A Student’s Perspective…
Aspirations: No Matter Who You Are
I have always been the type of person to dream big, but to dream to an extent that felt accomplishable. This includes setting goals for myself, figuring out what steps need to be taken to achieve that goal, and keeping my energy high to achieve that dream. Energy is something that I talk about a lot when I explore any opportunity, and while I served as the Orientation Leader this past summer, energy is something that I wanted to continuously bring to the table (like my favorite introduction: “What’s poppin’, Hokies!”), so that the students could feel my love of Virginia Tech.
What makes this experience interesting is that I was not alone. My fellow Orientation Leaders all had something to bring to the table, and each one was unique in their own individual way. They all shined like stars, bright and beautiful.
While I have taken away a multitude of lessons, skills, and experiences, even though I am only starting my second-year at this university, I wanted to highlight a few of those lessons for students that are currently finding themselves and their role in this large university.
The first experience is that you are not alone, just as I was not alone with my team. You will find Hokies across campus that share commonalities with you. I am a queer, first-generation college student that grew up in a small rural county not too far from Blacksburg, and I knew I would be diving into an ocean that made my hometown seem like a small pond. Even so, the friendships and connections that I have created thus far made this great and huge university appear small. It is heartwarming to feel the sense of community.
The second experience is simply to embrace the different stories that everyone has to share stepping onto this campus. You will hear shared common ground over interests, an identity, or another aspect. I challenged myself to actively listen to everyone’s story. Learn something along the way as you discover more about each person while connecting with their humanity.
Finally, motivate one other to tackle every challenge and barrier that you may come across. You can shine in a way that welcomes others to shine as well. Being supportive at this university acknowledges the spirit of Ut Prosim (That I may Serve), but you have the agency to motivate your colleagues to conquer and overcome.
There have been many contributors to my leadership and intrapersonal development; Lillie Crawford gave me the encouragement to utilize each moment as a learning opportunity. My fellow Orientation Leaders gave me the space to be my authentic self while developing amazing relationships with all of them. Last but certainly not least, professional staff gave me the opportunity to explore a new passion for higher education, student affairs, and being an educator for others. Feel free to tap me on the shoulder if you see me around campus, follow my Instagram, or we can go on a coffee walk-and-talk!
