“Honors is family, and Longwood is home.”

Throughout middle school and most of high school, I was determined to attend college out-of-state at a massive research university like UCLA or NYU. As I unexpectedly entered my Senior year of high school, however, I realized how little I truly wanted to attend a place where I would be a number and not a name. Plus, I love Virginia. It has so much to offer: a rich history, beautiful mountains, sandy beaches, and great cities as well as small towns. When I ultimately decided to major in History, I knew Longwood University was the place for me. Its small class sizes, emphasis on individualism, and the great town of Farmville in which it is located totally sealed the deal. Now, as a member of its Cormier Honors College (CHC), I know Longwood is the school for me.

Everything I love about Longwood is further enhanced by Honors. What makes the CHC community so incredibly special is its diverse student body and dedicated faculty and staff. As soon as I accepted my offer of admission, I was sent an email by Jessi Znosko, Senior Director of the CHC, congratulating me on my acceptance into the Honors community. Little did I know how influential Jessi would be in the months to come, organizing events to bring together CHC mentors, students, faculty, and staff throughout the Fall and Spring semesters (and allowing me to bother her at least once or twice a week when I was absolutely freaking out about some exceedingly minor issue). Jessi and Dr. Alix Fink, the CHC Dean during my Freshman year, epitomize the Honors community and are two of the most extraordinary people I have ever met.

Honors faculty members lead small and engaging classes that emphasize civil discourse, encouraging the exchange of different ideas and opinions in a safe and respectful classroom environment. Two of my former Honors professors in particular, Professor Jennifer Beach and Dr. Hannah Dudley-Shotwell, exemplified the Honors pillar of community in my eyes and inspired in me a passion for civic responsibility.

No organization better encapsulates the pillar of community than the Honors Student Association (HSA). When I first heard about HSA, I was hesitant to become a member, but my friend, Madison Lewis, and Honors mentor, Taylor Bauer, urged me to give it a try. Now, I cannot speak more highly of the organization. At the very first meeting, dozens of Honors students crowded into Wheeler Hall’s tiny classroom to hear about the upcoming year and schedule of events. After that, HSA was a whirlwind experience. From local fundraisers to exciting trips to Oktoberfest and Christmas and Spring Weekend, I spent the following months surrounded by Honors students like myself who had no idea what we had gotten ourselves into but could not have been happier. I was even nominated for and elected to the position of HSA Treasurer during the Fall semester of my Freshman year, which ended up becoming one of the greatest opportunities for learning and growth I had yet to be presented as a CHC scholar.

Overall, my Honors experience has been characterized by an emphasis on the entire Honors community, for which community I am more than grateful.