Giving Thanks for W&M

People.  A young man who most strongly influenced my faith life. The Queen. The nameless young lady who consoled me in the Wren Yard on September 11, 2001.  A crotchity alumna who taught me about being tough but fair. A physicist who paints. A professional football player, four time participant in the superbowl, who licked the chocolate off his 3 year old son’s hands to protect his wife’s white pantsuit. The Weinermobile driver. Students who wait in line overnight for a chance to pay several hundred dollars to volunteer for service trips to South Africa. Miss Virginia. A young female professor who inspired me to try new things and pursue a career in the information technology field.  A former U. S. President. A coach who had retired 30 years ago who annually requested a list of all the students from his department to send an annual Christmas letter, and when he died, there were probably 7 decades of students represented at his funeral. A famous tv personality before he was famous.  A former British Prime Minister. Countless young adults who have taught me to think about things from different viewpoints, to lighten up and to take advantage of opportunities.

I have learned so much from the people I’ve met and spent time with at W&M as a student, alumni staff person, admission team member, student group mentor and townie.  Compassion, empathy, sympathy, being a good listener, respecting other people’s opinions, flexibility, determination, persistence, tolerance, humor, not taking myself seriously, sense of community, and gratitude.

I am thankful for W&M for the people!

– Betsy Quinzio