Meet the Interns: Isaiah Jenkins

Aloha! alumni, prospective students, and parents. My name is Isaiah and I am a rising second-year at the University of Virginia studying Sociology and African &African American Studies on the Pre-Med track in the College of Arts and Sciences.. I am originally from Danville, Virginia, a small town in southern Virginia. In my short time here at the University, UVa has become home for me and place that I can't imagine not being in my life.

UVA and Charlottesville has numerous opportunities to meet new and amazing people. In my first year alone, I have already met so many students that committed and passionate about whatever activities in which they are involved. One of my favorite things that my friends and I love to do is hike in to Shenandoah National Park. It is only 25 minutes from Grounds and is a great way to spend time outdoors.

Speaking of friends,  there are 963 clubs/organizations available for students to join here at the University. These organizations are often where students not only find friends, but a family. For me, the University Guide Service has become that family. Although I spent countless hours in student lead classes learning about the 200 years of history at UVa,  I did it with the most remarkable students I have ever met. 

I am also deeply involved in the vibrant black community here at UVa. Students in the minority community are extremely passionate about making sure UVa is a comfortable space for all.

Lastly, I spend a majority of my time playing basketball around Grounds against other students, whether it be clubs or simply recreational.

I cant imagine not being here at UVa. Luckily, this is only the beginning. And for those prospective students, I hope you will join us on this journey.

Meet the Interns: Lily

Well, well, well.

Fancy meeting you here.

It’s me. Two-time Pinellas County K-6th Cartoon Award Winner: Lily Brock.

I’m a rising fourth year from Herndon, Virginia majoring in American Studies and minoring in Spanish. Here’s some UVA greatest hits through the seasons:

Fall:

The start of every new school year brings with it the opportunity to get involved with another organization at UVA. For example, this past year, I joined the University Guides Service. We’re a student-run organization that gives tours of grounds to prospective students and visitors to the University. UGuides is not only a wonderful way to share my experience at UVA with incoming students and tourists, but the organization also fosters a strong community of students.

University guides in the dome room of the Rotunda after new guides have been initiated.

Winter:

If you think Charlottesville is a looker in the summer, oh baby just you wait until the holiday season slides in!

I love me some Lighting of the Lawn. The cider. The songs. The lights.

Spring:

I love to spend my time after classes cooking from scratch and playing with new recipes. Take a peek!

Summer:

Charlottesville not only hosts so many phenomenal local restaurants throughout the year, but each summer the town holds weekly farmer’s markets with fresh produce, flowers, and hot prepared foods from local chefs. Any given Saturday morning each summer, you’ll find me knee-deep in fresh-picked tomatoes and peaches.

Should you find yourself in Charlottesville over the summer, drive about an hour out with some friends for a double feature at the drive-in theater. Maybe snag some paletas at La Flor Michocana on your way.

Feel free to email me with any questions about UVA student life at ljb7jq@virginia.edu

Meet the Interns: Isabelle

Hello hello! I'm Isabelle Edwards, a rising third-year from Farmville, Virginia, majoring in Youth & Social Innovation. YSI is a relatively new major (I'm in the sixth cohort!) in UVa's Curry School of Education and Human Development, with focuses on public policy, psychology, and innovation research. As of right now, I'm thinking about going to grad school for education policy, with plans to go into the arts education reform nonprofit world!

Here at UVa, I'm heavily involved in the marching band! I play mellophone for marching band and French horn for wind ensemble. I perform at all home football games, most home basketball games, and occasionally travel to tournaments/post-season events. This year, I was able to go to Charlotte, NC, twice for band things - once for the Belk Bowl and once for the men's basketball ACC tournament! Both events were super fun, though I've seen enough of downtown Charlotte to last me a lifetime. Being a member of the band is such a great experience, because I've been able to meet so many fantastic friends and grow as a musician. The band is one big family, and it's very easy to walk by a handful of other band members on your walk to class! Even though UVa can feel pretty big sometimes (16,000 undergrads!), it feels so much smaller once you get to know people.

Outside of band, I volunteer as a teacher's aide at a local elementary school, and occasionally take ballet classes at Charlottesville Ballet, the city's only professional ballet company! I danced at the company's academy in high school, and continue to make my way out into greater Charlottesville to take class when I have the chance. CB is focused on their unique mission of dancer wellness, which is super important in the dance community but also in such an active city like Charlottesville!

One of my favorite UVa traditions is the first snowball fight on the Lawn. After the first big snow of the year, everyone floods the Lawn at midnight to have a huge snowball fight!! This year, it snowed just before fall finals in December, so the snowball fight was a great way to de-stress and just have a good time. My whole friend group met up and hurled chunks of iced-over snow at each other for a solid hour. Some people managed to knock out some windows on the Rotunda (not my friends!) and we got an angry email from our Dean of Students the next morning, but it was worth it for some fun.

