WES BROOKS DIRECTOR OF RESIDENTIAL LIFE
This week I had the privilege of sitting down with Abhay Nadipuram, the student body president, to visit informally about many different things involving the college.
There was one thing that stood out as the “theme” of the entire conversation: pride in Wartburg College!
As a proud alumnus of my alma mater, I felt a deep connection with Abhay and his passion to put his stamp on this institution.
Not because he wants credit, not because there are hundreds of things wrong with Wartburg that need to be fixed, but because he feels so strongly about what Wartburg stands for and what it provides each student who comes to campus that he wants to be a part of it. He is proud to be a Wartburg Knight.
Each of us here is a Wartburg Knight. How does that resonate with you?
Little things that you don’t even think about can instill a sense of pride throughout the campus culture.
Do you wear Wartburg apparel or are you still roaming the halls of the Saemann Student Center in your Iowa or Iowa State gear?
Do you stick around on the weekends to add to your college experience?
Have you hit up a club or organization meeting that you are interested in?
What about cheering on your roommate, floormate or favorite sports team here on campus?
Bigger things include, but certainly are not limited to, taking the time to invest in your fellow students, faculty and staff.
Each of us has the opportunity to develop life-long friendships, even relationships. I mean, heck, you may be reading this column next to your future spouse right now.
You could create a campus-wide initiative that eventually impacts Iowa, or the U.S. or the world.
You may learn something in the classroom that is a pillar for your education and life after college that propels you to be more successful than you ever dreamed.
These are all things to be proud of and things to reflect on.
I mean, this is Wartburg; this is college. We are all orange for a reason….what’s yours?
Figure it out and act on it. Be proud to be a Knight. I know, I know, many of you already are and that is what is so awesome about this place!