A Hokie out of Hokieland

Written by: Minoka Gunesekera

Growing up I lived so close to Lane Stadium I could hear the announcers out my bedroom window. My parents were Hokies. My neighbors were Hokies. Being a Hokie was the majority identity marker for 24+ years of my life. I thought I knew what it meant to be a Hokie because I was surrounded by them!

But it wasn’t until I went to graduate school (and now work) away from Blacksburg that the impact of being a Hokie really sunk in.

Being a Hokie impacts my character.

As most college students do, I found myself while I was in college. The environment of Virginia Tech sparked a lifelong passion of digging into the tough questions about what I believed and why. For me, Ut Prosim isn’t only about service to those around me but also service to myself through self-discovery.

In college, I learned about my desire to mentor others while volunteering with the Cranwell International Center. I found a passion for the collegiate learning experience through my work in the DSA. I grew in my faith and my interest in religion through the Wesley Foundation at Virginia Tech (now Wesley@VT). Each of these opportunities (and many others) not only engaged my mind but impacted the formation of who I was becoming. I was truly honored when Virginia Tech recognized me with one of the first Aspire! Awards for pursuing Self-Understanding and Integrity. It’s probably the award I am most proud of winning. In my daily work, I don’t always use what I learned in the classroom, but the intentional sense of who I am and who I strive to be is embedded in every move I make.

Hokies understand what Loyalty is.  

Whether it's with my voice or with my wallet, being a Hokie taught me to be loyal and committed to something bigger than myself. I’m an avid football fan (what Hokie isn’t!) and I use my voice to cheer for my Hokies, even if it is against the school I now work for. I’ve started giving financially to programs at Virginia Tech that were influential in my time as a student because I believe being a Virginia Tech alumna isn’t just about what the university could give to me, but also what I could give back to the university. I think it's unique to Virginia Tech that many of our community members are not just loyal to our alma-mater’s sports teams but the university as a whole. Being a Hokie means being loyal to the spirit and community of the Hokie Nation, in all its facets and forms.

Living away from Blacksburg now for almost four years has taught me that being a Hokie is way more than just being around other Hokies. I cherish the times I have in Blacksburg, but I drive away being just as much of a Hokie as I am when I am home. Being a Hokie is not merely an identity to the forward facing world. It is an internal way of life to all those who love the marvelous maroon and orange and a way of life I am proud to be living.