Finally, I'm conducting research on racial disparities in music education, with the help of Curry professor Ben Castleman. UVa allows - and encourages! - undergraduates to get involved in research, either assisting with research a professor is already doing or getting help working on your own research, like I'm doing. Professors are typically more than happy to help you with your own ideas, or point you in the direction of someone else who can help. You can get involved with research as early as your first year, and most majors have opportunities for you to look into!

I hope this glimpse into my life as a UVa student was at least a little informative! I really love being a student here at UVa and I'd be more than happy to chat about anything I've mentioned. Please feel free to email me at ire3en@virginia.edu if you want to chat!

Meet the Interns: Stefan

Hello everyone! My name is Stefan Lizarzaburu, I am a rising 3rd year from Yorktown, Virginia. I am a psychology on the pre-health track. UVA’s great -- here’s why:

My UVA family! Ah geez. I spend most of my time at UVA with others -- mostly people that I’ve met through the organizations I’ve joined since being on Grounds. Pictured below are the members of my probationary class in the University Guide Service (a long-winded way of saying we learned to give tours together). Giving tours is an incredible opportunity to speak your truth, or share the truths of those unspoken for!

Pictured above are some members of the Latinx Leadership Institute. Throughout the semester, we learned essential leadership skills and works through issues that face our communities at the local and national levels. Mi familia!

I’m a big music guy, so my second year I started writing music reviews for our student newspaper, The Cavalier Daily. To be honest, I don’t have a picture with my staff, so here’s me currently listening to a strange band called Slint while writing this blog post!

What’s there to do outside of clubs? Good question. There’s also a ton to explore in and around Charlottesville. Shenandoah Mountains? Beautiful.

Monticello? Fascinating histories and narratives to engage with and analyze (here’s me dancing in the dome room).

Downtown Mall? Incredible dining options (including Thai Fresh pictured above -- cheap, quaint, and delicious #notsponsored)!

Okay, well, enough pictures. Talking time. I have truly and genuinely loved every minute of UVA I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing. I’ve really been able to find my footing at this university and find my family in the people I surround myself with. My college admissions process was, admittedly, laughable (did half my applications incorrectly!!), but I am so fortunate to have ended up in a place that I’ve fallen in love with every day. For you perspective students out there, I genuinely hope you can find the same!

Meet the Interns: Sabrina!

Greetings, friends!

My name is Sabrina! Read more below to find out about myself, how I get involved at UVA, and my favorite things to do in the greater Charlottesville area!


A little about myself:

I’m a rising third-year from Cape Coral, FL, studying Computer Science in the College. In my free time, I enjoy running (but I’m not good at it…) and I’m always looking for a running-buddy! This picture is from the LAKAS Glow Run 5k hosted by the Organization of Young Filipino Americans (OYFA) at UVA.

My friend, Amara, and me!

I love music and concerts! Some of my favorite artists include Citizen, Brand New, and BTS! (Talk to me about music! I could go on forever, and love finding new artists). Check out this clip from the last concert I attended!

                                         


I absolutely love taking subpar iPhone-quality photos of Charlottesville sunsets. I’m a sucker for a beautiful sky. :)

At UVA, my favorite way to get involved in is through cultural organizations and events!

Smiling because I messed up thirty seconds before this.
This is me performing for EscAPAde!

4 of the members of my KSA family at Korea Day, an annual fall event that celebrates Korean culture!

This past year, I served as the Outreach chair and Fundraising chair, as well as a family head for the Korean Student Association! As a family head, you create events for your ‘family’ and really just try to foster community and friendship within each other.

One of the few events my fam did together.
I reserved a study space and we ordered pizza.

A few of the people in my KSA family! This was during 'Meet the Family' event. Our family was called '불개', which roughly translates out to Fire Dogs. :)

Besides cultural organizations, I enjoyed giving my time to the Asian Student Union, a political advocacy organization that provides a voice for Asian-Americans! I worked on the Prospective and Alumni Relations committee, where I helped plan EscAPAde--an all-day event hosted by UVA for prospective Asian-Pacific Americans so they can get a feel for the University and the cultural diversity here!

This was the PAR committee for the Asian Student Union.

I love getting involved in UVA traditions, more specifically: Trick or Treating on the Lawn (TOTOTL) and Lighting of the Lawn (LOTL). Look at this cute doggo dressed as a lion. :')

The cute Labradoodle I met! 

The Rotunda all lit up :')

In my free time, I like to explore Charlottesville. The pictures below are of this really neat-o record shop called Side Tracks!

Well, this concludes my blog post. If you’ve made it this far, thanks for sticking around! I hope I could give you the perspective of a UVA student and could showcase (some of) cultural diversity here on Grounds. If you have any questions for me, please feel free to reach out.

My email is: sjb4sy@virginia.edu.

Much love,

Sabrina ^-^

Meet the Interns: Maddie

Hi everybody! My name is Maddie, I’m a rising fourth-year studying Government & Religious Studies from Chantilly, VA. Here’s a rundown of some of my favorite places/moments around UVA.

