The "Letters to the Class of 2024" blog offers an opportunity for you to read short blog posts by Honors community members addressed to admitted students.
Your Living Learning Community
Taye Folk, Class of 2021
Posted April 29, 2020
After hearing from many of you in our Snack Chats and at the Virtual Spring Preview, it’s clear that lots of you have something big on your mind when it comes to choosing a college: housing! As an Honors College Living Learning Community (LLC) Resident Advisor (RA), I wanted to say hi, and offer you a bit more information about what your first-year experience might be like as a member of the Honors College LLC.
As an Honors College freshman you’ll have the option to live in the Honors LLC, located in one of our two freshman neighborhoods, The Commons. You’ll be located right next to our 24/7 dining hall, Southside, and the Skyline gym, and The Commons comes with its very own common space, Hanover Hall, which is a great place for studying, movie marathons, playing pool, and cooking in the kitchen. So that’s your real estate situation, but what is the Honors LLC?
Well, the Honors LLC is a lot of things. It’s somewhere you can quickly find a tight-knit community ready to experience all kinds of firsts right alongside you. It quickly becomes a gravitational point for your experience at Mason, it’s where you find a home away from home. The LLC makes the large community of Mason a smaller place where it feels like you know, well, just about everyone. You’ll begin to build long-lasting bonds with your floormates as you go to awesome events that the LLC puts on such as a trip to the Kennedy Center, heading down to Fairfax to explore the annual Rock-The-Block event, or keeping it local by Trick-or-Treating around the Commons.
The Honors LLC is a community where you will be able to take advantage of the many opportunities that Mason provides. When you first meet your Honors professors at our annual Build-A-Burger event, you’ll get to know them as people, which can make it so much easier to ask for their guidance or help. Maybe it will even lead to a cool opportunity like conducting research with them next semester or an amazing internship at a nonprofit!
The Honors LLC will be a place where you live together and learn together. When you’re struggling with an HNRS 110 assignment, you can knock on your neighbor’s door to ask for help. Most importantly, the LLC is a supportive ad collaborative environment that you can make your own. You’ll have an RA (maybe it will be me!) who will be there to put on floor events like a Mario Kart Night, Paint Night, or work with the Community Director (CD) to put on a fun destress event. Your RA is a resource for your community, and Community Assistants (CAs) are another person available to help answer questions and make sure your community is safe and thriving. Keep an eye out- these will be some of the first people you’ll meet on Move-In-Day!
At the end of the day, the Honors LLC isn’t just a few residence halls on campus- it includes all Honors students whether you are living in Honors housing, other campus housing, or off-campus. The LLC is a lot of things and it is always changing, but it is always a dynamic community that leads you to new experiences and a place you can make your own. You’ll face challenges when you come to college, but you’ll have an abundance of support along the way. You’ll have the chance to push yourself outside of your comfort zone, and my advice is to say ‘yes’ to trying new things, taking the time to enjoy yourself, making the most out of your new campus community.
Freshman perspective
Elise Mertz, Class of 2023
Posted April 13, 2020
Congratulations on your admittance to the Honors College! I hope that you’re reading this while healthy and relatively sane, especially given how much insanity there is in the world right now. I can’t imagine making a college decision against this backdrop of events; I found it stressful enough to make my own decision last year when life felt normal. As I write this, however, it’s exactly one year to the day from when I chose Mason, and I know for a fact that I’m at the right school.
From first arriving late last August until leaving campus in March, I met as many new people in seven months as I had in the four years prior. Mason’s huge population of students has helped me make plenty of friends with different backgrounds and interests, and it’s been such a rich experience. As a freshman, that’s invaluable – like me, many of you will be building a life from scratch, and the more people you meet, the quicker you’ll find your friends and your footing.
That might not happen immediately in August, and that’s okay too; it took me until about Thanksgiving to feel entirely at home. It doesn’t actually matter how long it takes you – in the wise words of a close friend, “comparison kills”, and it isn’t a race. The more important point, however, is that even before I felt completely a part of the Mason community as I do now, my involvement in clubs, my friends from my residence hall and from class, and people I met through mutual connections made the first few months of freshman year fun and exciting.
