This weekend marks an interesting moment for me. I will take on the role as president of my alumni chapter in the region. It’s something that when I agreed to be nominated I took on mainly because no one else would run. As the election (I’m the only one on the ballot) comes closer and Sunday approaches, I’ve embraced this role more and more. Maybe it’s because I feel it’s leadership practice for me in whatever direction I head in life. Or maybe it’s because of my feeling that we all should give back to our roots and those places in our lives that shaped who we are as individuals.
It’s nothing new to my friends to hear me make a West Virginia mention on a daily basis. I love West Virginia. From the coal mining region of southern West Virginia that I grew up, to Harper’s Ferry, to Wheeling, to Huntington (yes, even Huntington), I love all that West Virginia has to offer. The people. The scenery. The herritage. And of course, the pepperoni rolls from Fairmont. I came to North Carolina to search for the one thing I could not find back home - a decent job. It’s something that many people in my generation and previous generations have done in order to provide for their families. Yet, we still love this state.
I am a North Carolinian now, but I will always be a West Virginian. I get goose bumps to Country Roads, while others wish the song would be turned to something else.
My hope is that I can take my passion for West Virginia, my love of people and serving others, to improve my alumni chapter. I have a goal to improve the community service opportunites for our members. I want to accomplish this through participation in Crop Walks, Relay for Life, and other events in the Triangle in which we can show our compassion and give back to this area and everyone at large.
I hope to also do more for the people of West Virginia. We stepped into this role earlier this year, by conducting a fundraiser for the mining victims and their families from the accident in Buckhannon, W.Va. I believe we can do more as chapter, and as individuals.
Maybe my scope net is too large, but I believe as alumni and as a chapter it should be about more than getting together on Saturdays to drink beer and watch West Virginia football. Sure, that is fun, but there has to be more. There has to be substance.
I hope to provide the substance, while also providing the fun.