Spending time with friends around the Lawn:

Pictured: left- gathered in a garden with friends from the University Guide Service, which gives academic and historical tours during the school year. right- with friends during Trick-or-Treating on the Lawn at Halloween!

UVA games:

I lived across the football stadium during my first year and still love going to games in the fall. Admittedly, UVA is more of a basketball school than a football school, but students earn sabre points at home games that ensure good seats during basketball season.

Pictured: with friends during a night football game this fall, at Scott Stadium.

Seeing Charlottesville:

Going to school in Charlottesville is one of my favorite aspects of UVA; the mountains are beautiful, restaurants are delicious, and important conversations happen all around.

Pictured: right- hiking in Shenandoah National Park (about a half hour from Cville) with my friend Jordan. left- Sunset Series at Carter Mountain Orchard.

Feel free to email me with any questions (mes4wh@virginia.edu). Happy summer!

Meet the Interns: Sam

My name is Sam and I’m a rising third year at the University of Virginia. I’m originally from a small town in southern Virginia called Chatham. UVa has been an awesome home for me to really dive in to the things I love. 

One of my favorite things about going to UVa is its proximity to Shenandoah National Park. Just a 25 minute drive to the south entrance, I like to go to the park on days when I’m stressed out. Even when I was in high school, long drives were the best way to destress, and there’s no better place to drive than through one of America’s best National Parks. 

Speaking of long drives, I have always had a deep love for road trips. Since I’ve enrolled in UVa, I have driven with my friends to New York City, Montreal, Utah, and even California! 

 I am also an avid chess player. I got in to the game after playing a lot with my mom when I was young, it’s kind of our tradition to play chess whenever we see each other, even now. 

Lastly, I have recently made the expedition in to plant ownership. I have made it a goal to fill my home with plants / life-giving flora. I will keep this blog updated on that front. 

Meet the Interns: Alex

Hi, everyone! My name is Alex, and I am a rising fourth year from Charlotte, North Carolina. I am double majoring in Global Development Studies and Women Gender and Sexuality. It’s definitely a mouthful to say, but both are interdisciplinary majors in the College of Arts and Sciences. These are a few of the things I’ve done at UVA, and some of my favorite memories!

Many UVA students will study abroad at some point during their time here, whether for an entire semester or year, in the summer, or one of the many other options that are available to students. I studied at the London School of Economics the summer after my first year and took a course called “international Human Rights: Theory, Law, and Practice.” During that time, I mostly stayed in and around London and really got to know the city well.

This is Covent Garden Market in London, and I spent a lot of time in the SoHo and Covent Garden Neighborhoods.

The summer after my second year, I studied Spanish in Valencia, Spain, through UVA’s oldest and one of its most popular study abroad programs. I lived with a host family and had the opportunity to practice Spanish in almost all of my interactions. After Valencia, I stayed in Europe and traveled to many different cities on an independent study project.

Catamaran ride off the coast of Valencia.

The view from the Prague Castle in Prague.

During the school year, I love to give historical tours of Grounds through the University Guide Service. One of the coolest parts about UVA is how incredibly historically significant the space is, from the architecture, to its ties to Jefferson, to its more modern history. Many students and their families will also take tours of Monticello, Thomas Jefferson’s home in the mountains around Charlottesville. I toured Monticello when I visited UVA as a senior in high school and again with fellow members of the University Guide Service.

I have always been a huge music person, and my dad has been dragging me to concerts since before I was old enough to walk. Charlotesville is a great place to see concerts, with lots of fun venues ranging from small general admission theaters on the downtown mall to John Paul Jones Arena. I have also traveled to Richmond and DC to see some of my favorite artists.

At the end of my second year, I spent a weekend in DC to see Lorde with one of my best friends, Jake.

The South side of Monticello with friends from the University Guide Service.

Snow days are always so much fun and turn Grounds into a beautiful wonderland. If it’s snowing, there is a tradition where, at midnight, hundreds of students will come to the Lawn for a giant snowball fight. If classes are cancelled, students will generally spend all day out in the snow hanging out with their friends. We got lucky and had a couple of snow days this year!

We got a huge snowfall during fall finals this year, which made studying slightly more enjoyable, but made it all the more tempting to spend time outside.

And of course, I could not write a post about some of my favorite parts of UVA without mentioning men’s basketball. There was nothing more devastating than watching 1-seed UVA’s historic loss to 16-seed UMBC in the first round of the NCAA tournament last year in my home city of Charlotte. But then, there was nothing better than watching the Hoos, only one year later, through a series of nail-biting finishes, go on to win its first ever National Championship against Texas Tech. I watched the game on the Lawn with a big group of friends who had set up a large projection screen. We watched history being made in the shadow of one of Virginia’s most historic places.

Many students stormed the Corner after the game to celebrate the win. This is my friend, Thomas, above all of the crowds.