Another benefit of the Honors College community is that it encourages students to be welcoming and supportive. One of my favorite things about Mason is that, rather than feeling competitive towards each other and jealous when one person gets access to an amazing opportunity, most people are genuinely excited for that person instead. It feels more like we motivate one another than like we’re competing against each other. Mason as a whole and the Honors College specifically have brought me in touch with so many interesting, talented, and kind people that every day feels like a one-of-a-kind and once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Over this year, I’ve learned that Mason is full of fun traditions and quirks. In my freshman year, I was able to take spontaneous trips into DC planned over Southside soft serve the night before, picnic by Mason Pond, climb the statue of George for an iconic photo (just don’t step on the plaque next to him or you won’t graduate in four years!). Our campus even has secret tunnels – what could be cooler than that? Perhaps the least specific, but entirely genuine, thing I can say is how disappointed I am that a quarter of my freshman year was lost, and how thankful I am that I got to experience the first three-quarters, and I can’t wait to be back.
Congratulations again on your admission. I hope my thoughts help answer some of your questions and help you make the college decision that’s right for you. For now, stay safe, don’t forget to have fun, and hydrate! I hope to see you on campus in the fall!
Taking on something big
Pat Grady, Class of 2020
Posted April 12, 2020
I think we can all agree that this is not how we envisioned how our senior year would go. Given the current situation and with my time at Mason as an undergraduate coming to a close, I thought I would try to impart some of my “senior wisdom” on you as you make a tough decision about where to go to college.
Like many of you, when I was making my college decision I was debating between staying close to home or venturing out of my comfort zone into a new area of the country. As a high schooler from a small town in Maine, Mason represented a large change from the community that I grew up in, and I knew that it was time to try something new. In coming to Mason, something new is exactly what I got. From where I stand today, on the cusp of graduation, the most meaningful part of my college experience was being able to meet incredible people and make life-long friends along the way. It’s the community I found at Mason that led me to the unique opportunities that have come to mark my college experience.
By being a part of the Honors College, I learned about the Office of Fellowships, an office designed to help Mason students apply for and win national competitive scholarships and fellowships. Although the office helps all students, it was my professors and peers in the Honors College that encouraged me to learn more about what sort of scholarships were out there for me. I’m glad I listened to them because it led me to apply for the Truman Scholarship, a scholarship for college Juniors that plan on pursuing a career in public service. Winning the Truman Scholarship has changed my life in many ways. It has introduced me to other Truman Scholars with the same passion for public service as I have, and it has opened the door to many post-grad opportunities. These are both great things, but the thing that sticks with me the most about winning the scholarship was going through the application process with the support and guidance of the fellowship advising team here at Mason. They were there for me at every step of the process, and not only that, but they continue to mentor me as I map out my future after Mason.
When you come to Mason there will be a seemingly limitless number of big things that you can work towards, and I know firsthand that taking on big challenges, like leaving your hometown or applying for a competitive award, can be intimidating. But whatever you chose to do, and whatever the path you take, the one thing that will always remain the same is that you will be supported along the way.
What to expect
Sean Diment, Class of 2020
Posted April 11, 2020
These are certainly challenging, and difficult times for everyone. I hope you all are doing as well as you can be, possibly taking time to reflect, destress, and finish up this school year. In no way can I personally understand what it’s like to lose a crucial part of your senior year, but I can assure you that better days are ahead at Mason. My name is Sean Diment, and I am a rising Junior, Biology Major on a Pre-Med track. I am a member of the Honors College, and have served a variety of roles such as being an RA (Resident-Assistant), a PL (Patriot/Orientation Leader), various positions in Student Government, and as Health Chair of the NAACP. As a student who clearly loves to represent my university, I want to make sure you all have a chance to learn more about what you can expect as a new student at Mason.
