Transfer

by Dev Chojar (’23)

I transferred to Wake Forest in Fall 2020. Ever since then, I had been trying to figure out why. I really wasn’t sure what separated Wake from my first school, but the Wake Washington Program has quickly changed that. From transformative experiences that have pushed me past what I thought were my limits, to unforgettable conversations with speakers I thought I’d only ever see on TV, these past few weeks have given me countless answers to the question.

One class night, there was a lot of tension in the air. We had each prepared to discuss abortion rights, and each of us had unique, intense perspectives and emotions. Although it seems increasingly difficult in our age of growing polarization, each of the nine of us shared our stories. Uniting over a common interest in having a good faith policy discussion, even though we, at times, strongly opposed each other’s opinions, we found comfort in the realization that we could be ourselves without being judged. We left that class with a renewed understanding of both the issue and each other, and I am grateful that Dr. Buchanan was determined to let us embrace controversy as a part of our growth. I think that learning to disagree is one of the most important parts of a policy education, and the Wake Forest community has given it the time and attention it deserves. That I would be comfortable—regardless of our actual policy views—with any of my classmates holding public office is a great sign that the program is doing something special.

Wake Washington has made me realize how far education can extend beyond the classroom. The program has given our whole group the opportunity to learn to make the most of the time we have. While I would normally complain about waking up at 4:30 in the morning, we had an unforgettable opportunity to attend the Bipartisan Policy Center’s “Un-Convention” in Philadelphia this week, and I took lessons from it that will extend far beyond policy itself.  We had opportunities to talk openly about the issues facing our country, and we were able to learn from discussions between with fiery but tolerant speakers, mutually interested in building a better nation. But, in addition to all the lessons about policy discussions, I really appreciated the opportunity to leave my own head for a day, and I’d say that alone made the convention worth waking up for. We’re only in D.C. until early December and making the most of a fast-moving semester is more than worth the effort. I am grateful for the strength of Wake Forest’s alumni network for making our attendance possible, and for being determined to enhance the educational experiences for present and future students.

But beyond all the specifics, getting to be a part of our tight-knit group has made it clear that coming to D.C., and to Wake Forest as a whole, were the best decisions I’ve ever made. Everybody has a shared interest in bringing out the best in each other, and I cannot wait to see what we’ll accomplish over the next two months.