It’s been a crazy busy week. I’ve been flying solo for the most part, and taking each day as it comes with less sleep than I’d like. The best part of my week, thus far, however was certainly the trip that I took to Greensboro this week. It was for a college fair at Mount Zion Baptist Church of Greensboro.  The fair was open to the public, not just the church’s community (of over 5,000 – YES, a 5,000 member church), so we got students of all races, all ages, all personalities, all different kinds of families. It was fantastic. And EXTREMELY rewarding.

I have a running to do list going in my phone of certain things from the event that I would like to blog about – you know, things like the fact that it was my first real Admissions visit, travelling, completely 1:1 with all of these steudnets – that was nerve-racking in and of itself.

But there was one thing that just completely rubbed me the wrong way, and part of the reason that I haven’t decided to blog about the fantastic trip just yet, is very unfrotunately because of the comments that one lady made to me.

A woman, a mother without her children I’d assume, is walking through the common areas where all of the colleges have their tables set up. She was one of the first people that I interacted with, as far as people who weren’t staffing the event and helped me get set up. She turns and looks at my table –

and says, “Oh, Virginia Tech? That’s where all those people got shot up right? Well – no way am I sending my children there.”

She promptly walks away.

Even typing those words – giving them the light of day on MY website – really rubs me the wrong way. But I think it’s necsesary. I think it’s as necessary to share those words with you, because I know that most likely if you are reading this, that does not define our university. You probably already know that.

Our university is defined by things that bring us together – everything from Hokie Football on a Saturday, to the 3.2 for 32, to the largest school shooting in history, to Steppin’ Out this weekend, to an 8 a.m. on the Drillfield, the Relay for Life, to gathering at the pylons to remember a fallen student, the Corps’ Pass in Review ceremony and their numerous traditions, to a Wiz Khalifa concert in Burruss Hall, to office pot lucks, to tubing down the New River together, to eating at the Homeplace, to navigating the endless construction around campus….THE LIST IS ENDLESS. Our university comes togehter more powerfully and more meaningfully, in my humble HOKIE opinion, than any other university or community in this nation. We truly are a big university with a small, family feel to our town. Why? Because we don’t let such horrible things define us. We speak up against them, and show people what being a Hokie is about – we don’t let them walk over us like that. Especially not with words.

Sadly, though… me? I didn’t have that opportunity. She was out of the door as soon as possible. Very quickly, turned around, and booked it – hopefully because she was ashamed of what she said. And, If I’m being honest, in retrospect I am quite thankful for that. I’m not sure what passionate, spirited remark I would have made in reply.

But as I left Greensboro yesterday, I was torn. Is this what that community thinks of us? Did I not do a good enough job of reaching out to them and showing them not only what my university is about, but what I am about as an individual? That the reason I chose to go to this great school was to make sure that people understood that community is greater than the individual?

This morning, I woke up to an e-mail in my inbox, after I charged my phone.  I’m goign to paste the comments below. It made me feel justified. It made me feel like, by dealing with that interaction in a positive way, that actions spoke louder than words. I don’t care if it’s a cliche – and if your’e reading this, you probably already know that I don’t like cliches. But actions, and the way you carry self, will always carry more weight than anything that may come out of your mouth verbally.

This community in Blacksburg, just like the community in Greensboro that hosted all of us university’s and made us a full meal to follow –

– the most hospitable college visit I’ve ever engaged in, fair or not! – is a great one.

 

Re: Mount Zion College Fair, Greensboro, NC – July 31, 5-8pm

What a reminder, right? That even though I’ve spent a large part dwelling on that lady – that being such a large part of memory of my first Admissions visit. Along comes the director of the fair, reminding me, that focusing on optimism really changes things. Her e-mail made interacting with that lady…worth it.