First up: Orientation!
In Summer of 2019, I worked as a Patriot Leader (PL). Patriot Leaders are student mentors you’ll meet at Mason’s Orientation, and they help show you around campus and answer your questions. I loved my role as a PL, working with both families and students. Even though Orientation will be a little different this year, your Patriot Leaders will still be here for you to help you start to thrive as a Patriot.
Next: Move-in!
This year, I served as a Resident Advisor (RA) for the Honors College. I loved my residents very much, and us RAs are here to build a close relationship with you and help you succeed academically, personally, and professionally while at Mason. I could spend hours talking about the fun programs I did with my residents such as our weekly “Southside Sundays with Sean” where we would go share brunch at the dining hall, our huge Super Bowl Party, or our adventure into DC to see a Nationals game! RAs will also ask you from time to time how your classes and life are going, and connect you with academic, mental health, and extracurricular opportunities available to you if needed. I hope you’ll take to heart when I say as an RA, I care about all my residents on a personal level. My residents can talk to me about their problems, and I’ll always provide as much empathy and care as humanly possible. If that’s not what you want from your RA, that’s fine too, but we are here for you if you change your mind.
Finally: What to expect as a student!
If you’re a pre-med reading this and you’re already freaking out about medical school: let’s do a virtual breathing exercise. Breathe in deeply…HOLD 10 seconds…release. Cool if you actually did it, if not, go and do it!!! Things are going to be alright. My pre-health advising experience at Mason has been incredible- shout out to Mimi! Being a Mason student affords you so many medical opportunities whether it be at INOVA Fairfax Hospital, the #1 Hospital in VA, or anything going on in D.C., the connections the pre-health office provides are endless. This is true of many of our other programs at Mason as well, but I want the pre-health students to have some comfort straight from a student who knows!
I have enjoyed my time at Mason thus far. While the world remains chaotic and unclear, I am certain that these tough times we’re going through are going to inspire us to push through when things get difficult in the future. I hope each of you can reflect on the challenges you’ve already faced, along with your drivee, and combine those forces to conquer every new obstacle in your way. You are worthy, you are loved, and you are enough to be a Mason Patriot. After all, you are the George Mason University Class of 2024. Congratulations, and I hope to see you at Mason.
Three suggestions for admitted students
Nathan Ryan Crawford, Class of 2020
Posted April 10, 2020
Congratulations on your acceptance to Mason and the Honors College! There are so many people in your life that are proud of you for all your hard work and accomplishments that got you to this point today. As someone who was in your shoes just a few years ago, I want to remind you that you truly deserve all the pomp and circumstance that these next few months were supposed to bring.
The next few months, whether you are a high school or college senior, were supposed to be some of the most exciting months of our lives. I am not going to pretend that I fully know what you’re going through, because my senior year of high school wasn’t brought to a complete stop by a global pandemic. However, I want to remind you aren’t alone in being a bit heartbroken right now. Your feelings right now are so valid and so important! We’ve been looking forward to all these lasts, including proms and graduations, for years, and all of a sudden, they seem like a dream.
At least for me, the idea of not having a graduation ceremony or even having one that is two months late breaks my heart. I began to question if all those late-night study sessions (okay, let’s be real – cram sessions), all the textbooks I read, or being over 700 miles from my family for four years was worth it. It really hurt. However, with time to process, I can tell you with 110% certainty that all those moments were worth it. I am not going to lie and say the end isn’t bittersweet, but I think the positives really outweigh the negatives.
While I don’t remember every detail of my four years in college, I want to share with you five things I’ve learned during my college experience:
Take a chance on yourself. I can promise you that no one truly understands your wants or needs more than you. As much as I wish some people close to me could read my mind and advocate for me, no one can advocate for me like I can. The same goes for you. Your answer is automatically no until you try! Last spring, I applied for 68 summer internships and was only offered two. I didn’t think I was qualified for either of them, but without me taking a chance on myself and applying, I would have missed out on an amazing 10 weeks at CNN.
