Oh the People You'll Meet!

Hi Yall,

This past Sunday it was another round of "Guess who's on campus?!?!". This time it was a bit different in that GW hosted the Team USA Men's Basketball team!

Turns out Coach K didn't want to practice in the Verizon Center where they would later play Brazil, so they decided to come over to the Smith Center on campus. One of my roommates and I went with our leftover US flags from our July 4th celebration to the arena to catch a glimpse of the NBA's best.

Out strolled Kevin Durant, Lebron James, Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Love, and Kobe Bryant. It was a pretty impressive crew but do they make it into the top 5 people I've seen on campus or in DC? I've interacted with Olympians, Presidents, Secretary of Sates, Emmy winners, and World Cup winners.

Here is the full list of famous/interesting people I've either met or seen in my first three years:

1. Barack Obama (shook his hand)
2. Michelle Obama (shook her hand)
3. Brazilian National Soccer Team (Neymar, Thiago Silva, Pato, and Hulk signed my shirt)
4. Bill Clinton
5. Jon Stewart
6. Team USA Men's Basketball
7. Usher
8. Madeline Albright
9. Hilary Clinton
10. Robert Gates
11. Stephen Colbert
12. Michael Bloomberg

This isn't a full list of people who have come to campus, it's only my list. When you come to GW, you know it'll be a fun filled four years, but not just for the normal college reasons.

Coming soon will be the 9 Student Organized Events You Should Attend

All the best,

Oscar

@myworthynotes | oscarn@gwmail.gwu.edu

Diversity on the Field

Hey Y'all,

Last week I had a rather typical "THIS is why I go to GW" moment.

After a day of doing good at my marketing internship at GlobalGiving, I jumped on my bike to go play soccer with a group of guys I've been meeting up with since late May. But not until this time had we actually discussed their backgrounds. Below is the breakdown of my pick up soccer team who are all G Dub grads:

• Wassim is from Lebanon and now works for the International Monetary Fund 
• Ante is from Serbia and now works for the World Bank 
• George is from Romania and now works for a financial consultant group 
• Gianluca is Italian and now works for an clean energy start-up 
• Mahmoud is Egyptian and now works for the World Bank 
• Ali is Turkish and has a year left at GW 
• Fredrick is German and works at Lufthansa 
• I'm a Nicaraguan who grew up in Texas and I have a year left at GW 

It's powerful to think that we all come from such diverse geographic areas from across the world but that we A) share the fact that we chose GW for undergrad and B) we share a deep passion for soccer. These two drives brought us together as a group and I know that even when I'm not in classes or even on campus I still appreciate what GW has done for me.

All the best,

Oscar

@myworthynotes | oscarn@gwmail.gwu.edu 

Lesson #010: "See you at CI!"

Fun fact: This is the CI logo. What is it, you ask? One hint is that it is not a G and a W, as some have speculated. Ask your small group leader when you come to Colonial Inauguration.

Lesson #010: "See you at CI!"

Hey, buff and blue Colonials! In case you’ve been wondering where I’ve been, I’ll tell you: I’ve been at Colonial Inauguration (@GWCI on Twitter)! Let’s back up a little bit…

At some universities, mom and dad pull up in their minivan three days before classes and drop off their students, at which point students are forced to sit in auditoriums and classrooms, learning about university services. Boring, right? I concur. At GW, we have our own brand of orientation and it is called Colonial Inauguration or CI.

Dozens and dozens of professional staffers and student staffers work for over a half year to put the pieces in place for a 2 ½ day spectacular. Chris Kim and Lauren Cattano, the 2012 CIHQ (Colonial Inauguration Headquarters) team, could better explain what it’s all about!

Colonial Inauguration is not only for students but also for the whole family. The siblings program is an opportunity for Future Colonials to get to know the place their older sibling will be living for the next 4 years (in fact, it is so impactful that about 10% of the Class of 2016 is made up of siblings of previous Colonials!). Parents also have an opportunity to get in on the action and learn to adjust to their child going to college, not only for their own purposes but so that they can be there as a resource for the student they are shipping off to a city that could very well be an eerie place had GW not had this orientation every summer.

In working with the Office of Parent Services, I get to witness the wide-eyed parents, students, and siblings as the Colonial Cabinet, CI Staffers, CIHQ, and administration “perform” an award-winning orientation. I can see the excitement in their faces! Even still, I will never forget my own CI experience back in 2010 with my group leader Aubrey, who actually inspired me to minor in creative writing! At CI, students gain resources, knowledge, and friends. I know this first-hand and, honestly, wouldn’t trade that experience for the world.

