# @vanderbiltu on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/B2zQbzlhs_w
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/9038397-vanderbiltu-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/thumbnails/dba81f1858.jpg
- **Posted:** 2019-09-24T16:36:24.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Vanderbilt University (@VanderbiltU) — https://gondola.cc/VanderbiltU

## Caption

Senior Tommy Oswalt supplies some words of wisdom about making the most of your time at Vanderbilt. #HumansofVanderbilt #VU2020

Q: What made you choose Vanderbilt?
A: After a lot of self-reflection in high school, I was considering three different schools: my state school, a college in New York, and Vanderbilt. Vanderbilt for me, was a nice in-between, where I was able to go to a prestigious school with a decent sized student body. The size of Vanderbilt was one of the most convincing factors, along with financial aid.

Q: What do you love about Vanderbilt in and out of the classroom?
A: Inside the classroom, I really love the intellectual engagement that Vanderbilt offers me. For example, in a class earlier this week we discussed the words “friends,” “enemies,” “strangers,” and how they interact with each other and what that means in terms of community building. Outside of the classroom, one of my favorite parts of Vanderbilt is the people. Each person has such an incredible, unique story that both helps me gain new perspective on the world but also pushes me to want to do more and see more in the world.

Q: As a graduating senior, what will you miss the most about Vanderbilt?
A: Some of the things I’ll miss most is being a Commons RA, being a VUCeptor, and being able to live on Commons for all of my years here. Especially the excitement at the beginning of the year and seeing the growth of a community happen before my eyes. I get to see first years in West House come in not knowing much about each other or even themselves, and then coming into their own throughout the year.

Q: What is the biggest lesson you learned while here?
A: The power of reaching out, whether it be reaching out for help or to someone you haven’t talked to in a while. Any one of those experiences can really bring a lot of new insight and lead to a lot of self discovery.

Q: If you could say one thing to our followers, what would it be?
A: I would say to them: go out and do something that is hard and makes you uncomfortable today. Seize this opportunity you have.

Tommy Oswalt
Class of 2020
Psychology and Communication Studies Majors
Spanish Minor
📸: Social 'Dore @allybireley 
#vandygram

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## Tags

humansofvanderbilt, vu2020, vandygram

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