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In month of May, first year resident Heather Pearson stepped up in many ways.
As a student she has always showed how driven she is through her academics and her drive to
always be there for others by demonstrating strong study habits. Her personality shines
through at all times as she can always be found with a smile on her face and a welcoming
comment to every passerby. This was continuously the case during the month of May as she
strolled through her final weeks as a first year student at The University of Virginia’s College at
Wise. In particular, Heather helped out with the 2012 graduation ceremony and at staff training
for the 2012-2013 resident advisor staff. Not many first year students can be found at the May
graduation ceremony because most students eagerly pack their bags and leave at the first
chance they can get in order to leave life at the University of Virginia’s College at Wise and
return to family and friends back at home. This was not the case with Heather. Seeing yet
another opportunity to help out and help others with a wonderful experience, Heather waved
goodbye to her new friends and stayed on campus to assist with the graduation ceremony.
Heather, along with several other students, were ushers during the ceremony, helping family
and friends of graduating seniors find seating at the huge and jam-packed event. She sat
through the heat and the sun with a smile on her face awaiting any question, comment, or
concern from attendees of the May 2012 graduation ceremony. Along with graduation, Heather was a great asset to the 2012-2013 resident advisor staff
during the month of May. She had been selected early in the semester as an alternate to the
upcoming staff without a clue if she would be pulled up to a resident advisor position or not.
With spring training right around the corner, Heather was given the option to either attend
training with everyone or go home earlier and see her family and friends. Spring training is
optional for those given an alternate position so Heather had no reason to stay. That is until
she was surprise in early May with a phone call from the Director of Housing and Residence Life
Angela Lemke. A person in a Resident Advisor position had suddenly withdrawn from his
position for the 2012-2013 academic year and suddenly there was a position that needed to be
filled. Heather was the first called to be offered the position and she eager jumped at the
opportunity without a thought of saying goodbye to her chance to return home early. It is clear
that Heather’s involvement in residence life and her community is a top priority for this first
year student and all who know her are excited and eager to see what all she will bring to the
table to help better the residence life community at the University of Virginia’s College at Wise.
Heather will now be working in an all upper class residential community
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