Enjoy the little moments. In my four years at Mason, I have had the opportunity to do pretty amazing things with my friends that quickly became like family to me. However, what I cherish the most are the little moments. I will never forget the forget the friend who used to yell at me for locking myself out of my room, the friend who bought me dinner the night I desperately missed home, the time I spent five hours sitting at a picnic table talking to a friend, or when I met my future best friend while eating pizza. These all seemed like small things in the moment, but four years’ worth of these small moments changed my life.
Work hard, but remember to have fun! Your classes should definitely be a main priority of yours. I didn’t realize as a freshman how much spending five extra minutes studying for an exam or working on an essay can make a difference. I won’t lie to you and say classes aren’t a lot of work, but when you find those classes you love, the work quickly doesn’t seem like that much work anymore. But college is more than a cyclical routine of classes. After all, they don’t call it the college experience for nothing. Remember to please have some fun along the way! I found that I excelled more both inside and outside the classroom when I remembered to take time for myself and my friends. A healthy balance of the two makes all the difference!
Our senior years may have been cut short, but that doesn’t change the amazing experiences waiting for you at Mason and in the Honors College. Good luck over the next few months- they’ll go by faster than you can imagine.
Unexpected firsts and lasts
Keirsten Robinson, Class of 2020
Posted April 7, 2020
First and foremost, congratulations on your acceptance to Mason! There is so much happening in the world right now, but I believe that it’s still important to take the time to celebrate your accomplishments thus far and the adventures you have ahead of you.
I’m sure the end of your senior year isn’t going the way you planned, and as a college senior I know that mine definitely isn’t.
What was supposed to be my final college spring break with my closest friends ended up being a frantic middle of the night trip to the airport in Lisbon, Portugal desperately trying to book new flights back home 6 days early in the midst of the announcement of a travel ban.
My final day on campus which I had always envisioned as a day full of pride, goodbyes, and celebration, ended up being a normal day. It was a day that seemed so insignificant at the time: I showed up late to my morning class because of traffic (and if we’re being honest, a touch of senioritis), ate lunch in the library with my friends while cramming for a midterm, took the midterm, went to another class, and drove home expecting to have 8 more weeks when I returned from spring break.
We are living in unprecedented times and there’s no guide on to how to deal with this situation and those that we will face in the coming months. But if there’s one thing I can suggest to you all it’s to look ahead to all of the new adventures coming during your college career instead of dwelling on the moments you’re missing now.
While missing all of those “lasts” of your senior year is painful – and trust me, I’m feeling your pain – there are so many new and exciting things on the horizon for you all. There are so many firsts to come, and I urge you to take full advantage of all of them when they get here, because college is the time for new experiences and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone.
I could sit here and think about all of my lasts I’ll never have, but instead, I’m choosing to cherish the firsts: the first time I got to run home to my sorority sisters on bid day, my first time presenting research in Honors 110, the first time I got to see a presidential candidate campaign on Mason’s campus, my first time leaving the country on a study abroad trip, the first time I was appointed to be a member of Student Government, the first time my friends and I decided to drive into D.C. into at 1 in the morning just to see the monuments.
Soon you’ll get to have your very own set of firsts: your first night living on a college campus, meeting your first college friend, your first time cheering on our basketball teams in the Eaglebank Arena, the first time you make the Dean’s List after working so hard all semester, your first experience joining one our 450+ student organizations, your first internship, your first late night in Fenwick Library studying for an exam. These are all moments that will seem so insignificant at the time, but they’re the ones you’ll treasure the most at the end.
Although my time at Mason isn’t ending in the way I expected, I am so grateful for the time that I did have. Looking ahead, there is a lot of uncertainty in my future, and you’re probably feeling the same. But one thing is for sure: choosing Mason was the best decision I could ever have made. Although my time in Fairfax got cut short, I know that Mason will always have a piece of my heart. So even though the present feels mostly like endings, I’m turning my attention to all the beginnings coming my way and yours.