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Aubrey Cumberledge
For me, WVU was always on my list of potential colleges, but it was never the goal. Unfortunately, I did let the reputation as a party school cloud my judgement until I started looking into what the school was beyond the rumors I’d heard. WVU isn’t all parties and football; it’s rigorous academics, an Honors College, and an R1 institute. At WVU, I felt I could foster my academic growth, take part in groundbreaking research even as a freshman, and find likeminded individuals who would become lifelong friends. And I think my big ‘aha!’ moment was the internship I participated in the summer before my freshman year. Staying in the dorms with my fellow interns, working in an actual lab for two weeks, and just exploring the campus made me realize that WVU is my home.
What is your favorite Mountaineer memory?
I don’t think anything can beat standing on the field with my fellow freshmen during Welcome Week, singing Country Roads for the first time together. Bowling during Up All Night and having breakfast after our games is a close second though.
Why did you want to become a PSA?
I have spent my undergraduate career working with the First2 Network to improve the college experience for first-generation college students in STEM. This has given me a passion for service and leadership as I work to create a better system and a better campus for students like me. Being a PSA means opening new doors for serving the community and the campus I am already working to improve, but now I have the opportunity to help not just first-generation students in STEM but everyone at WVU.
What did you learn from the PSA experience?
As a PSA, I’ve learned so much about leadership, public speaking, and service. I feel I’ve grown in my ability to effectively communicate as well as my ability to understand people who have not had the same experiences that I’ve had. My favorite part of this semester was being able to hear all the stories from our alumni speakers who showed us not only what it means to be a good leader but what it means to be a Mountaineer.