Virtual!DOTL + List

I decided to combine the virtual days on the lawn with things I love about UVA.

1. Pretty:

.. like we need any more pictures of the Rotunda. The second one was taken at Pancakes for Parkinson's - which is free pancakes on the lawn for a good cause.

2. Sports:

I'm really more of a soccer (*ahem football) fan and our team is really good. The UVA soccer fan group is called Wahooligans and they are responsible for the most awesome atmosphere. I love it!!

But it's not like I've never been to an American football game.. it's a tradition to dress up with pearls and ties but wearing orange and blue is good too.

3. Music "scene":
for my fellow music lovers!! U2 and Muse are coming next semester!!!!!

Tim Be Told is one of the homegrown bands. Maroon 5 at JPJ Arena.

Melee at Satellite Ballroom and Jason Mraz at the Pavilion.

4. Spring Break Opportunities:

Interning for the Obama Campaign in Pittsburgh. Alternative Spring Break in New Orleans!

5. Living/Dorms:

I'm a second year living at Lambeth. I really like it. Lots of space!

6. Other Events:

Foxfield! I went my first year and I had a blast. And Taiwanese Food Night. Yum

The List

So much with the tags and 16 things about me on Facebook, here’s 6 things I love about UVa:

1. People. If I didn’t like the people I interact with everyday, I would have transferred already. (Shout-out to Fourth-years! All the Fourth-years I have met are just amaaazing)

2. Grounds. Yes, we don’t call it campus, call it Grounds. Every time I walk around on a bright sunny day, I am still awed at where I got myself into! Really, all the Fourth-years (aka Seniors) tell me they are still extremely appreciative of the beauty here: ) The thing I like to do most is take naps on the grass.

3. Acceptance of diversity. I can’t lie to you and say this is the most diverse school ever (I mean, it is a public school and ~60% are Caucasian Americans), but the thing is the different racial and ethnic groups mix really well here, and everyone is appreciative of other people’s cultures. And it’s not just racial diversity I’m talking about here, but the acceptance of being different. Here, you can choose to dress up for class or you can just go in your sweatpants and hoodie; you can go out and party every weekend or you can stay in to watch a movie with friends…there is no stereotypical UVa student except that in general, people are smart, care about their academics and just really friendly…that’s what I appreciate most about UVa.

4. Resources. So many libraries where you can go and study, and the libraries offer a ton of resources and books that are just plain overwhelming! Also, there are various study-abroad programs for the semester or just summer/winter break, and programs like ‘Alternative Spring Break’ where you can do something meaningful over breaks. Research opportunities, of course, with professors or initiate one of your own…the opportunities are out there waiting for you.

5. Size of the school.I’m talking about the size of the population as Kim has mentioned in the post earlier, which is a good optimum; and the size of Grounds too, as it’s located in a nice little city called Charlottesville, and the places you need to go to are practically within walking/biking distance, which makes you walk and burn off that ‘Freshmen 15’!(oh trust me, you need the exercise)

6. Students being in charge. Student self governance: the word that is heavily emphasized during orientation and all the painstakingly long receptions. But you won’t know how to appreciate it unless you are really involved in it. From students driving the buses to students in charge of the honor system, students care about what is happening on Grounds, and if they see something unjust happening within the system, they will voice out their opinions.

ella.

These are a few of my favorite things...

Six things I LOVE about UVA (in no particular order)

1. The classes. UVa has a wide variety of classes to take in the College of Arts and Sciences, but there are a ton of other options in the Engineering School, Nursing School, Architecture School, and Education School. If you don't know what you want to study, you can come here and take a little time before you decide!

2. The libraries. Clemons is open 24 hours on most nights of the week (which is great for pulling the occasional all-nighter). Alderman has a coffee shop in it, and rooms with great sunlight. I also love wandering around in the Stacks to find a book, because being in all of the never-ending rows of dusty, old books makes me feel so smart!

3. The weather in Charlottesville. I'm not much of a fan of winter (I had to buy an entire winter wardrobe when it started getting cold!!) but I think that Charlottesville has a great balance of all four seasons. The summers are especially amazing :)

4. The community service opportunities. Madison House is the umbrella organization for community service at UVa. I also volunteer as a mentor with a middle school girl through the Young Women Leaders Program, which has been one of the most rewarding activities I have done so far at UVA. 

5. Student self-governance. One thing that really sets UVa apart from other schools is that students are entrusted to do a LOT. The entire honor system is student run. The alternative spring break program that sends people all over the US and the world for service trips is all organized by students. Students even initiated a new major this year (as someone mentioned in an earlier post). 

6. UVa is just the right size. I usually seem to see people that i know around Grounds and in my classes, but there are always fresh faces to meet at parties!

-Kim