Friday, March 26, 2010

Student's story: Carly's reflection on being accepted to Virginia Tech

By Carly, a senior in the College of Science

Major: Math


This coming May, fitted with a gown and cap (probably reading on the top “Thank you Mom and Dad” and “Go Hokies!”), I will be ready to walk with my fellow Class-of-2010-Hokies. At the end of that walk I will be handed my diploma. In my hands will be a symbol of four years of hard work in mathematics, a representation of my never-ending dedication to this university, and an illustration of my love for orange and maroon. I will become a Virginia Tech alumna, a Hokie for life.

My four years of being a student at Virginia Tech have come and gone in the blink of an eye. I can still remember my freshmen orientation back in July 2006, my first day of class mid-August that year, and my very first Hokie football game in September of ’06 - an experience I came to treasure and look forward to every single fall semester.

Even though those years have come and gone quicker than I could imagine, it was four years ago that I found out I was going to become a Hokie. And of course, as luck would have it, Virginia Tech was the last school I heard back from and the one I wanted to be a student at the most. For nearly a month, on a daily basis, I would log into my Hokie Spa account to look at how my application was processing and whether or not a decision had been made. All it ever said was “pending.” Pending…pending…until finally, in the last week of March 2006, it changed from “pending” to “accepted.” At the sight of that word, I did not even know how to react. I was just so excited that I was going to become a part of Virginia Tech’s Class of 2010.

A couple of weeks after finding out via Hokie Spa that I was accepted, I received my formal letter in the mail and the document asking whether or not I wanted to become a part of the student body at Virginia Tech. Within minutes, I signed the form – my mom documenting the occasion with a picture that was to begin the accumulation of photos of my experience as a Hokie. I mailed my acceptance out the same day. I knew I had a month to “decide,” but my choice to say “yes,” if accepted, was settled back in January of 2006 when I submitted my application.

Four years ago I chose to become a Hokie and the experience I have had over those years is one I have loved and will never forget. There are hundreds of photos I will always have as keepsakes showing amazing times at football games, weekend get-togethers with friends, hikes to the Cascades and other spots in the Appalachian Mountains during warmer weather, and other great memories of my time at Virginia Tech. Even though I will be graduating in a couple of months, I will be back to visit this beautiful university multiple times. This place was my home-away-from-home and my love for this university began when I saw the word “accepted.”


Friday, March 19, 2010

College of Natural Resources Insights: Ginna's Story

By Ginna, a senior in the College of Natural Resources

Major: Geography, with a concentration in cultural, regional, and international development marketing


As Before I even started at Virginia Tech, I knew I wanted to study Geography. The summer before I started my freshman year, I applied to major in Geography with a Cultural, Regional, and International Development concentration. During the past four years, I have taken some amazing classes, and have experienced some awesome opportunities.

I have studied cultures and current events in World Regions, an extremely popular class throughout the university. I studied the impacts of mountains in both physical and cultural aspects in Mountain Geography. I learned to read maps, and put it into practice in an exercise at a local park during an inter-class competition for Maps and Mapping. I got to create a road trip as an assignment in Geography of North America.

I also was able to spend two and a half weeks studying Geography in England with Virginia Tech faculty members, other Virginia Tech students, and Virginia Public School teachers. During this time I took hikes in Cumbria in northern England, visited the romantic Cotswolds, and rode the Tube in London.

The College of Natural Resources has helped me have a fantastic experience at Virginia Tech. I have made wonderful friends, studied with kind and knowledgeable professors, and added to my cultural awareness. I graduate in May, with great pleasure in knowing I have a Geography degree from Virginia Tech. I once read on a coffee cup from Starbucks, that “Geography is a flavor,” and I love the “flavor” that Virginia Tech has given me.


Monday, March 15, 2010

College of Architecture & Urban Studies Insights: Mark's Story

Mark McKenzie, a sophomore in the College of Architecture and Urban Studies

Major: public and urban affairs


As a second generation Hokie and avid football fan, coming to Virginia Tech for college was an easy decision. However, like many freshman I was completely unsure of what I wanted to study once I got here. There were subjects I enjoyed but nothing I truly had a passion for. I tried several different majors and none seemed like the right fit.


