What I'll take with me long after leaving WVC

Reeling in the Memories

My first week here at WVC, Coach Gill took my teammate/roommate Grace Olsen and I fishing. We had a great time!

If you had told me in August how fast this moment would come, I probably wouldn’t have believed you. Back then, everything felt new. New classes, new people, and new expectations. Now, somehow, I’m sitting here trying to put into words what WVC meant to me this year. I’m realizing it’s not just a place where I go to school, but a place where I’m living a chapter that is actively shaping who I am.

Opportunities

This year, I was given opportunities that I never could have imagined at the start. Through the WVC Bass Fishing Team, I was able to build my photography portfolio by capturing moments with my teammates. I traveled to South Africa with my roommate, an experience that expanded my perspective far beyond the classroom. I also competed in collegiate bass fishing tournaments across approximately ten different states, each one bringing new challenges, new environments, and new memories.

Grace and me in South Africa.

These weren’t just trips or events; they were experiences that pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me grow in ways I didn’t expect.

Beyond fishing, I joined Student Senate, which gave me the chance to connect with an entirely different side of campus life. Through it, I met incredible students, helped promote events, and played a role in increasing student and community involvement. It reminded me that being part of a school is about more than just showing up to class, it's about contributing to something bigger.

The People That Made It

No experience like this is ever just about the work; it’s about the people you go through it with. Teammates, classmates, and friends. The ones who understood the chaos, deadlines, and pressure without needing an explanation. The ones who pushed you, supported you, and made the entire experience more meaningful.

There’s something special about being surrounded by people chasing similar goals. It creates a different kind of bond. One built on shared effort, shared struggles, and shared success. You’re not just showing up; you’re building something together, even if you don’t realize it in the moment.

The WVC Bass Fishing Team attended a church service hosted by the LSUS Bass Fishing Team while at Lake Dardanelle.

Some of my favorite memories aren’t tied to major events, but to the in-between moments. The conversations, the laughs, the long days that somehow didn’t feel so long because of the people around me. 

If there’s one thing I’ll take with me from WVC, it’s that. 

What I learned

WVC taught me more than what was written in any assignment.

It taught me to take every opportunity, even the ones that seem intimidating at first.

It taught me to stay consistent, even when motivation fades.

It taught me how to trust my ideas and also when to challenge them.

Most importantly, it showed me that growth doesn’t happen all at once. It happens in small steps, in quiet moments, and in times when you don’t even realize you’re improving.

It’s easy to measure success through grades or achievements, but some of the most important growth happens behind the scenes, in how you think, how you respond to challenges, and how you carry yourself moving forward. 

To Future Students

If you’re just starting your journey here, here’s what I’d say: Take advantage of everything.

Not just the obvious things, the classes and assignments, but the experiences in between. Speak up more than you think you should. Try things even if you’re not sure you’ll be good at them. Get involved, even when it feels uncomfortable. 

Some of the best things that will happen to you here will not be planned. They’ll come from saying yes to something unexpected. 

And don't rush it.

Because one day, you'll look up and realize it's almost over.  

The Final cast

I still have time here at WVC, so for now this isn’t really a goodbye. It’s more like a thank you.

Thank you for the opportunities, the lessons, and the people who made this experience what it was. A thank you for the moments that didn’t seem important at the time but ended up meaning the most. 

As someone who spends a lot of time on the water, it feels right to say this: every trip teaches you something. Some days are smooth, some are frustrating, and some are unforgettable, but all of them matter.

WVC has been exactly that kind of experience. 

And as I move forward, I know one thing for sure. The best parts of this chapter don’t stay here. 

I get to take them with me.