April at Wake Forest University is no joke

Everyone on campus is hard at work, and even the trees and flowers seem to respond in kind. Hard work and celebration will go hand in hand as the next few weeks fly by. It won’t be long before many of the students will transition from their academic life to the next chapter of their professional journeys, while still others will push upwards to reach even higher educational aspirations. Exciting times for sure and we are here to cheer them on!

Throughout March, Student Employees celebrated the women who have inspired their educational and career paths.

Lucy Clay, Senior:

My mom has always been my biggest supporter and best friend. She’s always been so uplifting and positive. She’s my biggest role model!

Kate Wanzenberg, Junior:

My grandmother, Judge Bonnie Wheaton inspires me everyday. She embodies hard work, perseverance, and grace. She shows me that anything is possible and that the most important thing in the world is lifting up other women.

Amine Bouchamaoui, Sophomore:

As I came here in my fourth semester at Wake, working here taught me a lot about interacting with others. Whether it is my peers, any patrons, my colleagues, and especially my bosses. As a first job while studying far from home, I am definitely grateful to be working here.

Katherine Liontis, Senior:

Someone who has inspired me is my research mentor, Dr. Rong Chen. She has taught me so many valuable skills throughout the years and helped me find my true career passions. Dr. Chen has been an inspiration and key mentor during my time at Wake.

Dani Fernandez, Junior:

My friends inspire me! They are the strongest, most ambitious women I know. I am so proud to call them my friends!

An anonymous contributor shared that his mother and professors have been the largest influence in his education choices.

From Their Perspective

Aaliyah Muriithi, Freshman writes about the special women in her life:

There are many amazing women in my life who I look up to and strive to be like. The three most important are my mother and two grandmothers. My mother is a woman of many talents. She is a dentist, a great speaker and singer, and an amazing teacher. My mother’s versatility inspires me to consistently grow my own talents and interests. She left her career in dentistry behind when me and my family moved to Kenya in 2016. This summer she is returning to the U.S to renew her dentistry license in Maryland for the first time in 7 years.

My grandmother on my dad’s side, who I call ‘Ntagu’ is a vivacious, lively woman who lights up any room. In my family’s Meru culture me and her are considered to have a special connection since we are both the first born daughters of our families. This means culturally “we are the same person”, so she calls me ‘Ntagu’ as well. Even though she is in her late seventies, I would say that my Ntagu has a youthful spirit. She still drives every day to the hospital where she works. At the end of some days she still has enough energy to visit us in the evening or go for walks around her neighborhood.

My other grandmother who I call “Grandma” is a strong-willed, confident and opinionated woman. She always has advice to give me when I talk with her on the phone. “You need to be strong as a woman,” “stand the pace, don’t let anyone change what you think,” “Stay strong,” and “Love yourself” are just a few of the things my Grandma tells me when I need advice.

As student employees reflected on those who’ve shaped their journeys, some also reflected on the spaces that have supported them along the way.

“Don’t overlook ZSR’s Nooks and Crannies” by Lydia Derris, Sophomore:

As a student employee at ZSR, I’ve had ample time to explore the many floors and facets of the library — and so I feel it my duty to impart some insight on the best ones. I’ve found that ZSR is home to many tried and true study spots for students — typically ones that they’ve nestled into over several semesters. The most notorious of which being Scholar’s Commons, the pink chair on the sixth floor and the atrium — known for their more social qualities — whereas students seeking quiet and focus, venture up to the eighth floor.

Unbeknownst to most students however, are the sweet, sweet spots that consistently go unoccupied, despite their charm. Fortunately for you all, I’ve compiled a list of these spaces in ZSR, for all those seeking to switch up their study spot scenery.

First things first: the Wilson Wing basement — bathed in a warm soft glow and complete with finished wood, a certain ski-lodge coziness pervades the space, and makes doing work enjoyable.

Next up on my list are the egg-shaped chairs on the balcony overlooking the Scholars Commons. If you’re solo in the library and want to be around the lively chatter, yet in your own comfortable nook, totally unbothered, head to these chairs.

Last but certainly not least, the ZSR auditorium on the fourth floor — when it’s unlocked! This is one of the more unconventional spaces on the list to do work, as you’re sitting in cinema chairs, as though waiting for a never-to-appear lecturer. However, there’s something poignant and pleasing about settling into an audience that doesn’t exist. Give it a go sometime.

You may also enjoy some of Lydia’s other writings with the Arts and Culture scene of “Old Gold & Black”.

Junior, Cole Wolfe, expresses his appreciation for the WFU Athletics Timeline, developed by ZSR’s Special Collections and Archives team:

Despite being less than a mile from campus, not a lot of folks know about the Salemtowne Retirement Community, but I assure you, they know us. Wake Forest Alumni make up a surprising percent of their community members, which is why when organizing a debate about college sports many of them asked if I could procure photos of Wake Athletics from their time as a student. This would’ve been impossible without the work done by our special collections team on the Athletics Timeline. It was an invaluable resource as it allowed me to find photos of games they attended, like Fred Summers first start at quarterback! Not only that, but the timeline went as far back as 1888 with pictures of our very first football team!

Of course, the value of the WFU timeline as a whole is far greater than just high quality images. I’ll never forget the afternoon I found it, a half hour after one of our debate preparation meetings, yet right in the middle of a classic southern goodbye. With two Wake Forest alumni looking over my shoulder, I was able to scroll through the timeline and find moments they remembered! I got to hear stories about what it was like teaching Tim Duncan and, of course, how much better basketball was in the 90s.

Although we’ll probably never agree on the best era of college basketball, there is one thing both me and the residents of Salemtowne can agree on, how criminally underrated tools like the WFU timeline really are. ZSR’s Special Collections has got you covered, whether it’s for reminiscing about your college years, or preparing for a knock down drag out debate to an audience of over a hundred.

Cole is right. The whole timeline is a fascinating read.

In closing, Will Ritter, Public Services Librarian for User Services, has shared some important thoughts:

As spring unfolds and another academic year draws to a close, we are reminded of the importance of reflection, resilience, and community. From the mentors who guide us, to the cozy corners where we learn, and the archives that preserve our shared history — Wake Forest University is brimming with stories worth telling. We’re proud to share just a few of them here and to continue supporting our students, staff, and alumni in every season of growth.