Addison Schmidt
What non-academic experience at Wake Forest was most meaningful to you?
Writing and editing for the Old Gold & Black’s environment section for the past three years exposed me to stories, initiatives, and research both on and off campus that I don’t think I would’ve been otherwise. I had the privilege of writing about Wake Forest’s student body, as well as both local and national environmental news, through so many different lenses, which has been a meaningful extension of the liberal arts education I’ve received in the classroom.
What song or songs will always remind you of your time at Wake Forest? Why?
I think listening to “Perfect Places” by Lorde will always lead my thoughts into a montage of the seemingly uneventful nights I spent roaming around campus or lying on the floor of my dorm with my friends. “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac always makes me emotional about change and the passage of time, particularly now as I prepare to graduate.
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?
Pro Humanitate is one of the reasons that I chose to come to Wake Forest in the first place, and it has encouraged me to volunteer at the Campus Garden, Campus Kitchen, and various events throughout my four years at Wake Forest. I’m still unsure about what exactly I want to pursue after graduation, but my main goal is to find a career that aligns with my desire to make the greatest good in the world, which is definitely in alignment with the ethos of Pro Humanitate.
Wake Forest has lots of traditions, and sometimes students create their own. Do you have a favorite Wake Forest tradition?
My favorite Wake Forest tradition is rolling the Quad after a big sports win. I grew up a huge Demon Deacon fan, and there is a picture of me with my parents and my three siblings on the Quad after the 2006 ACC Football Championship game win. Getting to participate in that tradition a few times as a student is something I’ll always cherish.
Who most impacted your Wake Forest experience?
Jackie Sheridan, who is the Director of the Wake Forest Scholars Program, has mentored me throughout my time at Wake Forest. She and the Scholar’s Office have supported various research projects I’ve conducted, and she’s always been there to talk through my worries about my future direction and career interests. Thank you Jackie!
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?
I hope to see students continue to enjoy time outside amidst the magnolias on gorgeous Winston-Salem days, whether that be around the fire pits on Manchester Plaza, lounging on the quad, or eating lunch at picnic tables. So many of my favorite memories as a student have been spent outside, and my biggest hope for future students is that they will continue to appreciate the beauty that is Wake Forest’s Reynolda Campus. In terms of change, I hope that the environmental program includes more faculty, student opportunities, and a larger presence on campus. I would also love to see the university become more diverse and for conversations about difficult topics to be encouraged even more so than they are now.
Now that you are a graduating student, what advice do you wish you could have given yourself as an incoming student four years ago?
Don’t be afraid to try new things, even if you have to do it alone. I worked up the courage to step outside of my comfort zone and join two different organizations that ended up being my biggest source of community on campus in the spring of my freshman year, and most of my friends are people I made there. I would tell myself to prioritize stepping outside of my comfort zone more.