Virginia Tech senior Justin Graves loves being a Hokie, and wants others to as well.
"I just loved Virginia Tech as soon as I got here," Graves said. "I was like why not try and convince other people to love Virginia Tech as much as I do?"
It's what he does as a "Hokie Ambassador," giving tours year round to high school students and sometimes even younger. His words are passionate, his tours unique.
"They always said no matter what you do make sure people wee YOU before they see the wheelchair and that's kind of always my goal," he says of advice from his parents. Graves said he always takes that advice with him, even while giving campus tours backwards in his wheelchair.
He recalls being in the fifth grade when his mother urged him to write a letter to his school board about being able to do things the other kids did at recess.
"From then on it's always kind of been an internal inspiration to help people who maybe seem socially unequal, whether it be a mental disability, physical disability," said Graves.
It's what he's focused his time on at Virginia Tech. He's a sociology major with four minors, all with the same goal in mind.
"My focus for that is going to be higher education administration, my end goal, term goal, that's my goal, higher education," Graves said.
He's already reaching out to let under represented students know college is within their reach.
"We just go to their schools, and talk to them about you should be able to see yourself at Virginia Tech," noted Graves.
Encouragement and opportunity he's spreading at a quick rate of speed.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement