up.

“I think sometimes when things are too tough they just kinda…you just bury them,” Cynthia said. “One thing I learned at a very young age is that humans will always end up disappointing you because they’re sinful, but God is the one constant and rock and that he will never disappoint you.”

Living in a house with five children and a single mom was not easy. Schreder and her siblings were kicked out of the house until lunch and kicked back out until dinner. Her and her sibling spent a lot of time outside. They made up games to entertain themselves — tag, kick the can, soccer and a game they made up called Witch.

“We were not wealthy by any means, but we had a really great life and I’m actually really thankful to grow up poor because it makes you appreciate things so much more,” Schreder said.

Experiencing such difficult things at such a young age would get to anybody, but Schreder has let it make her stronger. Schreder’s experiences caused her to specifically search out a husband who would be a good dad and made her try harder in her own marriage. She did not want to end up like her parents. It was not an option.

“I love relationships more than anything else … I would give any amount of money to have somebody else be happy…” — Cynthia Schreder, security

Those who know Schreder know where her priorities lie.

“I love relationships more than anything else…” Schreder said. “I would give any amount of money to have somebody else be happy…”

Schreder cracks a joke with student worker Molly Sletten. Sletten was bored and wanted to waste time before her next class. “People come in just to talk to Cynthia,” colleague Josiah Williams said. | Photo by Brook Sunderman

“If they took away my students there would be no reason for me to work here.” — Cynthia Schreder

Schreder boasts that students are the most important part of her job. She shows it by always lending a genuine ear, even if she is swamped with work. She loves people with her sense of humor, stash of candy, and ability to make any person feel like part of the family.

“If they took away my students there would be no reason for me to work here,” Schreder said.

Schreder went from being kicked out of Bethel for not doing her work because she prioritized her relationships with people. Although it wasn’t her goal, she now gets to know people and prioritize relationships as part of her job at Bethel.

Get to know Cynthia Schreder: Her favorites

• color: orange
• food: spring rolls or Thai food
• book: Anna Green Gables
• movie: Steel Magnolias
• song: It Is Well
• season: fall “isn’t that everybody’s favorite season?” hates summer
• TV series: Little House on the Prairie
• fruit: mangos
• vegetable: *fart noise* carrots or potatoes
• ice cream: chunky monkey
• Holiday: Easter
• sport to watch: baseball
• sport to play: “is napping a sport?”

Source: Cynthia Schreder