As graduating seniors say goodbye to friends and faculty, a few of them recently shared their favorite Columbian College moments. . . .
“My favorite part of GW has been the bonds and memories I have shared over the last two years as a house staff member in the freshmen dorms of Somers and then Lafayette. I started the job thinking I had so much to teach and share with my residents, but in reality, they taught me so much about compassion and friendship.”
–Ty Miranda, BA Religion
“On a whim, I applied to the White House internship program to work part-time. A few months later, I was blown away to receive a call asking if I would be interested in interviewing for a full-time internship in the White House Office of Digital Strategy—a perfect opportunity for me as a political communication major. SMPA internship supervisor, Professor Michael Shanahan, helped me work out my schedule to make this remarkable experience possible. During the spring semester of my junior year, I was working at the White House by day and taking classes at GW by night!”
–Alison Mortell, BA Political Communication
"My favorite academic experience at GW was definitely Professor Daina Eglitis’ Inequality in American Society class. Her fervor for the subject matter and her interactive teaching style was so stimulating that I decided to pursue a master’s degree in social work. Her lectures encouraged me to think with an open-mind—a skill that I will carry on as I pursue other educational and professional endeavors beyond GW."
–Tylah Johnson, BA Sociology
"My freshman year, I was nervous about having to conduct research even though I knew it would be a great experience. Little did I know that my first lab position—working with Professor Sally Moody on neural development—would lead to so many life-changing opportunities. Professor Moody became an influential mentor, encouraging me to apply for a Luther Rice Fellowship (which I received!) and guiding me in the completion of my senior thesis. Even outside of the lab, she always looked for programs and connections for me to pursue post-graduation. Working in her lab has strengthened my technical skills, while also boosting my confidence.”
–Shailly Gaur, BS Biology
“During my junior year, when I was a journalism and mass communication major, I took Professor Lynette Osborne’s Intro to Sociology class on a whim. I ended up falling in love with it and decided right then and there to switch majors. I have always been involved in community service so the choice to switch to Sociology just felt right. I've never looked back.”
–Sarah Kranau, BA Sociology
“One of my most memorable experiences at GW was my trip to Paris with my Globalization and the Media class during spring break this year. I went to all of the famous museums and sites such as the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower, but we also visited a local radio station and The International New York Times. One of the highlights of the trip was meeting with Acting American Ambassador Mark Taplin at his home in Paris. That was definitely a #OnlyatGW moment!”
–Gabrielle Miller, BA Political Science
“After deciding to minor in journalism, I took the Intro to News Writing and Reporting class with Professor Michael Zuckerman. The class was amazing and I learned more than I ever imagined. For my final project, I wrote about the issue of statehood in D.C. and interviewed several people involved on the D.C. City Council. They ended up publishing my paper on their official statehood blog. It was an extremely rewarding experience!”
–Timothy Riordan, BA Economics
“My favorite GW memory was the Black Culture in the Nation’s Capital Dean’ Seminar taught by Professor James Miller. The small-class size helped me form bonds with Professor Miller and my classmates and stimulated our class discussions. Part of the class involved travelling around D.C. to many different neighborhoods, including the historic U Street Corridor and a visit to the iconic Ben’s Chili Bowl. The class gave me an important and thought-provoking perspective of D.C. that not many students get to experience.”
–John Marco Siragusa, BA History