There is something special about the people who knew you during the times when you were becoming the person you are. First it is the family that you were born into.
Later on, that circle widens to include those who were there when you were figuring out who you were, who you wanted to be, and what path you wanted to follow for your life’s journey. Those who share that time of transition to adulthood with you hold a very special place in our hearts throughout our lives.
WVWC Sisters
This past week a group of WVWC friends met for lunch. We have seen each other sporadically through the years, and shared Christmas cards complete with pictures of the children who came along. In recent years, we have taken to getting together for lunch every year or so. We have entertained various waiters and waitresses with our laughter and the telling of stories. (We always leave a nice tip in appreciation of their patience with us.) LOL
We did the math this week, and were shocked to realize that we met 45 years ago when most of us were living in the same hallway in McCuskey Hall our freshman year at WVWC. None of us were math majors, so we checked and double checked those numbers because we could not believe that the number could be correct. The years melted away immediately as they always do.
We were also joined by Joyce’s daughter, Jill (who now works on the staff at WVWC) and by the next generation….Quinn Okes-Kinkade. Jill and my daughter also met during freshman year in their First Year Seminar class and have now been friends as well for nearly fifteen years! (More ridiculous math!)
Over the years we have celebrated marriages, births of children (and grandchildren), retirements, and various awards and honors.
We have supported each other through family deaths, battles with cancer, miscarriages, and other storms of life.
We have cheered on successes and provided a good place to vent frustrations.
There were many others who were not present at this lunch, but who are in touch often…even if only on Facebook. We keep up on the happenings in each other’s lives and support or celebrate there. Not quite as good as in person, but it keeps us connected between in-person gatherings.
Some of us found life partners during our college years, and have the added benefit of being able to tell college stories of shared experiences every day. This group is known as Wesleyan Sweethearts, and there have been more than 1,000 such couples.
Many people share this type of friendship. You can see it first-hand when you attend the homecoming activities in the fall. Alumni magazine articles tell of friends that travel together, have regular gatherings with other WVWC graduates in the areas where they live, or who show up in each other’s weddings.
I see these same types of friendships, for example, with my daughter’s group of Wesleyan friends.
Your role changes, but still you are part of these relationships. Sometimes:
- you are the parent/grandparent/aunt/uncle
- you are the child
- you are the student
- you are the teacher
- you are the classmate
- you are the co-worker
- you are the freshman year roommate, or the person who lives down the hall
In the past few weeks, I have watched as students in my First Year Seminar class have begun to make these kinds of friendships as well. For now, with fellow students. Soon, with faculty and staff who will cheer their success (in and out of the classroom) and will challenge them to be their best, and who will support them along that journey. Who knows? Some may come back to be co-workers and fellow faculty members! It has happened before.
When people at WVWC talk about their Wesleyan Family or their Home Among the Hills, it is not just a figure of speech. It is a real thing!