My W&L: Sofía Sequeira ’15

“Here in Lexington I found a home away from home.”

“So, how did you end up at Washington and Lee?”

I came to Washington and Lee without knowing what to expect. A new country, a new culture, a new language, everything was new to me. During the summer before coming to Lexington, I counted down the days; I was thrilled to start college in the United States. However, there were two things I was not particularly excited about: homesickness and winter. Summer passed by fairly quickly, and all of a sudden I was in the airport with one suitcase in hand and ready to leave behind everything I considered home.

Washington and Lee was a pleasant surprise; here in Lexington I found a home away from home. This university has offered me the small classroom experience, great professors willing to help me out, an amazing sense of community, a huge array of opportunities, and the necessary tools to achieve my goals.

After my first city tour around Lexington, I was dubious about how I was going to keep myself busy in such a small place. However, with less than two years left, I know that I will not run out of opportunities.

One of the most fulfilling experiences has been English tutoring. When you tutor for a child who struggles to learn English, every little step counts. Throughout the years, many doors have opened in order for me to develop my full potential, I knew I had to find a way to somehow pay back the countless blessings I have received. Washington and Lee has taught me that every action will make a difference, and this is a lesson that will stay with me even after graduation.

Lexington keeps me 5,666 kilometers away from my family, my house, my community, my culture, my language, my country; and I still cannot think of I place where I would be happier.

“So, how did you end up at Washington and Lee?”

I honestly do not know, but I am glad I ended up here.

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