Commencement 2023 was a roller coaster of emotions. I was full of happiness, proud of everything that the Class of 2023 has accomplished, but above all of this, I was sad that it is over and I am at the end of my college experience.

The two main leaders of Wilson for this year’s class, Anaida Fahradyan, president of the Class of 2023, and President Wesley Fugate, gave two wonderful speeches that left me and my classmates speechless. Anaida informed us about the war in her country, Armenia, and how her family was not able to come the United States to watch her graduate. After giving a few words addressing and thanking her family for support in her native language (because they were watching the livestream) there was such a strike of emotions.

Later, as our eyes were closed, hearing the President sharing the experiences that will only happen at Wilson, made me realize how much I am going to be missing Wilson and that it is really is the end.

After graduation was over, the hug with my parents and my brother who came to Wilson for the second time all the way from Puerto Rico, was the moment in which all my tears started falling.

Although it is the end of my chapter as a student, my chapter as an alum has just begun and I will be emotionally attached to Wilson forever. The late-night study sessions at Sarah’s Coffeehouse, the ice cream at the dining hall, faculty connecting personally with students, Andrew singing at the dining hall, the bingos, duck hunt, and egg hunt in the green, all of these just happens at Wilson, and it’s what it makes Wilson unique and special.

Victor Ortiz '23 is taking practicum course ENG-309: Social Media/Web Content and for a hands-on assignment shared his thoughts on Commencement 2023 from a student's perspective.