As you have followed this blog over the course of the summer, I am sure you have started to see glimpses and snippets of what an amazing community Gonzaga University is. The life you will live here over the next four years will be unlike anything else you will experience because the people, the hearts, and the minds that create this community is something that is rare and beautiful. This I have found to be very true.
But what brought you here? What really brought you here? Because I can bet money on it that when you were 8 years old you were not dreaming of the Jesuit ideology that will develop your future education and whole person. It was probably because you wanted to become an astronaut, veterinarian, president, or whatever it was, and because of those dreams, you aspired to go to college. You worked hard throughout your academic career so you could reach those dreams your 8-year-old self once longed for.
For me, it has always been medicine. Though it has taken me a long time to figure out specifically what I wanted to actually do in the medical field, I have always been inspired and intrigued by what medicine can do for people, and I have always pursued this since 8-year-old Julia dreamed of one day helping people who couldn’t help themselves.
My dreams and pursuits are not easy to reach. Anything that you are passionate about achieving will not happen overnight. Hard work, sacrifice, and determination are all things that every one of you will need to reach your goals. These are all things that I have needed to become the student I want to be at the top of my class.
One of my second homes on campus is the library. Countless amounts of hours have been spent in there studying for my courses such as organic chemistry and biochemistry. But receiving that A on a test made it worth it. I even utilize the Writing Center in Foley, free to students, on every paper I write even when I feel confident in my work because I want to make sure it is excellent. I evened skipped a Macklemore concert because I knew I would regret it if I didn’t stay home to finish a paper due the next day. (But don’t worry, I saw his concert a few months later and even recently was called as an extra in one of his music videos).
I go the extra mile because I want to do everything I can to be academically successful. I spent hours and hours at Dr. Warren’s office hours so I could master organic chemistry. I would schedule appointments with my advisor, Dr. Cleary, whenever I had questions about the courses I need, graduate school, or really any advice about the technical side of my degree. I would meet with one of my role models, Dr. Poxleitner, whenever I needed a little guidance in my life.
I do all of these things because I never forget little 8-year-old Julia. Everyday, she motivates me to become the woman I once dreamed of. In the hard times, she is my biggest supporter, and in the good times, she is beaming with pride because I never give up on her. I came here to Gonzaga for my education so one day I can walk into the world and be confident with the knowledge I have obtained. Working hard for academic excellence is how I am going to be able to do that. Don’t get me wrong, the Jesuit ideology of developing the whole person is what makes Gonzaga unique and has given me more than I could have ever imagined. I am changed for the better because of this. But those moments, those learning opportunities outside of the classroom will be there. They will happen to you when you least expect it, and you will forever be changed. The learning moments inside the classroom are the ones you have to work hard for, strive for, and sacrifice for. They are the ones who are easily forgotten.
As you join our crazy beautiful Zag family, you will feel things you have never felt, experience things you have never experienced, and you will be changed forever. As you start this journey and follow your path, bring your 8-year-old self along. They will remind you of your dreams and aspirations because one day you will leave Gonzaga. One day, you will have to walk into the world and begin your life completely outside your comfort zone. But because of the time and effort you put into your education, you will succeed. Even if you graduate with a degree you don’t necessarily pursue a career in, the character that you developed in yourself from your hard work is why you will take life by storm.
I congratulate you on your success thus far, and I challenge you for what is to come.
In Love and Admiration,
Julia Snider
Class of 2016
Student Leader GUide