Cheers, Beers and My Formative Years, Go EERS!

“The work never ends but college does.”
– Tom Petty

I will keep this post short and sweet, just like my time in college. In all honesty, one of my regrets in life is graduating on time, you’re welcome Mom and Dad. STAY IN SCHOOL though kids! I do however want to pay a due to one of the places that holds a spot closest to my heart. MORGANTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA!

A little back story… I went to an ALL GIRLS Catholic school from Pre-K through 12th grade. Yes, that’s right. College was going to be the first time that I was actually in the classroom with BOYS (besides my SATS, which I spilt coffee all over, a story for another time.)

When I decided I was going to West Virginia University I remember it was one of the most exciting times of my entire life. I know that I may be one of the few, but I actually like CHANGE and this was going to be exactly that!

Upon deciding to go to college, my entire senior year consisted of people asking me where I was going. I can think back to some of the responses, and judgement I saw in people’s faces when I told them I wanted to go to WVU. Due to preconceived notions, either it “not being a good school academically”, or its “geographical location”, or it being a “huge party school”. At the time, I remember feeling so hurt because the first time I visited, I knew it was where I wanted to go, and I grew to love West Virginia. It hurt that people were judging something or somewhere they knew nothing about. I remember letting it bother me so much that sometimes I would even avoid the whole college conversation in order to avoid an annoying conversation that would make me mad.

Looking back, I was giving way too much power to other people. My gut intuition told me the minute I stepped onto WVU’s campus that it was where I was meant to be. I honestly cannot think of a place I felt more like I belonged then WVU. Although there was a large campus feel, there was also something that made it feel so small, maybe the sense of being in a home away from home.

The great state of West “By-God” Virginia, and Morgantown especially, has some of the most genuine and kind-hearted people I have ever met. Sure, they may move slower, but honestly, I think it’s important to slow down to enjoy life, and boy do the people of West Virginia—and the Mountaineers especially—know how to enjoy life.

As someone with learning disabilities, I always struggled academically, and couldn’t figure out how to hit my stride. And now for the first time in my life, I had the confidence to actually stride for greatness, and I owe that largely to West Virginia University. In a not so humble brag, I graduated college in four years, with a 3.5 GPA (CUM LAUDE) and was merited into an honors society. I worked my butt off, but was supported by the wonderful WVU community, despite anyone’s preconceived notions on what the school actually represented.

The moral of this story (besides showing you how wonderful Morgantown, West Virginia is), is this:

• Stay TRUE to yourself ALWAYS
• Only you know what’s best for you…only YOU have to live with your decisions
• Be mindful of your stereotypes or preconceived notions (you look like an asshole)
• Once you know what you want, go after it and never look to anyone else to validate your decisions

A special thank you to West Virginia University, you gave me the best four years of my life. You brought some of my best friends, taught me a sense of community, and gave me the confidence I was lacking in myself academically. You opened my eyes beyond the small bubble I grew up in and allowed me to grow by meeting people from all different parts of the world, from all different backgrounds, and all chasing different dreams. Although everyone was there for a different reason, I learned the valuable lesson of a sense of community. I also learned to never limit yourself and to try to get to know EVERYONE and ANYONE even if you think you have nothing in common.

Growth truly comes from challenging yourself and stepping out of your comfort zone.

Thank you West Virginia University, you will forever have a piece of my heart, and will forever be my home away from home.

“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character––that is the goal of true education.”
– Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Vibes,
XO

A Very Proud Mountaineer