Telling UVA’s Stories Helped Me Find My Own

When I started as a student writer for UVA Today, I had no idea the role would heavily shape my college experience. It was the summer before my second year, and I was still figuring things out – from my major to my place on Grounds and how to turn my interests into something meaningful. This job handed me a front-row seat to the most remarkable parts of the University of Virginia.

I helped tell the evolving story of the University through the headlines and the people behind them. I interviewed students carving out their niches, professors and faculty members sharing cutting-edge research and alumni taking their UVA education into the world. Each story reminded me of this vast and vibrant community.

As I prepare to graduate Saturday, I’ve reflected on what a privilege it’s been to help amplify the voices that make UVA what it is.

Here are five stories that stand out from my time with UVA Today. Each one is a chapter in my education about what makes the UVA community so extraordinary.

When my boss told me I’d be covering Tina Fey’s return to UVA for the President’s Speaker Series for the Arts, I nearly fell out of my chair. It was my second semester on the job and my first time interviewing a celebrity – and not just any celebrity, but one of UVA’s most iconic alumni.

I listened to an audiobook of Fey’s memoir “Bossypants” to prepare and came up with a list of questions. I did an initial phone call with her where I asked her my questions, and she told me she hoped to see me at the Speaker Series of the Arts. I nearly passed out.

On the day of the event, as I waited to meet her outside the green room in John Paul Jones Arena, my heart was pounding. But Fey was everything you’d hope: warm, sharp and present. It felt surreal, a full-circle moment that showed how far a UVA education can take someone, especially in the liberal arts.

What stayed with me was that UVA cultivates artists, writers and cultural changemakers. Helping tell that story was an honor that I will never forget.

Not every story I wrote was about clubs or academics. Some of the most memorable stories were about students doing something wild and wonderful just because they could.

One student, an avid cyclist, decided to take on the “Everesting” challenge, climbing the height of Mount Everest by biking the same hill, on a unicycle, multiple times. And he did it right here on Grounds, at Observatory Hill.

A new UVA student at the time, he found a community through UVA’s Club Cycling team, trained hard and shaved hours off a record most people would never think to attempt. It wasn’t about a grade or a resume; it was about passion and perseverance.

That story reminded me that excellence doesn’t always show itself in awards or high GPAs. Sometimes it chases strange dreams, with a group of people who cheer it on the whole way.

One of the most rewarding parts of this job is seeing how UVA creates lifelong connections. When we put out a call for alumni “roommates-to-besties” stories, one submission stood out.

Two women from the class of 2002 were paired as first-year roommates. They lived together all four years, stayed in Charlottesville after graduation and are still best friends. The twist? Their eldest daughters are now UVA first-year students and close friends, too.

Interviewing the moms separately, I was struck by how closely their words echoed each other. Each described meeting her roommate as one of the greatest blessings of her life. They talked about how being pushed out of their comfort zones led to a lasting and life-changing connection.

It reminded me of my first-year roommate, Gabriela Dell’Anno, and the close friendship we’ve built. Though UVA is known for academic excellence, some of its most meaningful interpersonal moments happen in quiet spaces like dorms and dining halls.

UVA is a place where passion turns into action. One of the most vibrant student groups I covered was the fashion organization CRAVE, which stands for “creative, raw and very edgy.” In its 11th year, the group utilizes the diverse talents and backgrounds of its members to throw an annual fashion show.

CRAVE provides students with a platform to collaborate on everything from design to modeling. While open to all, the group prides itself on amplifying the voices of students of color. Its annual show is a full-on production. Even better, it donates all proceeds to the Charlottesville Boys & Girls Club.

One of my favorite stories reinforced my belief that there is a course for everyone at UVA. The story focused on courses that changed students’ lives in ways they never saw coming.

One alumna switched from pre-med to a French major after enrolling in her first French course. A computer science student rediscovered meditation through Chinese calligraphy. A third gained a deeper understanding of the Civil Rights Movement through Black literature. The last student took a risk by taking a course about cinema and AI and walked away with a whole new way of seeing the world.

This story captured what I love most about learning at UVA: It instills the freedom to explore, the courage to try something outside your comfort zone and the excitement of discovering something that sticks with you long after finals are over.

Most of all, it encourages you to take risks, because sometimes those risks change everything.