Listen up, new Hoos, these University of Virginia experts have advice for you.
Setting off on your college journey can be intimidating. With thousands of new faces, hundreds of student organizations, seemingly endless course options and a UNESCO World Heritage site to explore, we get it if you feel a little overwhelmed.
But don’t worry. UVA Today turned to residents of the Lawn – home to fourth-year students who have made extraordinary contributions to the University – for their advice on everything, from what bagel to order at Bodo’s to how to find your UVA community.
Zachary Palazzotto
Hometown: Long Island, New York
Major: Biomedical engineering
Most played song: “Only the Good Die Young” by Billy Joel.
Go-to Bodo’s order: I get a salt bagel with honey pecan cream cheese – salty and sweet.
My advice for incoming students: To be really intentional with what you do and how you spend your time at UVA. These four years are short and really precious, so reflect on your purpose, whether that’s advocating for students or building community.
Vaishnavi Punaji
Hometown: Burke
Major: Commerce and political philosophy, policy and law
Favorite UVA tradition: I really enjoy all of the Lawn-facing events. Lighting of the Lawn might be my favorite.
Most-played song: “Rein Me In” by Sam Fender and Olivia Dean.
My advice for incoming students: Say yes to all of the things. When I came to college, I was expecting to become a lawyer, but I ended up studying finance, too. You don’t know what you’re going to be interested in.
Jeremiah Clyburn
Hometown: Manassas Park
Major: Neuroscience and drama
Favorite coffee shop: I love Moge Tea.
Favorite UVA tradition: Absolutely, Lighting of the Lawn. There’s so much camaraderie. I’m in University Singers, so I get to sing for it, too.
My advice for incoming students: Live as much as you can these four years. It’s easy to get sucked into this careerism, but this is a really critical transition period in your life. There are a lot of lessons to learn outside the classroom.
Abba Kodiaga
Hometown: Vienna
Major: Global public health
Most played song: “Cuff It” by Beyonce. I’m a big “Renaissance” fan.
Favorite hobby: I’m a big crocheter. If you have hooks and yarn and want to pull up to room 24, please do. We can be grandmas together.
My advice for incoming students: You matter, and you deserve to be in the spaces that you’re in. This is a really big school that can get overwhelming, and you will feel like a small fish in a big pond, but swim in that pond and swim, swim, baby, because you are worthy of being in this space.
Cavan Meade
Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina
Major: Mechanical engineering
Go-to Bodo’s order: Sausage, egg and cheddar cheese on a plain bagel and always with a large Diet Coke.
Favorite hobby: I love playing the fiddle.
My advice for incoming students: There’s no wrong way to go about your UVA experience. Try everything and see what sticks. There are tons of clubs, there are tons of opportunities, so go out and do stuff. That’s how you’ll meet the friends that will last.
Rhea Zahir
Hometown: McLean
Major: Anthropology
Go-to Bodo’s order: I fear I’m super basic. I love a plain bagel with cream cheese, and I love their lemonade.
Favorite UVA tradition: I’m biased, but I love Lighting of the Lawn. You get to see the new and the old aspects of UVA, the families that come from Charlottesville and Albemarle, the alumni who come back. And of course, you get to see the cute little first-years who are just starting to make their UVA memories.
My advice for incoming students: You don’t have to do this alone. Everyone feels like UVA is very competitive, but I feel like we upperclassmen always want to help you, because we’ve been there, we’ve felt scared, we’ve felt confused. If you want to knock on any of our doors, we would love to yap with you.
Keoni Vega
Hometown: McAllen, Texas
Major: Government
Favorite coffee shop: Guajiros. They do a Cuban espresso that is so, so good. All of their food, in general, is really good.
Favorite UVA tradition: Trick or Treating on the Lawn. I’m so excited about being a Lawnie, so I can host. I’ve been planning my theme for months.