The best decision I have made during my time at Virginia Tech was to study Public and Urban Affairs in the College of Architecture and Urban Studies. This is just one of several unique programs in the college ranging from landscape architecture to interior design. My major is unique in that classes are geared towards giving students skills that directly apply to the professional world. Also, as a smaller major I have had the chance to develop close friendships with my peers. Outside of the classroom, the college offers opportunities like study abroad, internships, and student organizations.


The College of Architecture and Urban Studies prepares students for a wide variety of opportunities. Whether you are interested in the fine arts, design, building construction, or even policy there is a place for you.



Monday, March 8, 2010

College of Architecture & Urban Studies Insights: Liz's Story

By Liz, a student in the College of Architecture & Urban Studies
Major: industrial design

As an Industrial Design major, I love being a part of the College of Architecture and Urban Studies (CAUS). In this world, creation is what it's all about—rather than memorize facts, we get to draw, model, and dream on a daily basis. Every project, whether in Architecture, Urban Planning, Industrial Design, or any other CAUS major, begins with a spark of an idea. Through sketches, diagrams, scale models, and 3D computer renderings, we create several initial versions and finally, the finished project that captures the imagination and pushes boundaries.

This creativity wouldn't be possible without the studio environment. In large, open rooms, every student's desk is set up as a personal space to design that still allows plenty of collaboration and discussion with neighbors. I love that my classmates and I don't need to compete, but we'd rather help each other design the best products possible. Pushing each other, we're all becoming stronger designers—and we end up good friends in the process. Though professors' critiques are, of course, extremely important, the support of my classmates is what really motivates me to design. This creative society of student and faculty collaboration is integral to Industrial Design and CAUS as a whole, and I'm thrilled to be a part of it.


Thursday, March 4, 2010

Joe's story: Everyone should take part in VT's intramural sports

By Joe, a sophomore in the Pamplin College of Business
Major: finance and management
Member, Delta Sigma Pi

Playing a VT intramural sport is something to take a lot of pride in, and have a lot of fun in doing. With one of the best intramural sports programs in the nation, it's hard not to want to play in each and every sport you possibly can. Take it from me, I've played in over 7 different intramural sports, and have been the captain of every team. Playing organized high school sports was always fun, but intramurals are a much less competitive way of getting together some close friends and going out to hopefully get a win against some fellow Hokies!

With all of the intramural sport experience I have, none can be compared to the adrenaline rush I felt recently in the two day dodgeball tournament. I got together a group of guys from within my business fraternity (Delta Sigma Pi) to come out and play, and we all had a blast!

Mission: Get a intramural sports champion t-shirt

Our first game we all arrived and really did not know what to expect. We saw some pretty big guys on the other team, but no matter how big, we went out with all of our might to win our first game. The great thing about the tournament style intramural sports is you kind of get to hang out on campus until your next game. We stopped by Owens to grab some grub before heading to our next game. We already knew with our first win of the day that we would move onto the next day's games, but that did not stop us from going out just as hard in our second game to win our round robin group. The adrenaline rush was so overwhelming, and it was hard to leave the gym knowing that we would not be returning until tomorrow.

Day two, single elimination. We arrived for our first game, got some warm up time in, when were informed the other team did not have enough to players to advance. Getting a win this way was tough for us to accept because we wanted to earn it. However, we played the team with the amount they had just for fun, and to prepare for our next game in the Elite 8. We were on a roll, and we knew it too. Unfortunately, our streak ended at the Elite 8 game, but it was a hard fought loss and we certainly did not hand it to them.

At the end of the tournament we left with our heads held high. The best part about the intramural sports program in my opinion is the Hokies Respect you get out of each player. At the end of every game every one shakes hands without being told to do so, saying "good game," you know just like in pee-wee soccer, and you honor the other teams with a sportsmanship rating and an MVP. It’s a great feeling to know that you were given the most amount of sportsmanship you can get, or maybe even MVP. VT Intramural Sports is amazing, and everyone should take part sometime in their four years on campus!