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Madison Bowers
My junior year of high school I had a major case of small-town fever. I felt like I needed to get out of my tiny town and out of this tiny state. At the time, I felt like this would be my only way to find great opportunities. My dad was really the reason I visited campus as he was a proud alumnus himself. WVU went from the bottom of my list to the top as soon as I stepped foot on campus. I had an enormous sense of feeling like I was home. From there, I never toured any of those big schools on my list. Country Roads really lead me home.
- What is the BEST reason to attend WVU?
- I believe the best reason to attend WVU is the sense of community. We call it the
Mountaineer Family, and I really have found such a family in Morgantown. Professors,
coworkers, and other students care about you and want to see you succeed. Mountaineers
are fiercely proud and supportive of their fellow Mountaineers. I know wherever
I go, if I see someone wearing a flying WV, that person is an instant friend.
- What is your favorite Mountaineer memory?
- Why did you want to become a PSA?
My favorite Mountaineer Memory would be a moment I had in the Evansdale Crossing at Starbucks one day. I went to the counter and ordered my Hot Chocolate on the cold snowy day and the girl behind the counter was looking at me after I ordered my drink. I glanced back and noticed she looked familiar, but I couldn’t place where I knew her from. She handed me my drink and said “Hey Maddi, you were my tour guide. You’re the reason I came to WVU.” I was instantly struck with the memory of her tour and her family coming in the summer. I asked her how she was doing her first year and she replied, “I found my home.” To help another student find their love for this school that I’m so passionate about is easily my favorite memory.
- What did you learn from the PSA experience?
I wanted to become a PSA because helping the community and the state is such a huge passion of mine. I knew that service was such a massive part of this class, and I wanted to be a part of it. This is the state I call home, and anything I can do to make it a better place is an exciting opportunity.
I truly believe that this class taught me what it means to be a Mountaineer. Throughout all the wonderful speakers we listened to, the community service we performed, and the speeches we completed, we were constantly pushing ourselves to be the best we can be. We learned there is always something to learn from someone else, and there is always something you can teach someone else. Cohort 3 did not have the most conventional path to the end of the semester. While we could’ve given up on or goal, we persisted. These are all values of Mountaineers.