Throughout its 200-plus year history, the George Washington University has prepared over 120 members of Congress, 79 ambassadors, two U.S. secretaries of state, two U.S. attorneys general and countless journalists, judges, CEOs, athletes and entertainers to change the world.
With its main campus on Foggy Bottom a few blocks away from the White House, the Department of State, World Bank and countless embassies, firms and hallowed institutions, students leverage GW’s location in the nation’s capital to build foundations for ambitious and revolutionary futures.
But first they have to get here.
Each August, the university welcomes first-year and transfer students arriving to Washington, D.C., from across the United States and the world. And while they will share a GW life chapter together, they all come with their own unique stories of passion, perseverance and persistence.
For some, going to school in D.C. has been a vision they’ve had for quite some time as they have long sought the thrill of living in the nation’s capital while having access to some of the most consequential and coveted opportunities a college student can chase. Political science major EJ Padron, a South Florida native who envisioned attending school in the city or region after one of his first visits to his cousin living in the DMV, is one such student.
“Choosing GW was a deliberate decision about the opportunities I would have in college,” said Padron, who on Move-In weekend drove his black pickup truck 16 hours from Davie, Fla., to his new residence at Thurston Hall. “I considered where I wanted to work and where I wanted to be. To be at the forefront of politics, being in the capital seemed like the best option.”
For other first-years such as Maria Rojas, that vision seemed unimaginable not that long ago. Rojas immigrated with her family to the United States—the Atlanta area specifically—from Colombia when she was 14 years old. While high school is a time for many young people to discover themselves, Rojas was also tasked with adapting to a new culture while learning to be fluent in English.
She did so well that she earned a prestigious Posse Scholarship, given to students with extraordinary academic and leadership potential that may be overlooked by traditional college selection processes and prepares them for admission to the nation’s top colleges.
She’ll never forget the moment when, after three rounds of interviews for the scholarship, she received a phone call from Associate Director of Undergraduate Admissions Federico Glitman informing her of her acceptance. Glitman, himself a native Spanish speaker from Argentina, broke the news by jokingly asking Rojas if she could bring him a cultural dish from Colombia when she arrived on campus.
Rojas believes her 14-year-old self would be proud of the work she put in to end up at GW, where she looks forward to finding a major perhaps in business or political science.
“I chose to come to GW because it’s a very diverse school, which I love. I enjoy meeting people from different cultures, and GW’s urban setting appeals to me,” said Rojas, who moved into Potomac Hall with her fellow Posse Scholars. “I also appreciate the variety of classes they offer and the scholarship I received, which was a major factor in my decision. The school’s environment and opportunities are great.”
For international affairs major Adriana Claudio, attending college seemed to always have been on her and her family’s mind. In fact, when she was as young as 7 years old, Claudio remembered telling her mom she wanted to be a judge because she was inspired by a show her grandmother used to watch called “Caso Cerrado,” which she described as the Spanish version of the U.S. television show “Judge Judy.”
Her mother laid out the steps it would take to get there—notably college and then working up the ladder. D.C. seemed like a natural fit for her goals, including pursuing legal studies. Move-In day, however, took on an extra meaning for her and her family. Her mother passed away from cancer in 2018, but the inspiration from her burns as strong as ever.
“My family has prepared me in many small ways throughout my life,” said Claudio, who shared a special moment moving into Potomac Hall with the help of her very proud father, Ramon. “Their core goal has always been for me to go to college and extend my career as far as possible. Seeing my parents’ hard work and their growth inspired me. They achieved so much, and I grew up wanting to continue moving ahead and doing even more.”
Claudio, too, hails from Atlanta and received a Posse Scholarship—placing her in the same cohort as Rojas.
Padron, Rojas and Claudio all packed up either their own or their family vehicles with residence hall items they gathered over the summer from various runs to Target or rummaging through their closets and arrived for Operation REV UP!, GW’s high-energy move-in experience in mid-August.
As many students do, they each left behind pieces of their hearts at home. In Padron’s and Claudio’s cases, it was their beloved family pets—a black lab dog for Padron and black cat for Claudio. For Rojas, it was hard to say goodbye to her 5-year-old brother, even though she knows the example she is setting for him by chasing her own dreams. (Don’t worry, all pets and people have been FaceTime’d accordingly in their first few weeks.)
While they miss elements of home, they are eager to create new memories with people who will become like family during their time at GW. They have already begun to meet people at various events, including Buff and Blue Kickoff, Kickback on the National Mall and at their Day of Service sites—which Padron documented for social media.
“My service project involved weed whacking, which I enjoyed because it reminded me of similar tasks I did in Florida,” Padron said. “Despite initial reluctance from others, I had fun with my floormates, and we even made a TikTok video of our work.”
Rojas has taken up rollerblading around Potomac Square with a few friends and is considering joining a volleyball club and maybe some clubs and groups where she can share her Latin heritage with others.
Claudio has already taken advantage of what the capital region offers, partaking in a late-night Smithsonian Museum event and even trying out a rock-climbing gym in Old Town Alexandria. She also enjoyed learning about the Women’s Pre-Law Student Association at a student organization fair—proving her “Caso Cerrado” roots are still firmly planted.
Above all, the trio of first-year students are excited to join a GW community that shares their passion for difference making.
They are here, and the first etchings of their next chapters have begun.
“I want to leave GW as a better person than when I came,” Claudio said. “Whether it’s academically or personally, I aim to continue growing and improving. College is a huge learning experience, and I expect it to be different and challenging. I hope to give back to the community and the world in a better way because of the growth I’ve experienced at GW.”
