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Lauren Sexton
WVU, like President Gee says, is a “Goldilocks” sized university. It’s not too big or too small. It’s just right. When I was trying to decide where I would go to college, I thought that WVU was small enough that I didn’t feel like I would get lost in the crowd at WVU, but WVU also seemed big enough to provide lots of great opportunities that a small school could not deliver. WVU allows me to study two very different subjects, science and music, at the same time. WVU also has R-1 Research status, and I wanted to find a school in which I could participate in research. The other main reason I chose WVU is that my family has history at WVU. Both of my parents studied at WVU, and my sister, Liz, also chose to go to WVU. WVU felt like home to me, and I am thankful to have the opportunity to learn at WVU.
What is your favorite Mountaineer memory?
Hearing the beautiful melodies and seeing the wonder-filled expressions on the faces of my friends while watching the West Virginia University Symphony Orchestra perform is definitely my favorite Mountaineer memory. In high school, I had the opportunity to play violin in WVU’s Honors Orchestra, so whenever I became a student at WVU, I took several of my friends to see the WVU Symphony Orchestra perform. For many of them, it was their first time to see an orchestra play, and I will never forget how mesmerized they were by the music. It was a great bonding experience, and it brought me closer to a lot of people in my dorm.
Why did you want to become a PSA?
Presidential Student Ambassadors are leaders at WVU, and they have the ability to communicate to others the unique experiences and opportunities that WVU provides. I wanted to be able to enable others to see how WVU could be the right school for them, and I wanted to share the experiences that I have been able to take part in as a WVU student. I also thought this would be a great opportunity to further develop my leadership abilities and give back to West Virginia.
What did you learn from the PSA experience?
Prior to becoming a Presidential Student Ambassador, I was afraid of public speaking. Whenever I was younger, people made fun of the way I spoke because they thought that my voice seemed lower than what was normal for most girls. These comments made me feel self-conscious about my voice, and I tried to avoid public speaking whenever I could. However, the PSA experience has shown me that I have the capability to speak in front of others and communicate my ideas without worrying about what others think of me. Now, I feel immensely more confident in my leadership abilities, and I’m grateful to have had this opportunity.