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Randy McFarland
I chose WVU because I knew from the second I stepped on the campus it was where I wanted to be! I was surrounded by optimistic classmates and was able to envision a new life here. Being from West Virginia I knew that financially it was a good decision, as well as checking all my boxes for Majors/Student Organizations. I felt the campus culture radiate through the students, and the beautiful campus was an added plus. I knew personally it was a place that I could personally grow while also getting a quality education. I fell in love with the environmental practices put forth from being a land-grant institution as well as the beautiful surrounding nature scenes. I knew I would be able to meet a diverse set of people because of the sheer volume of students, and that is what set me aside from other/smaller colleges. Morgantown is my second home, and I'm proud to be a Mountaineer!
What is the BEST reason to attend WVU?
The best reason to attend WVU is the student climate. I was always told in high school how fiercely independent I needed to be in college in order to succeed, but the reality is that WVU is one big support system. Rather it be fellow mountaineer or faculty and staff, everyone is working to uplift one another
What is your favorite Mountaineer memory?
My Favorite WVU memory is “Monday Night Lights”. I am a pretty sentimental person and this event marked that I was growing up and becoming a college student. I was surround with new classmates, and it felt like the end of an era, and the begging of a new beautiful one
Why did you want to become a PSA?
I’ve always had a special connection to WVU as it felt like my second home from the moment I stepped on campus. I knew I wanted to try and show my love for the university to other students looking for that spark of inspiration, and by giving myself the tools to make tangible change, I knew I would be successful in my goal!
Why did you learn from the PSA experience?
Whilst this semester has been one of the most challenging experiences of my life it was also the greatest learning experience. The PSA courses challenged me and pushed me to succeed. It taught me discipline and that transferable skill help me do better in my other classes/extracurriculars. The leadership classes worked well with the many speakers we had and helped bring about an understanding of what leadership is, and what kind of leader I am/who I’m going to be. In connection with leadership, the service activities I had the pleasure of participating in placed me in positive situations that I would not have done if not instructed to do so. There is a certain feeling of positivity you get when volunteering/giving back that can’t be replicated elsewhere. I knew how hard-working of a student I was but just couldn’t find the ability to light that spark again. In working through the course requirements, I found the passion to be successful again. I am so happy I was accepted into this program and have seen it through completion and am looking forward to using my accreditations as a certified student leader to be able to uplift others.