My first experience with the university dates back to when I attended 4-H State Congress. This was a time where I was exploring what I wanted to do as my passion, where would I go, and what all is entailed in my upcoming journey. During this time, I got involved with leadership roles in 4-H that led to working with the Virginia 4-H state office at Virginia Tech. After being accepted to the university, I was thrilled to be familiar with the environment and have a sense of belonging.

During my transition to my undergraduate education, a huge portion of me felt nervous yet excited. I am a first-generation college student, and so I knew that I was about to embark on a journey that was new, foreign, and encounter obstacles that I knew I was not going to automatically have answers. The people in the 4-H office not only assisted me in my transition coming to campus, but they got to listen to all of my fears, excitements, and emotions tied to the new chapter of my life. After a long conversation with one of my advisors, I remember them specifically telling me about my smile and how the smile I held was something that they have not seen before. Of course I always smiled but they mentioned how this one was so bright and new, and they also included how that’s what happens when student come to Virginia Tech and love their new home.

When I think of the word “apply,” I think two different definitions, one being about how we are submitting something and going through this process that allows us to either get rejected or accepted into a place or position where we belong with our skill sets. The second definition is more in the context similar to the word “pursue.” Applying yourself to something means you are giving your skills, time, and effort and allow yourself to immerse in an experience. I believe that Virginia Tech allows for both definitions to play in an environment where the person is allowed to take this journey of self-exploration and figure out what is their scope, how does their scope play in their commitments, and how that is going to help the person grow overall. As you will see in this page, my journey always has those values to “apply” myself to any possibility that came across my path.

Love is a strong word that we use in multiple contexts, but I mean it sincerely when I say I love where I am at Virginia Tech, and I cannot wait to see where this love will take me.