If you are a member of the class of 2016, be sure to look out for Alyse, who is one of our wonderful admissions bloggers and an excellent addition to the thirty-four member Colonial Cabinet. If you still have yet to come to GW, I don’t want to spoil all of the surprises, but, if you visit www.ci.gwu.edu, you can see for yourself just what CI has in store!

We’ll see you at CI!

Sincerely,

Matt

mtscott@gwu.edu

Lesson #008: Internships and job opportunities can very well be the spice of life.

Lesson #008: Internships and job opportunities can very well be the spice of life.

Interning experiences come in all shapes and sizes.

Finals have come to an end. Commencement on the National Mall (Brian Williams, famous for his roles as a journalist and for his frequent cameos on 30 Rock) was less than 24 hours ago. Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors have largely filed out in preparation for summer vacations laden with sand, sleep, and sun, while seniors are putting their final preparations on a little thing called “life” as they ready themselves to “leave the nest” of GW’s campuses and classrooms. Meanwhile, scores of individuals in suits file into Foggy Bottom.

There is a stereotype about GW students that they can leave their residence halls in business attire and not stand out. While this is not entirely true, it does speak to the fact that GW students are the ones “suiting up” to take advantage of the opportunities DC and the GW network have to offer. GW’s career centers deserve a ton of credit for providing hundreds of opportunities to students from thousands of employers. On the other hand, GW is in a place that makes professional growth readily possible and is quick to establish those “links for life” for students, bridging any gaps between the University and the District, as well as the world community.

Non-Colonials also take advantage of these opportunities by coming to GW and DC during the summer. For these past few days, I have heard more about summer internships than ever before. From Capitol Hill to U Street and from the Pentagon to the White House, visitors are taking advantage of opportunities that GW students have year-round. I, for one, will continue my internship at an organizational by the name of No Labels (@NoLabelsOrg). Interestingly enough, through GWork (our online professional network), the organization found me--- and I love it there so much that I don’t plan on leaving anytime soon!

This picture was posted on the No Labels Facebook page (www.Facebook.com/NoLabels) for 184,000+ people to see. Obviously, I was ecstatic! On this day in particular, me and another intern went door-to-door, telling everyone about No Labels and the available internship opportunities.

In my internship, similar to the experiences of countless other Colonials, it is not about coffee runs and making copies. It’s about getting life experience as well as professional experience and growing from that—as you get to see your contributions make a difference. During our fall, spring, and summer sessions, we Colonials can take advantage of the District of Columbia (and we do!). In general, the vast majority of GW students do! In fact, I have met someone who has had 9 internships in her four years here! Live a little!

The No Labels team of staff and interns!

Looking to kickstart your career or just test the waters in a field you are considering for a career? At GW, look no further than the businesses and organization surrounding you in the beautiful capital city! You'll come out of it with great experience as well as fantastic friends and endless memories that you will never forget.

Stay Spirited,

Matt

mtscott@gwu.edu

Inspiration

Hi everyone!

I am about to go take my last final exam, Survey of International Economics (2180). This is an Elliott School requirement that can be quite difficult for those whose minds are not economically prepared!! I know a ton of students in the class from my major, and one girl sent out an email to all of us last night in order to help us all buckle down and study:


Titled: "Inspiration"
Great moments are born from great opportunity.
That's what you have here today. That's what you've earned here today.
One exam.
If we took it ten times, we might fail it nine.
But not this exam. Not today.
Today, we ace this exam.
Today, we draw graphs and determine exchange rates because we can!
Today, we are the greatest economics students in the world.
You were born to be an economics student--every one of ya.
And you were meant to be here today.This is your time.
I'm sick and tired of hearin' about what a difficult exam it will be.This is your time!
NOW GO OUT THERE AND TAKE IT.


With that in mind, she is hilarious and motivational, and I'm back to studying :)
Marisa

#OnlyAtGW

Hey Ya'll

(This story took place 3 years ago when I was freshman)

Just like everyone else the Obama's piled the kids into the minivan for a Thursday night out. This particular time they chose to come out to a GW basketball game. It looked like a typical evening with the kids as Barack was corned into going to the concession stand to pick up popcorn and a hot dog for his daughters. 

For my roommate and I it was our first ever #onlyatgw moment. These are special experiences that only happen to GW students due to our unique location in the heart of Washington, DC. 

Even with all the Secret Service I was able to snag a handshake from President Obama as is evident from the photo I took which can be seen below.

I also was able to shake hands with the First Lady Michelle Obama! 

Over the next few weeks I'll be sharing a few more of my #onlyatgw moments so stay tuned to the blog! 

Feel free to follow me on Twitter to see when I use the hashtag!

All the best,

Oscar