Melina Traiforos
What is the most fundamental change you’ve experienced since your time as a first-year student?
As a freshman, I was painfully shy, but the academic and extra-curricular opportunities at Wake Forest helped me break out of my shell. Discussions in English class taught me that my ideas are worth sharing, writing for the Old Gold & Black helped me find my writer’s voice, and sorority recruitment showed me how to treat every stranger like my best friend.
What non-academic experience at Wake Forest was most meaningful to you?
Being Head of Writing for the Magnolia! I’ve always loved to write, but helping other student journalists achieve success has been so rewarding. I’ve also loved discovering the untold stories hidden in Winston-Salem.
What song or songs will always remind you of your time at Wake Forest? Why?
I always listen to Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls when I’m walking around campus.
Wake Forest’s Pro Humanitate motto is a guiding philosophy for many students and alumni. Did it have an impact on your student experience and has it influenced your plans for the future?
I’m planning on getting my MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling to help adolescents struggling with anxiety disorders. I never saw myself in a service career before Wake Forest, but being surrounded by peers who believe in Pro Humanitate has opened my eyes to the importance of community members taking care of one another.
Imagine you return to campus for your 10-year reunion. What do you hope will remain the same? What do you hope will be different?
In 10 years, I hope the Quad looks exactly the same. There’s nothing more lovely than having a picnic or playing spike ball on the Quad on the first warm day of spring semester.