Once upon a time, a young freshman took the long elevator ride from the sixth floor of Frazer Hall to attend the involvement fair on Brock Commons with a small ounce of hope of finding a family for the next four years.
Fast forward four years, hours of interviews, a handful of stories and many sleepless nights later and here I am. And yes, I did find a family in The Rotunda.
Little did I know I would be writing this as the former Editor-in-Chief and would be about to leave behind my home of the last four years when I wrote my first article on the Atlantic Coast Pipeline in the fall of 2015.
Looking back on my time with The Rotunda is bittersweet. This organization challenged me like I had never been challenged before and for that I am so grateful.
To my Rotunda’ers that I leave behind, you have a long trek in front of you and if it’s easy, then you aren’t doing it right. But, I assure you, hard work pays off. I have loved watching each and every one of you grow into your role and I can’t wait to see where you take your new positions.
Lastly, I urge you to step out of your comfort zones because without doing that, there is no growth. Always remember you are the voice of the campus and no other organization can say that.
To the Communication Studies program, I wouldn’t be half the person I am today without you. If you haven’t met the Comm professors yet, boy oh boy, are you missing out on some of the coolest people I have and ever will meet.
The professors are what make Longwood all that it is so I challenge Longwood to invest in the educators that prepare us for the road ahead and help us enjoy the ride. We have enough buildings and construction is not why students choose Longwood, it's the professors that genuinely care about our well-being.
Last but certainly not least: to Longwood, I promise to try my absolute best to live up to the citizen leader you want me to be. As a first generation college graduate, Longwood has meant more, to not only me, but my entire family. You are not perfect but nothing and no one is but if you listen to the students you will find out what Longwood needs in the future so I encourage you to listen.
I often am asked where, or even what, Longwood University is and I always reply that it’s the best place on Earth.
