Hokie Kindness is Contagious

This past academic year I experienced a large amount of hardships and was overwhelmed with feelings of being lost, alone, and unmotivated. I had no interest in staying home in Texas for the summer and was fortunate enough to find an internship with Student Affairs, allowing me to stay in Blacksburg.

Staying at Virginia Tech this summer allowed me to befriend two of the most incredible Hokies I have ever met. They’re both incredible students with huge hearts – the embodiment of what I imagine it means to be a Hokie. They make me feel loved and appreciated and have helped me find my path and my passion and have given me the strength to get my life back.

Although their actions may not seem large, having someone genuinely care about me has been a beautiful experience. These Hokies have helped me improve holistically by joining me in cooking and eating healthy meals and working out. We don’t just focus on improving our physical well-being; we also emotionally support each other. If one of us is having a rough day or maybe just needs to vent, we’re there to listen with open ears and open arms, providing words of encouragement (and maybe even getting in a few games of Fortnite in between). Because of our love and support for each other, my physical and mental state have become stronger and more resilient.

I never believed my parents when they said that I would find my best friends in college. After experiencing two years of failed attempts at relationships that have inevitably faded into oblivion, these two Hokies have finally changed my mind. I know I have found the best friends I never imagined I would have.

Being a Hokie has taught me the importance of learning from my peers as much as I learn from my professors. This opportunity of learning from one another excites me! I can’t wait to have more conversations with my friends to further discover who they are by learning what their opinions, goals, fears, and aspirations might be. I hope to keep working on lowering my protective walls to become vulnerable enough to one day disclose the same information.

I cannot thank these two Hokies enough for the impact they have made on my life. Whether they know it or not, they have completely changed and saved my life. Their example of true friendship has made me want to show the world what Hokie Love is capable of.