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Kayla Holloman

PSA Student Kayla smiling and wearing a blue collard Presidential Student Ambassador shirt

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE WVU?

I chose WVU because it felt like home. I have lived in West Virginia for most of my life, so the mountains have always been visible for me. I also felt very welcome by my peers and professors, so there was very little worry about whether I would fit in. I wanted to go far enough away where I could meet new people from a multitude of places but still be close enough to home where I could visit old friends by driving home. Knowing I could feel at home but still have brand new experiences truly helped me decide that WVU was right for me.

What is your favorite Mountaineer memory?

My favorite mountaineer memory is from welcome week. When all of the students formed together to make the shape of West Virginia, my friends and I fought our way through the crowd to stand in the exact spot our hometown was located. It was really cool to be able to represent where we're from on a map.

Why did you want to become a PSA?

I wanted to become a PSA to add to my overall experience at WVU. I wanted to expand my knowledge as a mountaineer,  and this was the perfect opportunity to do just that. I didn't know that the program even existed, so I took some time to learn about it,  and by the time I was done, I was very interested. I also saw some of the projects the other cohorts have done, and knew immediately that this was something I wanted to be a part of. I love helping others and making an impact, and seeing that I would have the opportunity to do so in this program made me very excited about it.

What did you learn from the PSA experience?

I learned so much not only about leadership, but also about myself during my Presidential Student Ambassador experience. Having already had many leadership experiences, I didn't think there was much to learn about it. An important lesson I learned is that leadership is not just a title; it's a characteristic many people have in multiple different forms. I had the opportunity to learn about the different styles of leadership and see them in action by hearing from different leaders. I believe I have grown so much from this experience and am so grateful to have had the opportunity.

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