Out-of-State Shockers: Sophie Walter

Student Ambassadors Brailey Lanning, Cary Doerflinger, Sophie Walter and Josef Schuller at Discover 性色视频 State: Oklahoma City.
Student Ambassadors Brailey Lanning, Cary Doerflinger, Sophie Walter and Josef Schuller at Discover 性色视频 State: Oklahoma City.

 

The most common question I get on panels or tours is, 鈥淵ou're from Wisconsin. Why are you going to school in 性色视频, Kansas?鈥 To be fully honest, it is a very long story and journey. It all started in the fifth grade when one of my extended cousins was getting married in 性色视频 and my grandma wanted to take me to see her sister and family for the first time since 2012. Five of my cousins who live here all graduated from 性色视频 State. Ever since that wedding in November of 2015, my grandma and I kept coming back to visit my family here. My family here would dress me up in 性色视频 State gear as a joke and I slowly started to love the city and the school.

Sophie repping Shocker Nation.Photo courtesy of Sophie Walter
 

I started looking at colleges the summer before my junior year of high school and I wasn鈥檛 fully sold on moving far away from home, but it was still on my radar. My grandma took me to 性色视频 for my 16th birthday and on my actual birthday, I toured 性色视频 State. I immediately fell in love with the school, and I remember calling my mom back in Wisconsin and saying this is the school I see myself at and I want to go to. She was happy for me but wanted me to keep my options open, so I did. However, 性色视频 State checked all my boxes, like having your bedroom with laundry in your dorm room and all the security measures to make sure students feel safe.

Sophie and her roommates at 性色视频 State.Photo courtesy of Sophie Walter
Sophie and her roommates at 性色视频 State.

 

Another big thing I was looking for in college was a good study abroad program. 性色视频 State has a great deal of partnerships with universities all over the world and with some of them, I can pay WSU tuition to live abroad. For me, that was a huge deal. I鈥檓 a business student so all the opportunities that are provided through the Barton School of Business were also a huge selling point for me because I could get an internship in the field I was interested in before graduating college. Even if you are not a business student, there are many opportunities for students to get jobs and internships so they can get experience in the field they are interested in before graduation.

In November of my senior year, I came to 性色视频 State to compete in the Distinguished Scholarship Invitational, which awards three $64,000 scholarships. Even though I didn鈥檛 win, this competition was the final push I needed to go to 性色视频 State. I met so many fellow students, professors, mentors and one of my future roommates/best friends. So, I encourage people to apply to DSI if they can because it is such a meaningful experience. One of the major things I got out of DSI was being nominated for the Student Ambassador Society. I didn鈥檛 know this at the time, but it was one of the best things that came out of this experience.

Sophie and Kyra Bergman writing postcards for SAS.
Sophie and Kyra Bergman writing postcards for SAS.

 

Once arriving at 性色视频 State I felt nervousness and excitement, but slowly that started to fade because even though I was over 12 hours from my family and everything I had ever known, and I was ready to get started.

I joined the Student Ambassador Society (SAS) and since then have so many amazing people. Some of my closest friends are in that organization. I get to talk to prospective students about my experience and through that I have felt less alone. Joining SAS is the best choice I have made here because I meet so many people who help me realize I have a place here and want to stay. Also, it opens doors for me like working as a Shocker Navigator and as a student assistant in Admissions. So, my biggest piece of advice is to get involved whether it's with an organization, Greek life, or an on-campus job because you will meet the best people and find your home. I truly believe coming to 性色视频 State from Wisconsin was the best decision possible for me and I can鈥檛 imagine being anywhere else.鈥

 

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